Register here.  

UMBC's school of Public Policy is hosting an info session about the Public Policy graduate programs on Thursday, December 3. As a reminder, UMBC’s school of Public Policy participates in the accelerated pathways BA/MPP program, so sophomores or juniors could benefit from attending this event as well. Students can register for the virtual info session via the link below. Please see their invitation below for more info of how to attend.

Hey Political Science Students,

The Political Science Department is in the process of adding two new courses to the Spring schedule: Russian Politics (POLI 475) and Arctic Geopolitics (POLI 409). Please see below for a brief description. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Grodsky (bgrodsky@umbc.edu)

 

POLI 475 - Russian Politics

The goal of this course is to introduce students to Russian politics and, in the process, provide a detailed case study of independence and democratization processes that play out across the world. The readings review the social and historical context of political life in Russia, tracing the country’s development from the early 20th century to the present.

 The first part of this course is a historical exploration of the making of modern Russia, beginning with the communist revolution and culminating with the rise of President Vladimir Putin. We then look at formative elements of the Putin years, after which we explore several aspects of contemporary Russian politics. These include: ethnicity and nationalism, political development, economic reform and post-independence foreign policy construction. This course integrates broad theoretical issues in the study of political science – especially with respect to independence and the democratic transition – with important facts and approaches necessary to make sense of Russia today.

 

POLI 409 - Arctic Geopolitics

 The goal of this course is to introduce students to the rapidly evolving international competition over the Arctic. There are currently eight Arctic states that span from the enormous, including the United States and Russia, to the tiny, such as Denmark and its dependent territory, Greenland. But as global warming continues to transform the Arctic, new and formidable powers, from Europe to Asia, are expressing greater interest in the region. They are drawn by the promise of newly accessible resources, from oil and gas to shipping lanes. The frozen, inhospitable territory long overlooked by most of humanity is suddenly attracting enormous attention.

This course takes a broad approach to the human experience in the Arctic, beginning with an overview of the Arctic and its historic place in geopolitics, as well as the environmental changes that have begun to alter both the land and sea in profound ways. Next, we explore the central economic draw to the region, including oil, gas, and transportation networks, before exploring ethical and legal constraints on human activity there. Finally, we consider individual country interests and common attempts at international governance of the Arctic.

Casting Your Whole Vote means working to build community and address challenges collectively every day, not just on Election Day. Here are four timely opportunities for members of the UMBC community to stay engaged and work together:

 

STRiVE is a five-day immersive experiential learning program for undergraduate students held off-campus during Winter Break. STRiVE’s intensive and engaging curriculum supports participants in developing critical thinking, leadership, community engagement, and cultural organizing skills. Well over 99% of the hundreds of UMBC students who have participated in STRiVE said they would recommend the experience to a friend. STRiVE 2021 will take place virtually from January 11-15, 2021. The application is due THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH at 11:59pm.

 

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a five-day immersive learning experience held during Spring Break. Participants think critically about social issues in Baltimore and develop skills in problem solving, community building, and storytelling. They meet with and learn from community partners, government officials, and scholars to develop a sophisticated understanding of local resources and challenges and lay the groundwork for long-term collective civic action. Alternative Spring Break 2021 will take place virtually from March 15-19, 2021. The application is due on Monday, November 23rd at 11:59 p.m.

 

After the Election: A Conversation with UMBC Legislators is an opportunity to engage with the District 12 legislators who represent UMBC and the surrounding communities in the Maryland General Assembly. This program provides an opportunity to talk in small groups about important issues, and learn about pathways for anyone, independent of their major or role on campus, to contribute to the civic health of our community. After the Election will take place virtually on November 18, 2020 from 5:00 - 7:00pm. RSVP here while spots are available but no later than Tuesday, November 17th.

 

The Civic Courage Journaling Project creates space for individual reflection on personal experiences with important civic implications. UMBC student, faculty, staff, and alumni journal bearers respond to prompts from the Center by creating entries in their journals and discussing them at monthly journal bearer gatherings. The next Civic Courage Journaling Project gathering will take place virtually on Friday, November 20th from 3:15 - 4:45pm. Sign up any time by sending an email indicating your interest to civiclife@umbc.edu.

AFRICANA STUDIES DEPARTMENT presents the 42nd Annual W.E.B. Du Bois Lecture

Karsonya (Kaye) Wise Whitehead, Associate Professor of Communication and African and African American Studies in the Department of Communication at Loyola University Maryland. Dr. Whitehead earned her Ph.D. in 2009 from UMBC, in the Language, Literacy and Culture program.

2020 has been a very difficult year, with the violent deaths of Black men and women at the hands of police and would-be vigilantes and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the Black and Brown communities. Conversations have been reignited around the country about anti-Blackness and anti-racism, policing and justice. As we move forward, questions remain about what the long-term impact will be on our society and the ways in which we can reimagine our way forward. Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead will address these questions and facilitate a larger conversation about systemic racism, engagement, and the current calls for justice.

UMBC finished in the top 10 nationwide in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge voting pledge competition for 2020. ALL IN encourages college students to pledge to vote to promote accountability, based on evidence that when people make public pledges, they are more likely to follow through. More than 600 colleges and universities participate in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. To view the leaderboard with the top 25 institutions in the U.S. by number of pledges, click here and scroll down. 

 

The UMBC community will learn how many students actually voted in the 2020 national election when we receive our report from the National Survey of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) sometime next year. In the previous presidential election in 2016, 85 percent of UMBC students were registered to vote, and 75 percent of those actually voted. UMBC’s overall turnout rate in 2016 was 25 percent higher than the national average for colleges and universities (source: NSLVE).

 

UMBC’s Cast Your Whole Vote campaign, organized by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with many departments, student organizations, and campus leaders, encouraged members of the UMBC community to learn about issues, engage in civil conversations, and contribute their time and talent to building a better world on Election Day and every day. Cast Your Whole Vote programs (all virtual) included Dinner with Friends (facilitated dialogues), Change Maker Dinners (facilitated small group conversations with local leaders and activists), Debate Watch events, Post-Debate Lunch & Learn programs, and Election Night Extravaganza (a community gathering to watch and make sense of election returns). 

 

Students, faculty, and staff members trained as facilitators have organized more than 20 post-election Together Beyond November programs to help participants renew their connections and support each other in this challenging time. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is continuing to work with campus partners to support opportunities for civic learning and sustained engagement, including the STRiVE leadership for social impact retreat (apply by 11/15), Alternative Spring Break (apply by 11/23), and a conversation with Maryland legislators who represent UMBC (11/18; RSVP required).

My relief is tainted. When I first realized that Joe Biden was probably going to be President of the United States, I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that was almost immediately mellowed. In the back of my mind, I kept hearing Biden’s voice from the video clip that swirled around the internet where he stated, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black.” This message to the black community is disheartening because plenty of candidates claiming to represent us have failed to deliver on their promises. Their rhetoric has implied that we shouldn’t ask questions, just be satisfied with the lesser of two evils. The black community is often left with the bare minimum, and then asked why we aren’t happy.  Yet as the weekend progressed, everyone’s joy seeped into my own soul, giving me a sense of warmth that I hadn’t felt in years. I wanted to hold on to the feeling of togetherness and accomplishment of the people around me. 

While I am happy with the outcome of the election I am not ecstatic. This election did not diminish my resolve to work for positive change. I want people to know that the fight for justice isn’t over, and want to be sure they are not lulled into a false sense of safety just because we have someone who knows how to speak coherently leading us. While of course, it goes deeper than that, I am afraid that by comparing Biden to someone I have would describe as incompetent we place him on a pedestal he doesn’t deserve.

I am motivated to continue to have deep conversations with peers and those with more knowledge than me about the problems that have plagued this country since its founding. I am determined to find unity amidst the chaos because I do not believe that all people who disagree with me are filled with hate. For me, that means starting locally because that is all that I feel equipped to handle. At this point, I have met all of the representatives from my Maryland General Assembly district and talked to them about the policies they see as important and am in the process of educating myself on those issues so I feel more equipped to form my own opinions. 

I hate the idea that one party is inherently moral and the other is inherently evil. Both parties have work to do. Figuring out exactly what I want to accomplish is evolving with the knowledge that I gain from my representatives and my own research and discussion with my peers.  I am determined to work toward the world as I imagine it: the world as it could be.