INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Newsletter Fall 2012
Director of International Studies: Associate Director of International Studies: Dr. Linda Adams Dr. Ivy Hamerly
Inside This Issue Second Annual Studying Abroad in a Revolution by 2 International Studies Essay Vanessa Onguti, ’12 Contest 5 Calendar of Opportunities for IST Majors International Studies invites our majors and alumni to enter this
A Few of Our Favorite Professors by Sigma year’s essay contest. 8 Iota Rho Essay Length: 400 to 800 words
Due Date: October 1 Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service by Professor Colbert Held 9 How: Submit essays online through this web form: International Studies Excellence Fund 10 http://goo.gl/MplhV Prizes: Fame and Fortune! Baylor Model UN Raising Funds for Rome 11 Winning essays will be printed in Trip the spring issue of the International Studies newsletter. The Road Less Traveled by Dr. Sergiy 12 Winners will also receive a gift Kudelia card to use at Starbucks. Questions: Ask Dr. Hamerly Save the Date! [email protected]
Homecoming Reception: Essay Themes: Saturday, Nov. 3 from 10:30am to 12:30pm I. Third Culture Kids II. International Internships After the Homecoming Parade, walk over to Poage Legislative Library to enjoy a coffee reception for International Studies faculty, See Page 8 for more information about alumni, and students. the essay themes.
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Studying Abroad in a Revolution In January 2011, my journey to Cairo, Egypt officially began. Being an International Studies major and an Arabic minor I was expected to study abroad. In fact, since I was undertaking the intensive version of my major, study abroad was required. I had no clue what to expect and I was filled with anxiety but a sense of thrill also overtook me. My arrival at the Cairo International airport felt surreal, even though I was detained for a solid hour and given no explanation whatsoever following the detention, I was not going to let anything or anyone for that matter dampen my spirits. During my time in Cairo I lived in Zamalek, an area in Cairo that was a twenty-minute walk to Tahrir square, the epicenter of the Egyptian revolution. It became apparent just days after settling in that our proximity to Tahrir square may cause some concern. On several occasions we had to be re-routed quite a ways from our regular route on our way back from the University. My first encounter of the protests was on a Saturday afternoon when all the study abroad students were taken on a field trip to Khan El Khalili the most famous market in Cairo. We were on our way back to the dorms when one of the guides announced that we were actually headed back to the University (which was an hour away) because the roads leading to our dorms had been closed off due to protests. As we tried to digest our tour guide Mohammed’s words, some of us were a bit excited at the chaos that was erupting, but most of us were slightly on edge, not sure what to make of the news. We spent about three hours at school that afternoon and then finally we were allowed to head back to the dorm (after many frantic calls to our parents). During the second week of our stay, the atmosphere seemed to be different. There was a sense of worry and anxiety loomed all around us. At school it was evident something was brewing as students would congregate in halls and discuss Tahrir and some teachers would alter the lesson plan to talk about what was going on in Egypt. Then it all began.
Story continues on page 4
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INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FALL 2012 I spent a frantic two weeks in Kenya awaiting my fate… Continued from page 2 Kenya awaiting my fate while glued to the One day, the school day was cut short. television following every news channel on By noon buses were shipping students back word as to whether Egypt was safe enough to to the dorms and teachers back to their return to. Two long weeks later, I was able to residences. The next day we did not have return Egypt to finish off my study abroad. school. The day after the President of the About three hundred students were University came to brief us. She told us that studying abroad that semester, but fewer the American government was making than ninety students came back after the preparations to evacuate its citizens. We were evacuation. My Arabic class was the most all shocked, panicked and most of all, we shocking case as prior to the revolution, I had were confused. What exactly was going on? about thirty other classmates but afterwards, Did we have to evacuate? If we did choose to there were three of us in that class, myself evacuate could we ever come back? These are included. The most foreigners I ever had in questions that were lingering in my mind. any of my classes was three students. This Sure enough, about two days after the certainly made my classes all the more evacuation announcement, about three interesting, as most of my classmates were fourths of the International students had Egyptians and our conversations and lessons evacuated. Most universities were requiring revolved around the revolution. I got a their students to head back home to America. unique perspective as every day we spoke of Baylor was no exception, but instead of going what happened the previous day in Tahrir to America, they permitted me to go to Square as even long after former President Kenya, where I’m originally from and my Mubarak was ousted, the revolution was still father resides. I spent a frantic two weeks in occurring. All in all, I would not trade my experience in Egypt during this pivotal time for anything. It was utterly chaotic, mildly terrifying yet overwhelmingly fulfilling. Never have I witnessed patriotism at such a high or seen people willing to give up their all to have a say in their politics. Studying abroad in Egypt during the revolution was the experience of a lifetime that truly opened my eyes to a lot more even to this day. Inshallah (God Willing) President Morsi will bring the joy and change that the Egyptian people truly thirst for.
Vanessa Onguti, ’12, was an International Studies major with an Arabic Minor. During the 2011-2012 academic year she was a Sigma Iota Rho officer. This year she is teaching English in Thailand.
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Opportunities this semester Ongoing World Cinema Series What: Foreign films selected by Modern Foreign Language faculty are screened every week. The films are in foreign languages with English subtitles and admission is always free. List of films available here: http://www.baylor.edu/mfl/index.php?id=58290 When: Tuesdays at 6pm, starting on September 11, 2012 Where: Bennett Auditorium
Study Abroad Information Sessions What: A short study abroad presentation and Q&A session for all students. When: Every Monday and Tuesday at 4:00 pm Where: Poage Library 201B
Become a PAWS Partner Help an international student adjust to the culture at Baylor. Applications are available online. http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/178640.pdf
Join the Baylor International Studies Alumni group on LinkedIn What: An online networking group for alumni and current students of International Studies. When: Today! Where: www.linkedin.com
September International Studies Honor Society (Sigma Iota Rho) What: Information session for students interested in joining SIR When: Wednesday September 12 and Thursday September 13, 7-8pm Where: Burleson 309
Constitution Day Lecture What: A lecture by Professor Akhil Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, where he teaches constitutional law at both Yale College and Yale Law School. When: September 17 at 7:00pm Where: Waco Hall Admission is free and requires a ticket. Pick up your ticket at the Bill Daniel Student Center Ticket Office Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Available tickets will be distributed through the ticket office on a first-come, first-served basis through Sept. 14. Any remaining tickets will be available at the Waco Hall Ticket Office on Sept. 17 beginning at 3 p.m.
Be the Change (Baylor Missions Week) What: This week celebrates missions. It includes a Dr. Pepper Hour, a benefit concert at Common Grounds, conference speakers, chances to speak with missionaries, a “Strengths and Vocation” seminar and a prayer breakfast. When: September 18-21 Where: Visit www.baylor.edu/missions for more information about particular events
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Peace Corps What: The Peace Corps will have a booth at the Fall HIREABEAR Career Fair. When: September 19th Where: Ferrell Center
Washington DC Internship Orientation What: Learn about Baylor’s internship program in Washington, D.C. Special guest former U.S. House Rep. Chet Edwards will be there. Refreshments provided. When: Wednesday, September 19, 3:30pm Where: 201B Poage Legislative Library More info: contact Dr. Curry ([email protected])
The Race for the Whitehouse exhibit What: A celebration of historical presidential elections. The exhibit includes campaign buttons, posters and other materials from the Poage Library’s collection. When: Opening ceremony September 20, 2012, 3:00-5:00pm. Exhibit will continue through November 2012. The exhibit is open from 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Where: W. R. Poage Legislative Library, located between Moody Library and Jones Library. Entrance is across the street from Castellaw Communications Building
Foreign Service Exam What: The US Department of State hires from a pool of people who have passed the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). The test is administered online at a test center in Waco. The test includes a multiple choice section that measures your knowledge of U.S. Government, world history, U.S. culture, psychology, management theory, economics, world affairs, etc. There is a timed 30-minute essay on an assigned topic. There is no limit to the number of times a person can take the Foreign Service Exam. If you pass the exam then you have completed the first step to joining the Department of State hiring pool. When: The test is offered three times a year, in February, June and October. The signup deadline for the October test is September 26 at 9:00am. Where: Sign up for the exam and read more related information here: http://careers.state.gov/officer/selection-process
October Deadline to apply for Honor Society membership What: High achieving International Studies majors are invited to apply for membership in the International Studies Honor Society, Sigma Iota Rho. Applicants need to have more than 60 credit hours completed, a 3.3 GPA overall and a 3.4 in the major. You can join as a scholar member if your GPA or hours do not meet requirements. Applications are available in Burleson 300. When: October 1, 2012 Where: Turn in applications to Draper 314 Questions: Email Dr. Hamerly ([email protected])
All International Studies majors are invited to SIR’s monthly meetings. The October meeting will include a panel of Third Culture Kids, the November meeting will have a special speaker and the December meeting will interview a panel of graduate students.
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Glennis McCrary Goodrich International Scholarship Spring 2013 Application What: The Goodrich scholarship is an academic merit and financial need-based scholarship only for Baylor students in a study abroad program. Awards for the spring of 2013 can total up to $6,000 in a semester. If you will be studying abroad in the spring of 2013, don't forget to submit your scholarship application by the date specified! When: October 1, 2012 is the deadline. Where: The scholarship application can be found at: http://www.baylor.edu/study_abroad/index.php?id=48458. All documents can be dropped off and/or mailed to the Student Exchange and Study Abroad Advisor in Poage 204.
World Hunger Relief Farm Day What: World Hunger Relief, Inc. (WHRI) is a Christian organization committed to the alleviation of hunger around the world. WHRI uses their farm in Elm Mott, TX to train individuals in holistic ministry that equips them to work with communities in developing sustainable farming techniques. Several International Studies alumni have worked at the farm as interns or live-in volunteers. Farm day typically includes a petting zoo, fairly traded arts, crafts, chocolate and coffee, a lunch with organic, farm-fresh ingredients, and live music. When: Saturday, October 27, 9am to 4pm Where: 356 Spring Lake Rd., Waco, TX 76705 http://worldhungerrelief.org/contact-us/directions/
November Homecoming Reception What: Come enjoy a cup of coffee and a bite to eat with fellow International Studies majors and alumni. This is a good networking opportunity. When: Saturday, November 3, 10:30am-12:30pm Where: 201B Poage Legislative Library
The Miller Lecture What: Professor Ran Hirschle will speak about comparative constitutional politics. Dr. Hirschle is Professor of Political Science and Law, Canada Research Chair in Constitutionalism, Democracy and Development at the University of Toronto. When: November 5 Where: TBA
International Education Week What: Baylor University is joining campuses across to world to recognize and to celebrate the growth of global initiatives, partnerships, and collaborations in the Education sector. More detailed information will be available at a later date. When: November 12-16, 2012 Where: Various locations across campus.
December Undergraduate Moot Court Regional Tournament What: Come watch the elimination rounds to learn how moot court competition works. There will be information about the tournament on the moot court blog, which is accessible through the Political Science Department’s website. When: Saturday, December 1, 2012. Elimination rounds will be in the morning. Where: Baylor Law School
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A Few of Our Favorite Professors Each semester, as part of the sendoff ceremony for Sigma Iota Rho’s graduating seniors, each graduating member is asked to nominate one professor who has been exceptionally influential in his or her academic journey. We recognize the significant contribution each of these professors makes through excellent teaching and thank them for the investment they make in the lives of students. These are the professors our students have recognized in the past year:
Professor's Name Department Dr. Linda Adams Political Science Dr. Frieda Blackwell Modern Foreign Languages, Spanish Dr. Maria C. de Mesa Chemistry and Biochemistry Dr. Derek Dodson Religion Dr. Perry Glanzer Educational Administration Dr. Victor Hinojosa Honors Program, Honors College Dr. Heidi Hornik-Parsons Art Dr. Michael Long Modern Foreign Languages, German and Russian Dr. Tom Offit Anthropology Dr. Eric Rust History Dr. Joan Supplee History Dr. David M. Uber Modern Foreign Languages, French
Essay Contest, continued from page 1 Theme I: Third Culture Kids Many International Studies majors grew up outside of their birth country because of immigration or their parents’ overseas jobs due to missionary work, military careers, Foreign Service careers or international business. Since the 1950s, sociologists have called people with significant foreign experiences during childhood Third Culture Kids (TCKs). TCKs may not feel at home in the country (or countries) where they grew up or in their passport country. Instead they create a third culture for themselves. If you had this type of experience growing up, reflect on the costs and benefits of being a TCK. What have you learned through your international life experiences? What unique opportunities have you enjoyed? As you establish your own family and career do you want to live and work internationally or do you want to settle permanently in one place?
Theme II: International Internships Did you complete an internship with an international focus? Did it include interesting work and learning opportunities? Describe the work you did and the doors it opened. Share your advice to students who are seeking interesting internships.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FALL 2012 Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service by Colbert C. Held Anyone with more than a passing interest in as their neighbors, during the last eighteen foreign affairs has to have been particularly months. absorbed in those affairs during the past two years. Not only has the Arab Spring gripped our All of this brings me to one of the main points of attention, but also Iran and its nuclear intentions; this little essay—encouraging upper class and the EU and its Euro problems; the various sub- graduate students truly interested in foreign regions of Asia—the -Stans (especially affairs, especially in the diplomatic aspects of Afghanistan and Pakistan), the Southeast and its foreign affairs, to give serious thought to readjusting states, China, Japan and its tsunami- applying for the Department of State Foreign generated nuclear and general economic issues; Service. Sub-Saharan Africa and its struggles to handle petro-wealth and inter-communal problems; Latin In my case, I had hoped to enter the FS as early America and its growing determination for self- as 1946, when I was with the HQ of the US Air expression; and a score of more specific problems Force in Germany, but passing the entrance exam in smaller areas. was too complicated under the circumstances. Not until a decade later did I become a FS The current presidential electioneering apparently Reserve Officer and later a regular FSO, devoting considers that all problems are in the economic my entire FS career of seventeen years to the sphere and that they stop at the North American Middle East. coastline. No one, of course—not only young men and women entering the job market but also Those years spanned some exciting times, mature professionals attempting to utilize their including civil wars in Lebanon during both of skills to the best advantage—can ignore the my assignments to Embassy Beirut. Our significance of the state of the economy. But the apartment building was bombed both in 1958 impact of the foreign affairs issues summarized and—a separate building in a separate war—in above interlocks with the domestic economic 1975. Our car was bombed in 1958. My wife was issues; and either minimizing those issues or, slightly wounded by crossfire in 1973. No one worse, ignoring them can be disastrous. To use ever said that the Foreign Service is fun and the current cliché, we can’t kick the can down the games. But we consider our Foreign Service road any longer. years wonderfully rewarding and worthwhile, because we knew we were serving a great My own special region of interest is the Middle country under difficult circumstances for a good East, and I am deeply immersed in preparing the cause. sixth edition of my textbook/reference book on the area (Middle East Patterns: Places, Peoples, and Although we have sorrowfully lost many of our Politics; Westview Press). It will follow the fifth colleagues from those rich years—I just reached edition that was published in 2010, and like all age 95—we had remarkable associates and editions, it covers basic regional topics in Part I friends, and I served under and with some of the and then all 16 countries individually in Part II. great names in the diplomatic history of this troubled region. Such is one of the great benefits Please—yes, please—sympathize with me and of serving with the Department of State. think about the prodigious revisions that must be made to cover the enormous changes that have marked virtually all Middle East countries, as well Continued on next page
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Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service, continued from previous page
Beginning at age two, our younger daughter, in the early 2000s has largely subsided, but need Joanne Held Cummings, spent all seventeen years for fresh talent to staff embassies, consulates with us in the region—Beirut, Dhahran, Tehran, general, consulates, and Department of State and back to Beirut (plus a Desk Officer offices is steady. Other agencies attached to assignment in the Department in Washington). Foreign Service posts likewise need new staffing. She later returned to the Middle East with a husband also specializing in the Middle East and All necessary details are readily available spent another twenty-two years there before 9/11 through the Department of State Web site focused national—and world—attention on the http://www.state.gov/, where a click on region. With her lifelong experience in the Arab
Colbert C. Held is former diplomat-in-residence at Baylor University. He served for seventeen years as a Foreign Service Officer with assignments in every country in the Middle East. Part of his extensive collection of photographs from the Middle East will be on display at the Poage Legislative Library in the spring of 2013. Professor Held is available to talk with students and alumni who are seriously considering Foreign Service careers. He may be contacted at his Baylor email address: [email protected] International Studies Excellence Fund: A New Way to Support International Studies
The price of a Baylor education exceeds the sticker price of tuition. Through the generous donations of alumni and friends of the university, Baylor is graced with scholarship funds, beautiful gardens, and state-of-the-art buildings. The International Studies Excellence Fund provides a way for alumni and others to support educational opportunities for International Studies majors. The purpose of the fund is to provide travel money for students to study abroad or attend conferences, to support invited speakers from off campus, social opportunities for IST students, alumni and faculty, and other activities necessary to build an outstanding program.
Follow this link to give to International Studies online: https://www.baylor.edu/give/index.php?id=49837&a=2&c=833
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Baylor Model UN Fundraising for Rome A long-term goal of the Model United Nations team has been to travel to an international competition. With significant student leadership and a thorough search for the right conference, the team decided to work toward attending RomeMUN, which will be held in Rome on March 7-11, 2013. To accomplish this goal the students will need to raise substantial funds, as the current budget can only cover travel costs for two domestic conferences per year for a small group of students (appx. 10-12 each semester). The team is hoping to reach out to alumni and businesses to generate funds to send a small group of students to the international meeting. RomeMUN is the largest international collegiate Model UN conference in Italy and one of the fastest growing. Last year the conference hosted hundreds of students from nearly 30 nations. Anyone wishing to donate Two Domestic Conferences should contact the Baylor Model UN faculty adviser, Rebecca Flavin ([email protected]). Baylor Model United Nations is currently preparing for two domestic conferences - the American Model United Nations conference to be held November 17-20 in Chicago, IL and the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City on March 24- 28, 2013. For the last two years in a row Baylor’s Model UN team won the Outstanding Delegation award at the conference in New York. This is the highest award available at a Model UN conference.
Hosting a High School Conference
Baylor Model UN is also hosting a high school conference on October 6th that attracts high school students from across Central Texas to campus to discuss international affairs. Each year, Baylor Model United Nations hosts high schools from around Central Texas for a one- day conference discussing international relations. The past two years, there have been nearly 250 students in attendance. This year's For More Information… conference will be held on Saturday, October 6th, and the theme of the meeting is "Politics For more information about Baylor Model UN, visit http://www.baylor.edu/modelun/ and Change in the Middle East and North African Regions." Baylor students serve as staff For more information about the high school conference, for the conference and plan the conference visit: http://www.baylor.edu/modelun/index.php?id=49251 curriculum each year.
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The Road Less Traveled: From Ukraine to Texas by Sergiy Kudelia
My road to Baylor has been anything but direct. I spent almost a decade of my graduate studies in the U.S. living for two years in Palo Alto and another eight years in Washington, DC. My research interests have included transition politics, political economy and institutional design in post-Soviet states. In addition, I got interested in the strategic use of political rhetoric during election campaigns. While in the doctoral program I collaborated with scholars from the Hoover Institution on a book project comparing political styles and campaign strategies of Boris Yeltsin and Ronald Reagan. The book came out in 2007 from the University of Michigan Press.
After my graduation in spring of 2008 I decided to return to my home country - Ukraine - to try my hand in public affairs. The year of my return, however, proved one of the worst in the country’s recent history. Ukraine was badly hit by the economic crisis and the government found itself paralyzed because of the political deadlock. Watching the senseless bureaucratic in-fighting up close I decided to come back to a more intellectually challenging life in academia. My post-doctoral studies took me to the University of Toronto where I worked with several scholars studying post-Soviet political regimes and the use of violence for political goals. This pushed me into the new areas of research related to the dynamics of insurgency and counterinsurgency campaigns and the choice of violence in civil wars. Following my return to Ukraine in 2010 I did research in the archives of former KGB and studied the Soviet campaign to defeat the Ukrainian nationalist insurgency in the first decade after World War II. The resulting article tested contemporary political science theories using the original empirical data and offered a new way of looking at counterinsurgency campaigns. At the time I also taught at one of Kyiv’s major universities and observed Ukraine’s unfortunate return to a more authoritarian political system.
My final year before coming to Baylor I spent at George Washington University working with a group of scholars from the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES) and teaching at my alma mater – Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. In January of this year I visited Baylor’s Political Science Department for a series of interviews and a job talk. I went away utterly impressed by the quality of the department, collegiate atmosphere among its members, strong intellectual drive of its graduate students and high academic standards set by the university. So it was exceptionally gratifying to receive an offer to continue my academic career at Baylor University.
While at Baylor I plan to complete my book manuscript on formal and informal politics of Ukraine and to launch a new research project focused on state-society relations in Russia following Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency. This academic year I will also be teaching courses on Russian Government, Revolutions, Terrorism and Comparative Politics. In addition I would like to develop new courses on Authoritarian Regimes, Political Development and Comparative Institutions and offer them in the coming years. Since these courses will cover different regions of the world they should be an excellent fit for the International Studies Program and add to the diversity of its curriculum. While striving to excel in my research and teaching, I will measure my impact at Baylor by the difference I can make in the intellectual and professional development of the students here. Pursuit of new knowledge and ability to contribute to one’s learning are the two most thrilling promises of an academic life. They were the ones that once took me halfway around the world and kept me here.
Dr. Kudelia is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Baylor University. Next semester he will teach PSC 3304 (Comparative Government) and PSC 4395 (Terrorism).
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