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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1 THE HISTORY HOUSE HERALD

Welcome back, students! Vol. 1, #1 New and exciting things happening in the History, Political Science, and Public Policy department… Section 1:

JoseVargas comes to campus in November. His compelling life story and activism put him on the frontlines of American politics. 2

MCLA HIST/PSPP students doing internships get experience and apply their knowledge. Opportunities are wide, and value is a constant. 2

Section 2:

There are lots of things going on this fall in the HIST/PSPP department. Check out some of these in the ‘News and Points of Interest’ section. 3

Welcome to the 2014 – 2015 here at MCLA. This is our The URC is closer than you think! academic year! For our new newsletter that we will Have you presented before? If so, do it again. If not, you should strongly returning students, you’ll put out every semester. consider it if not required of your notice some changes and We’ll have departmental classes. 4 new things happening. For information, student news, our new students, welcome! and opportunities you may Get ready for an exciting not know about otherwise. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” beginning to your four years Stay tuned, and keep --Socrates reading!

Message from the Chair Dear Students, come to meet faculty and fellow students while helping us kick off the news academic year. Hello and welcome back. The History, Political Science & Public Policy Department would like to Best Wishes, invite you to our department Open House on Wednesday, September 17, from 11:30am – 1:00pm. Professor Janis Pizza and refreshments will be served. Please

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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1

Jose Vargas Coming to Campus Nov. 13

Jose Vargas connects the idea of Magazine, “My Life as an immigration and equality in a Undocumented Immigrant.” powerful way. He was born in You can find some of his more the , but moved to recent work with TIME here. the United States in 1993 as an And, here’s a great video adolescent because his mother resource Vargas produced for his wanted a life with more TIME series on immigration. He opportunities for him. He has also been very involved became an award-winning current immigration crisis, even journalist working for outlets getting arrested in July of 2014 such as , while on the border. Huffington Post, Washington Post, These talks present MCLA and other notable news Jose Antonio Vargas is institutions. However, despite students with a tremendous his professional success, opportunity to get to know and an award-winning integration into American discuss one of the most journalist and culture and society, and his fame important political issues of our immigration activist. He time—immigration—with he hid a deeply personal secret: also happens to be an he was an undocumented someone who is on the frontlines immigrant. After years of trying of the issue. Three opportunities undocumented to conceal this aspect of his to get involved with immigrant. identity, he revealed his story in an essay for New York Times Continued on page 4

HIST/PSPP Students Excel in Internships and Fellowships

Brendan Peltier comes back to MCLA this fall as both the SGA President and a recent intern through the Washington Center in Washington, D.C. Brendan made it through the application process and was able to select the internship of his choice from a range of opportunities. Of his internship, Brendan says, “Being a political science major with an interest in politics, it is crucial to have the hands- on experience of Washington, D.C., to fully understand how politics work. Being in Washington has allowed me to experience new interests as well as understand the fundamental goal of the American political system.”

Zac Feury also completed an internship this Brendan Peltier and Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Washington, D.C. Continued on page 5

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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1

News and Points of Interest on MCLA and HIST/PSPP

You may have noticed that Bowman Hall is finally evaluate them, is extremely valuable. Be on the under construction for the much-anticipated lookout for more information regarding this process renovation. This is certainly a cause for joy, as the term moves on. excitement and anticipation. You may also note that Prof. Petra Hejnova is no longer in the department Spring 2015 Courses as she has taken a position with Syracuse to be You may say to yourself, “But the fall just got home with her family. Prof. Hejnova—for those started!” While this is true, that’s no excuse to not who did not know her—was wonderful, and we all prepare for the future. Once you get into the swing wished her well at our departmental banquet last of the term, be sure to start thinking about advising spring. Prof. Hejnova’s moving on, however, is not and how you can be proactive in that process. Find all bad news. out who your advisor is on Banner, and do not be New Faculty Search hesitant to email for any reason. The spring upper- level courses are as follows: At some point during the fall semester, we will have job candidates on campus for teaching Prof. Daly demonstrations and meetings with students. This is • HIST 403: Terrorism a very important process for the College, the • HIST/PSPP 450: Career & ePortfolio candidate, and you—the students. Your input and feedback on the candidates, if you get to meet and Continued…

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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1

News & POI Vargas coming to MCLA (Cont.) (Cont.)

Workshop immigration will be available to students this fall. First, there Prof. Janis: will be a community forum led • HIST 320: American by Prof. Taylor’s POSC 210 class Immigration & Ethnicity on Oct. 30. On Nov. 6 there will • HIST 403: History of be a screening of Vargas’s documentary, “Undocumented,” American Radicalism followed by a panel discussion.

Then, Jose Vargas will be on Prof. Jones-Sneed: campus Nov. 13 with a full day Have you presented at the • HIST 320: Reading of activities in which students URC? W.E.B. DuBois (cross-list can be involved. If you want or with Honors) need more information please The URC is a great way contact Prof. Taylor at to gain experience, hone Prof. Pecor: [email protected]. What a skills, and prepare for life • HIST 330: US and Latin great opportunity for MCLA and after MCLA. In the 21st America MCLA students! Century, any job you have will require you to Prof. Taylor For a recent example of the work Jose Vargas has been doing, apply your knowledge, • POSC 315: Politics of check out this piece that was and present your Communication (cross- published in Politico. findings, so start now at list with Honors) MCLA in the URC. See • POSC/HIST 315: The MCLA Public Policy the URC website for info. American Foreign Policy Speaker’s Series is made possible through the generosity of the Prof. Taskin: Ruth Proud Charitable Trust. • POSC 315: American

Character and Values

Travel Courses in Spring 2015 Open House 9/17 As many of you may know, Don’t miss our Travel Courses are one of the HIST/PSPP Open House best things we have going here on 9/17 in the History at MCLA. More to the point, the House at 11:30. Come to HIST/PSPP department is a meet other HIST/PSPP leader in the number of travel students, professors, and courses offered on campus. If get some free food! Bring you want to know more about friends who may be these in general, please visit thinking about MCLA’s Travel Course website. HIST/PSPP as a major or There are no HIST/PSPP travel minor. courses this year, but there will be at least 2 in 2016.

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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1

Internships (Cont.) summer with the City of North Adams. Zac was deeply involved with research for the City as the Mayor and City Council work on finding revenue for North Adams. Zac also helped City Administrator Mike Canales develop language for the founding of an Arts Commission.

Both Brendan and Zac were able to take advantage of a program for Massachusetts’ residents. If you are a resident of MA, you are eligible for grant from MCLA and the Commonwealth to be applied toward your costs. The grant amount varies based on the number of credit hours your internship is so don’t let costs be a door in the face of your internship plans just yet! Get more information from CSSE or anyone in the HIST/PSPP department.

Alisia True and Century America

Alisia True recently completed a project through COPLAC entitled, “Century America.” COPLAC schools had students do a project based on the experiences of their institutions during ‘The Great War’—WWI. Alisia’s excellent work can be seen at mcla.centuryamerica.org. N.A.N.S., c. 1915 Courtesy A. True Nicole VanBramer Spent Taking Care of Russian Summer at Samuel Harrison Icons House Education a Focus of Summer Sam Thomson represented Internship Nicole’s summer internship MCLA and completed an had her working in Pittsfield internship in Clinton, MA, Many MCLA History majors are at the Samuel Harrison during the 2014 summer. also Education double-majors, or at least have plans to teach. House. Of her time there, Sam said, “I was a Internships can be very Nicole says, “My experience curatorial intern at the enlightening for that career path for this internship has been Museum of Russian Icons. as Hayley Cooper discovered this eye opening, it showed how Having the opportunity to curate an entire exhibit was past summer. Hayley says of her much work, effort, time and time in an Albany internship, “I research goes into making a a unique experience. Through my time at the did my internship at Parsons historical site/museum. This Museum I was able to Child & Family Center in Albany internship gave insight to the focus my career path while NY and I was there twice a week. local history around where I expanding my knowledge My internship was at a school live. I have learned a lot of Russian history.” that helped cognitively low about Samuel Harrison and functioning or behavioral the African American challenged kids from 6-8th grade, community centered in the and I got to aid in teaching Berkshires during the Civil lessons specifically those around War.” history.”

The Department of History, Political Science & Public Policy is always available to you—the students. Please do not hesitate to come see us in the History House at 72 Porter Street. Also, if you are participating in something academically or co-curricularly please let us know so we can put it in the newsletter. To see what’s going on all the time, ‘Like’ us on !

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History, Political Science & Public Policy Newsletter Vol. 1, #1 Honor Societies in HIST/PSPP

The Department of History, available for members. More Political Science & Public Policy information can be found here at MCLA is home to two honor and on the Facebook page. societies: Phi Alpha Theta (History) and Pi Sigma Alpha Pi Sigma Alpha’s requirements (Political Science). Admission to are at least 10 hours of political these honor societies is based on science upper level course work GPA, and the induction with a GPA of at least 3.0 in ceremonies are held at the those courses. As with Phi annual HIST/PSPP Banquet in Alpha Theta, there are numerous the spring. opportunities for internships and conference presentations. For Have you considered the Membership requirements for more on Pi Sigma Alpha check benefits of college honor the Alpha Beta Omega chapter of out their website or their Phi Alpha Theta are: students Facebook page. societies? must be juniors or seniors and complete a minimum of 4 If you are interested in joining courses in History, achieve a either of these groups, email minimum GPA of 3.1 in History Prof. Taylor for PSA or Prof. and a GPA of 3.0 or better Janis for PAT to check on overall. Membership is open to eligibility. Membership is open History majors or minors. There for majors and minors of both are numerous internships fields.

History House Herald

Department of History, Political Science & Public Policy Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts North Adams, Massachusetts, 01247

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