International A Fresh Start The International Relations Program expands its presence both in and outside of the classroom Relations IR Courses during the Spring 2014 semester. Newsletter Fall 2014, p. 3 Projects and Developments, p. 1-2 Spring 2014 I Volume 1 Saint Joseph’s University Est. 2014 International Relations Program Updates By Kazuya Fukuoka Director of International Relations Program One of the issues I have noticed over the years is that it is sometimes difficult for International Relations majors to have a strong identity within the program. This is partially Photo by Richard Gioioso, Ph.D. The new inductees of Sigma Iota Rho received a certificate and pin during their ceremony because the program does not have a physical entity (i.e., the on Wed., April 16, 2014. The seniors also received gold cords to be worn at graduation. department office) and the affiliated faculty members come from three different departments: Economics, History, and IR Program Projects and Developments Political Science. To me, however, the interdisciplinary nature of the IR program is our very strength rather than liability. As this Sigma Iota Rho newsletter reports, we have launched several new projects this The Saint Joseph’s University chapter of Sigma Iota Rho was spring, including Sigma Iota Rho (IR Honor Society) and an established in March 2014. Sigma Iota Rho is an interdisciplinary IR Facebook page. IR students also initiated and established a honor society in the field of international affairs, and our chapter new student organization, the International Relations Society. is designated Epsilon Omega. The society also disseminates news- We are also planning to have a student-led brown-bag lunch letters, helps students access professional networks, and provides discussion series (IR Town Hall) in the fall. Through those career development information. Further information about the exciting new developments, I hope that we will develop our society can be found on its website: http://www.sigmaiotarho.org. sense of academic community among our students and faculty Please join us in congratulating our S.I.R. inductees! members. I also welcome our new majors and minors who joined the program this Spring semester. We are happy to have six Senior Inductees Junior Inductees new majors and 15 new minors. Joseph Cerrone Erin Caffrey Chris Cimperman Megan Duffy Salvatore Corasaniti Silvia Garcia Pena Magdalena Jagla Anne Mrazik Connect with International Relations! Lauren Jancuska Caley Rolt Zachary Kaeser Lauren Roy Emily Reineberg Dominique Viel Saint Joseph’s University Rachel Sellers International Relations Program Rory Sweeney Executive Committee Julian Truskowski (2014-15) Jennifer Wcislo Erin Caffrey (President) @SJUIR Dominique Viel (Vice President) Silvia Garcia Pena (Treasurer) Caley Rolt (Secretary) http://www.sju.edu/int/academ- ics/cas/internationalrelations Continued “Projects and Developments,” p. 2 2 | Spring 2014 International Relations Newsletter Projects and ‘From Heidelberg Developments with Love’ Continued from p. 1 Rolt gains new perspective on IR while studying in Germany International Relations Society We now have a student organiza- By Caley Rolt ’16 tion, the International Relations Soci- Photo by Caley Rolt ’16 ety (IRS). Several seniors (notably, Ra- chel Sellers, Joe Cerrone and Zachary Kaeser) and juniors (Dominique Viel) Seeing as I’m in Germany, you would cery shopping done on Saturday or you will got together and initiated the project. think the city slogan would be in German. have to eat out until Monday. Finally, if you The organization has been approved But, “From Heidelberg with Love” is most want to enter the sports center/gym, you by the university. Dominique Viel has definitely not German. However, it does need clean, white-soled shoes. You must been elected President. perfectly describe how much everyone carry them in (not wear them) or else you loves this charming city, and how much the may not participate. Figuring out these mi- city gives back. nor differences has made for a number of IR Facebook Heidelberg is a small German city in funny stories, but I’ve come to love most of We launched our Facebook page in Baden-Württemberg. Located about an these special cultural rules. February. On this page, along with the hour south of Frankfurt, it has only 150,000 Germany is the perfect place for me announcements of upcoming on-cam- inhabitants, a third of which are students, to be studying abroad. Not only is it an pus events, IR faculty members also like me, at the Universität Heidelberg. amazing place to experience a different cul- share articles/links they find interesting. Heidelberg is known for a couple amaz- ture, but I have also been able to broaden This way, we are trying to share with our ing things, including the beautiful castle my IR knowledge and further develop my students (and perhaps people outside the (Schloß), the gorgeous “old bridge” (“Alte German language abilities. I’ve learned so campus community) the ways we acquire Brücke”), the longest pedestrian shopping much about EU politics and international the information about on-going global street in Germany (Hauptstraße), and the alliances within Europe through watch- issues. Typically, we post five to seven (or two kilometer long “Philosopher’s Way” ing and reading the news (in German!), more) links per week. We also showcase (Philosophenweg) on the “Holy Mountain” through my German political science class- faculty’s scholarly achievements, includ- (“Heiligenberg”). es, and through talking with many people. ing new publications, newspaper quotes, In the past two months I have found And my German? Not only am I speaking radio appearances, etc. Heidelberg to be not only one of the most it in everyday life, but all of my classes are Our vision is that students (or picturesque cities in the world, but my new entirely in German. This is tough, because those who “liked” the page) are able to home. As an International Relations major who knows how to say IR terms like “Feder- subscribe to several free magazines with at Saint Joseph’s University, I am always ex- alism” or “Balance of Power” or “Schism” in the IR faculty as editors. As the IR pro- cited about meeting new people, traveling German? (If you ever need to know, it’s der gram at Saint Joseph’s is uniquely multi- to new places, and understanding different Föderalismus, das Kräfteverhältnis, and die disciplinary, we believe that we can offer cultures. Spaltung respectively). I’m two weeks into interesting content from a variety of per- One thing I have found to be most im- classes (the German semester runs April spectives. We believe it is very import- portant while studying abroad is noticing through July) and it’s fascinating to learn so ant that the IR program as an academic and embracing the cultural differences many more details about the German and community of faculty and students share that surround me—the most surprising of EU political systems, as well as to compare what we study, publish, and achieve. which are the small variations in perspec- them to the US foreign policy and political tives and customs. For example, all students system. here have single bedrooms, and they leave I am actually experiencing my IR ma- IR Town Hall (Fall 2014) their doors closed at all times. Also, Ger- jor here in Germany. This experience has mans don’t text and walk at the same time— definitely made me more connected and Twice a semester, the IR Program ever. Plus, there is a law (at least in most of involved with my major. Though I look will host student-led brown-bag lunch southern Germany) that no shops can be forward to being able to apply my experi- discussion series on pressing global is- open on Sundays, not even grocery stores. ence here to my IR classes at St. Joe’s, I don’t sues. Each session will have a specific Only restaurants and cafes are exempt from know if I’ll ever want to leave Heidelberg. theme and a team of students will facil- this regulation. So you need to get your gro- itate the discussion. Spring 2014 International Relations Newsletter | 3 As the semester ends, the IR Program recog- Meet the Faculty nizes faculty who have joined us this year Richard Gioioso, Ph.D. Brian Yates, Ph.D. Erik Huneke, Ph.D. Political Science History History Dr. Gioioso is trained broadly across the Dr. Yates’ research centers on the con- Dr. Huneke is the David H. Burton social sciences and has worked extensively struction of the modern Ethiopian state, Postdoctoral Fellow. He is happy to be as a researcher in the U.S. and abroad. His specifically on identity in this modern state back in the Philadelphia area, since he is areas of focus include U.S. immigration, eth- construction. Dr. Yates is presently working a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Swarthmore nic and racial identity, trust and civic partic- on a book manuscript entitled “The Other College. He was awarded a Ph.D. in history ipation in U.S. and Colombian societies, the Habasha: The Oromo and the Creation of from the University of Michigan, Ann Ar- impact of social and economic policies on the Modern Ethiopian State (1855-1913).” bor in 2013. He is currently transforming disadvantaged communities, and arts and His other areas of research include iden- his dissertation, “Morality, Law, and the artists in U.S. and Cuban societies. For the tity formation throughout the African Socialist Sexual Self in the German Dem- IR Program, he offers POL 115 Introduction continent and its Diasporas in addition to ocratic Republic, 1945-1972,” into a book to International Politics, IRT 211 World Re- pre-modern African state constructions. and beginning work on a second project gional Geography, POL 359 Contemporary For the IR Program, he offers HIS 210 His- focusing on conceptions of the body and International Migration, POL 352 Global torical Introduction to Modern Africa and disability in East Germany.