Category Archives: Political Science and International Relations

Sign Language in the Dorms

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Esoshani Barton

Esoshani Barton, ’16

Thursday evening, March 31, 2016, in Bouton Hall, I collaborated with Resident Advisor Esoshani Barton to put on an American Sign Language (ASL) Social Program for the dormitory residents as part of the Residence Life Community Outreach Initiative. Esoshani is a senior majoring in International Relations and minoring in Deaf Studies. She has taken numerous courses in the Deaf Studies minor and is currently working on an independent studies course to advance her knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture.

For the program, we instructed a beginning sign language lesson including ASL fingerspelled alphabet, numbers, Wh- question signs, food, family and feeling signs. Then we conducted activities such as ASL bingo and ASL charades. Participants had the opportunity to make ASL door decorations with the handshapes for the fingerspelled names.

Dorm residents with fingerspelled name cards Dorm residents playing ASL games

This event was enjoyed by all attendees! It was wonderful to be involved in this Residence Life program that shared American Sign Language and Deaf Awareness with the dormitory community.

-Rebecca Swenson, Department of Communication Disorders
Deaf Studies Minor

 

LA&S Outstanding Graduates Honored

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Students from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who excelled academically and outside of the classroom were among graduates honored during the campus-wide Outstanding Graduate Awards ceremony, held Thursday, Dec. 11 in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Philip Mauceri presented the students with certificates.

Congratulations to all LA&S Outstanding Graduates:

Anthropology
Alexis Moody

Asian Studies
Dennis Gross

Communication
Mia Faske
Carly Rome
Hayley Ward

Communication Disorders
Sarah McNamara
Shayna Burgess
Heidi Schmidt (Graduate)

Digital Media and Journalism
Gianna Canevari
Julio Olivencia
Alexandria Fontanez*

English
Maya Slouka
James Frauenberger
Karissa Keir
Danielle Brown (Graduate)

History
Kevin Vogelaar
Jessica Pierorazio (Graduate)
Jonathan Mandia*

Languages, Literatures & Cultures
Alexandria Fontanez*
Sarah Walling

Latin American & Caribbean Studies
Adam Repose

Philosophy
Elizabeth Saunders
Jonathan Mandia*

Political Science/International Relations
Andrew Roepe

Psychology
Hannah Lake
Stefany Batista
Geoffrey Ralls
Morgan Gleason (Graduate)

Sociology
Sarah Alestalo
Imuetinyan Odigie
Allison Smalley

Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Sudies
Emily Holmes

*Received multiple departmental awards.

Panel Discussion on U.S. Foreign Policy and ISIS to be Held Nov. 20

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The SUNY New Paltz Center for Middle Eastern Dialogue and the Department of Political Science and International Relations will sponsor a panel discussion on “U.S. Foreign Policy in Regard to ISIL/ISIS/IS” on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. in Lecture Center 102 on the New Paltz campus. This event is free and open to the public.

Panelists will include professors Vijay Prashad (Trinity College), James P. Ketterer (Bard College), and Lewis Brownstein (SUNY New Paltz). Stephen Pampinella, a professor at SUNY New Paltz, will moderate the discussion.

Prashad serves as the George and Martha Kellner Chair in South Asian History at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and is the author of 16 books, including “The Poorer Nations: A Possible History of the Global South” (2013), “Arab Spring. Libyan Winter” (2012), and “The Darker Nations: A People’s History of the Third World” (2007). He edits the “Dispatches” series of books for LeftWord Books and is a columnist for Frontline (India), a regular contributor to The Hindu (India), and a contributing editor for Himal South Asia (Nepal) and for Bol (Pakistan).

Ketterer is Senior Fellow, Institute for International Liberal Education and Director of International Academic Initiatives for the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College. He is affiliated with the Bard Globalization and International Affairs Program, and the Middle Eastern Studies and Political Studies Departments at Bard. Ketterer is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on international and comparative politics. He has been a Boren Fellow in Morocco, a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Tunisia and a State Department Fellow at the White House. He has served on international missions and consultancies for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the United Nations Development Program, and the U.S. Agency for International Development in a host of countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Brownstein is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at SUNY New Paltz, having taught for 45 years in the Political Science and International Relations Department.  His major areas of expertise include American Foreign Policy, which he taught and lectured on for many years, and the International Relations of the Middle East with particular emphasis on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  After the attacks of 9/11, Brownstein created a course on Terrorism in World Politics which has been offered regularly.

Support for this event has been provided by the Office of Academic Affairs, the Honors Program, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Campus Auxiliary Services. For more information contact Professor James Schiffer at schiffej@newpaltz.edu or (845) 257-3637.

About the Center for Middle Eastern Dialogue
Founded in 2009, the Center for Middle Eastern Dialogue promotes constructive dialogue about the Middle East that explores ways to establish lasting peace in the region, encourage economic collaboration, and stimulate cultural and educational exchange. The Center provides a forum for students, faculty, community members, scholars and diplomats of various points of view to exchange ideas in a respectful way that will promote greater understanding of this complex and volatile region of the world.

Study Abroad Opportunity in Deaf Studies

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Please join us on Monday, October 27 for a slide show and presentation on this exciting study abroad opportunity affiliated with the Deaf Studies program:

Deaf Studies study abroad presentation announcementLearn more about faculty member Rebecca Swenson’s trip to Ethiopia this past summer here:

 Deaf Education and Empowerment in Ethiopia

For more information, contact Rebecca Swenson at swensonr@newpaltz.edu

 

Deaf Education and Empowerment in Ethiopia

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Ethiopia_2014_Empowerment_GroupParticipation in the Visions Global Empowerment Deaf Education and Empowerment program this summer renewed my love for traveling in Africa and strengthened my desire to awaken and increase Deaf Awareness in others.

In July and August I Ethiopia_2014_Empowerment_Youth1had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Ethiopia on a service trip. My experience of Ethiopian culture and of cultural exchange was amazing. As part of the trip, we participated in Deaf Leadership Capacity training workshops with local Deaf adults, teachers and profeEthiopia_2014_Empowerment_Youth2ssionals in the field of Deafness. Also working in partnership with the Ethiopian Deaf Community, we conducted activities for Deaf children, youth and young adults. One of my favorite activities with the Deaf youth was to have them create a book about themselves. Then we had each student share their book with the group.

I especially enjoyed gaining insight into Ethiopian Deaf Culture. One similarity to American Deaf Culture that I observed was the desire for clear communication, expressed by being straight forward and getting to the point when conversing. It was intriguing to be immersed in the culture and to compare Ethiopian Sign Language to American Sign Language. There were differences in many signs and we had interpreters. After a short time signing together we were able to find ways to clarify things and communicate appropriately. It was a fantastic trip!

Ethiopia_2014_Empowerment_LeadersIn collaboration with Visions Global Empowerment, SUNY New Paltz will be offering a Study Abroad Program to Ethiopia in summer of 2015, June 15-27. For information about this opportunity contact: Rebecca Swenson at swensonr@newpaltz.edu.

For information about Visions, visit: www.VisionsGlobalEmpowermEthiopia_2014_Empowerment_RSwensonent.org.

-Post written by Rebecca Swenson, SUNY New Paltz Lecturer in the Deaf Studies Program and the Dept. of Communication Disorders

 

McNitt Announces Retirement

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McNitt

Dr. Glenn McNitt

The Political Science and International Relations Department congratulates Glenn McNitt, who has decided to retire at the end of this semester after 41 years of teaching.

Professor McNitt has served as the lynchpin of the American Politics section of the department, as well as in various administrative capacities.  McNitt has also been an active voice in state and local politics, and was the elected Chapter President of United University Professions for many years.

His presence in the department will be much missed. McNitt’s retirement party is scheduled for May 8from 4-6pm in Jacobsen Faculty Tower, Room 1010.  Please join us in giving him a great send-off!

LA&S Summer Internship Scholarships

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The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce scholarships to support low-paying or unpaid summer internships for students.  For summer 2014 we will offer two or three $1,000 awards.  This program is supported by generous contributions from SUNY New Paltz parents, alumni, and friends to the LA&S Dean’s Fund.

These are merit-based awards that take into account the student’s GPA, the quality of the internship, the relevance of the internship to the student’s academic major and educational goals, and the relevance of the internship to the student’s future career.

Guidelines:

  • Applicants should be majors in a department or program within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Applicants should have a 3.3 or higher cumulative G.P.A.
  • Preference will be given to students in their junior year; seniors who will graduate in May or August 2014 are not eligible for this award.
  • The internship cannot be with a business or organization run by a family member, relative, or close family friend.

To apply, students should submit the following:

  • A 300-500 word description of the internship and its relation to the student’s academic major, educational goals, and career plans
  • A resume
  • An academic transcript with cumulative G.P.A.
  • Two letters of recommendation from faculty

Applications should be sent to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, JFT 614.  Deadline for applications is May 7, 2014.  Awards will be announced on May 15, 2014.

Free Hearing Test for Students, Faculty & Staff

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DSC03877Hearing loss is a very common problem that can significantly affect an individual’s ability to communicate. The Speech Language and Hearing Center (SLHC) here on campus provides full audiological evaluations at no cost for students, faculty and staff.  The evaluation takes approximately one hour and will be performed by a nationally and state certified audiologist. If you are interested, please call 257-3600 to make an appointment.

Statistics on Hearing Loss:

  • About 20 percent of adults in the United States, 48 million, report some degree of hearing loss.
  • 60 percent of the people with hearing loss are either in the work force or in educational settings.
  • At age 65, one out of three people has a hearing loss.
  • About 2-3 of every 1,000 children are hard of hearing or deaf
  • Estimated that 30 school children per 1,000 have a hearing loss.

Source: John Hopkins Medicine

LA&S Faculty Lends Support to International Women’s Day

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IWD1

(L-R): Kathleen Dowley, Coordinator of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; Donna Goodman of the MidHudson WORD organization (Women Organized to Resist and Defend); and Ilgu Ozler, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations and Mid-Hudson Amnesty International Chapter; attended the International Women’s Day event on March 6.

Faculty from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences showed their support for women everywhere by attending the International Women’s Day celebration on March 6 in the Coykendall Science Building Auditorium.

The meeting called for an end to violence against women:  in the home, on the street and in all public and private spaces; reproductive justice for all women, including full access to contraception, abortion, health care and child care; full equality for women in all areas of society; a living wage for all, equity in the workplace, with paid family leave; an end to racism, sexism, anti-LGBT bigotry, sexual harassment at work and the commercialization of women in mass media.

Speakers included Ilgu Ozler, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations and chair of the Mid-Hudson Valley Amnesty chapter; Donna Goodman, a UUP delegate, coordinator of the Mid-Hudson WORD chapter, and an editor of the Activist Newsletter; Daniella Monticciolo, member of the New Paltz Feminist Collective on campus; Urban Lyrics (a campus slam poetry group); Himali Pandya of Grace Smith House (a women’s and children’s shelter); Lydia Johnson, of UUP Stony Brook and president of the Long Island chapter of CLUW; and Leah Obias of Damayan, an activist organization of Filipina domestic workers.

The event celebrated the many advances women have won through struggle and signaled the hard work necessary to eliminate the remaining obstacles to full female equality. It was sponsored by the Mid-Hudson chapter of WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend), the Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of Amnesty International, and the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter.