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The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy: Introduction to Innovative Thinking

The Spirit of Jazz & Democracy fall residency features interactive lectures, performances, workshops, and master classes designed to inspire free thinking, democratic engagement, and positive social and political progress. In the “Introduction to Innovative Thinking” workshop, master drummer Paul F. Murphy and jazz historian and drummer Dominic Fragman ’07, guide participants through explorations of the concept and practice of innovation in jazz, other art forms, social practices, and the life of the individual.

This project was made possible by a grant from Maryland Humanities, through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Maryland Humanities.

NS&M Colloquium: Science & Politics of Global Climate Change

Please join us for a panel discussion on the science and politics of global climate change, particularly since the change in administrations this year.  Our panelists are Dr. Michael Mann of Penn State University and Dr. Michael Cain of St. Mary’s College.

Dr. Mann is a well-known climatologist and a featured speaker of the “March for Science” in Washington, D.C. last April.  He is the author of several popular books on global warming; his work has been featured in several documentaries on climate change, including “An Inconvenient Truth”.

Dr. Cain is a political scientist and has served previously as chair of the political science department of St. Mary’s College. Since 2002, he has been a senior technical adviser to the U.S. government on energy development issues working in Bulgaria, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Romania, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

There will be a book signing after the talk.  This event is free and open to the public, and meant for a general audience.

The Benjamin Bradlee Distinguished Lecture in Journalism: Cokie Roberts

The Center for the Study of Democracy presents the Benjamin Bradlee Distinguished Lecture in Journalism with Cokie Roberts. Her topic is “Resilience and Resistance: Coping in Hard Times.”

Cokie Roberts is a political commentator for ABC News and NPR.   In her more than 40 years in broadcasting, she has won countless awards, including three Emmys.  She has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the 50 greatest women in the history of broadcasting.  In addition to her reporting, Roberts has written six New York Times bestsellers, most dealing with the roles of women in U.S. history.

In addition to her appearances on the airwaves, Roberts, along with her husband, Steven V. Roberts, writes a weekly column syndicated in newspapers around the country by Universal U Click.  The Roberts also wrote two books together: Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for Interfaith Families, published in 2011 and From this Day Forward, an account of their now almost fifty year marriage and other marriages in American history. The book immediately went onto The New York Times bestseller list, following Cokie Roberts’s number one bestseller, We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters, an account of American women’s roles and relationships over time.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Discusses U.S.-Russian Relations

A third-generation Marylander, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin is Ranking Member of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He has worked across party lines to further America’s national security and to ensure that good governance, transparency and respect for human rights are integrated into our foreign policy efforts. Senator Cardin has earned a reputation as a defender of universal human rights and refugees worldwide. He is the author of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which has changed the human rights abusers and corrupt officials around the world are sanctioned by the United States. A member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission since 1993, he currently serves as the Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism, and Intolerance for the 57-nation Organization Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.

U.S.-Russian Relations Under the Trump Administration: What does Russia Expect?

This event is free of charge and open to the public.

The Center for the Study of Democracy and The Patuxent Partnership will host Professor Tatiana Shakleina’s lecture on the SMCM campus.  She is Head of the Department of Applied International Political Analysis at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Moscow, Russia’s most prestigious educational entity focusing on international relations. Professor Shakleina is an expert on Russian foreign policy and international relations. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including Russia and the United States in World Politics, Foreign Policy of the Bush Administration: Concepts and Practice and Russia and the United States in New World Order.

A reception by invitation will follow in the Blackistone Room of Anne Arundel Hall, SMCM campus.

Issues of Criminal Justice: Race- or Poverty-Based?

Justice and Inequality Roundtable

The United States criminal justice system has been under severe criticism. The perception that the system is unfair and discriminatory is held by a number of persons.  To what extent does this perception mirror reality?  What is the number of non-whites in the US and MD prison systems?  What disparities in the system can be explained by discrimination based on race? What disparities may be caused by other factors, such as poverty?  At what stages of the criminal justice process are racial, ethnic and economic disparities most apparent?

At the Center for the Study of Democracy’s “Issues of Criminal Justice: Race or Poverty Based?,” The Honorable Peter J. Messitte, Senior United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, will give the keynote address on these issues.  His presentation will be followed by a roundtable discussion with comments by Hon. Paul B. DeWolfe, Jr., Public Defender of the State of Maryland, Baltimore; Hon. James Kenney III, Judge of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (retired); and Hon. Karen H. Abrams, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County.

The Center for the Study of Democracy, sponsor of the program, will hold an invitation-only reception before the event, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Reconstructed State House of 1776 on the SMCM campus.  Inquiries should be directed to Adrienne Dozier (amdozier@smcm.edu or 240-895-6432).

This free event is open to the public.  It will take place the Auerbach Auditorium located at 47458 Trinity Church Road, St. Mary’s City, MD  20686.

Madison, Montpelier, and the Constitution

During his own lifetime James Madison was dubbed “Father of the Constitution,” a title he humbly dismissed.  Madison, though, would have a larger hand than any other individual of the founding era in shaping the American political system of government.  Kyle M. Stetz, Manager of Student and Family Programs at James Madison’s Montpelier will explore the work Madison completed, before, during, and after the Constitutional Convention of 1787.  What exactly did Madison do?  What prepared him for such significant work in government-building?

Kyle Stetz began his career as an Interpretive Park Ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park, and also worked as a Historical Interpreter at Historic Halifax State Historic Site in Halifax (NC) known for “Halifax Resolves,” the first official action by an entire colony recommending independence from England.  Currently he manages student and family programs at the home of James Madison, Montpelier.

 

This is the Annual Judge William O.E. Sterling Constitution Day Lecture organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy in cooperation with SMCM’s Political Science Department.

Picking a President in 2016: Lessons Learned (or not) from Previous Campaigns, Elections, and Their Aftermaths

The Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa welcomes Visiting Scholar Dr. Harold W. Stanley.

Focusing on the 2016 presidential election provides an opportunity to sharpen our understanding of the presidential selection process and the state of our national politics. Current political dynamics from the 2016 campaign can reinforce or call into question lessons learned from the scholarly literature on previous campaigns, elections, and their aftermaths.

This event is co-sponsored by the Dept. of Political Science and the Center for the Study of Democracy.

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Harold Stanley has recently been named SMU’s Vice President for Executive Affairs, after having served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost ad interim since June 1, 2015. Prior to that, Dr. Stanley had served as Associate Provost since 2010. In his role as Associate Provost, Dr. Stanley oversaw the International Center, SMU-in-Taos, the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center, the Center for the Academic Development of Student Athletes, and the President’s Scholars. Dr. Stanley is the Geurin-Pettus Distinguished Chair in American Politics and Political Economy at SMU, a faculty position he has held since fall 2003 upon his arrival to the University. Prior to his tenure at SMU, he served as Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Rochester, where he began his teaching career. In 1991 he received Rochester’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award.

Dr. Stanley also taught at Yale University as the Prize Teaching Fellow (1978-1979), and served as a Visiting Research Professor at the University of Alabama (1987–1988) and at SMU (2000-2001). During the 2000-2001 academic year he served as President of the Southern Political Science Association.

Dr. Stanley’s research focuses on American government, particularly on Southern and Latino politics as well as presidential elections.  He is the author of numerous books and articles; coedits Vital Statistics on American Politics, now in its 15th edition; and has testified often as an expert witness in federal court on voting rights and redistricting.

He has recently been honored with the Outstanding Teaching in Political Science Award of Pi Sigma Alpha/American Political Science Association, and during his tenure at SMU he has received the Outstanding Administrator Award (2013), as well as SMU’s prestigious “M” Award (2010), the most highly prized recognition bestowed upon students, faculty, staff and administrations

 

Degrees:    B.A.       Yale University, 1972   Phi Beta Kappa

M.Phil.   Oxford University, 1975

Ph.D.      Yale University, 1981

Perspectives on Immigration: From Central America to Maryland

Join us for a round table about the realities of immigration between Central America and Mexico and Maryland. Six participants will share their experience and expertise on the causes of immigration, the journey to the United States from Central America and Mexico, and immigrant communities in Maryland.

Co-sponsored by the Department of International Languages and Cultures, the Department of Political Science, and Mellon Civic Engagement funding, in conjunction with the exhibition “Destino” (on view in Boyden Gallery, October 20-November 22).