Expertise & Excellence » politics

Alum earns Pulitzer nomination

tspeel — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:48:49 +0000

Alum Matt Wuerker ‘79 was one of three finalists for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. Wuerker, a political cartoonist and illustrator for the Politico, has appeared in numerous newspapers statewide for the past 25 years. On his natural attraction to political cartoons, Wuerker said, “It’s a small niche, this place where political opinion and art get to mix in the editorial pages of the nation’s newspapers. Where else do you get to be a combination of Dr. Seuss and Noam Chomsky?”

Professor defends academic value of Chavez’s controversial gift to Obama

tspeel — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:22:30 +0000

Bruce Podobnik, associate professor of sociology, shared his thoughts with FOXNews.com about the book Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez handed to President Obama at the Summit of the Americas earlier this month. Titled “Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent,” the book was published by Eduardo Galeano in 1971 and remains controversial for its critical depiction of the United State’s role in the colonization of Latin America. Podobnik included the book in his course “Latin America in Cultural Perspective” last fall, but notes that the text presents a one-sided analysis, which he offset with Walter Rostow’s “The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto.” According to Podobnik, the importance of such a comparative analysis is that “the students get exposed to a polarized discussion that continues to go on today.”

FOXNews.com (New York, NY) Book Chavez Gave to Obama Is Used as Core Text on Many College Campuses

Professor pens editorial on pending climate change legislation

Jodi Heintz — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:18:39 +0000

Rob Kugler, Paul S. Wright Professor of Christian Studies:

Kugler, chair of the Religious Studies Department, published an editorial that highlights his concerns for leaving future generations a livable planet. In addition to his role as professor, Kugler serves as the coordinator for Lewis & Clark’s participation in the National Teach-In on Global Warming, a day-long event involving tens of thousands of college students nationwide who engage with faculty and public leaders in dialogue about public policy solutions to stem the rise in the earth’s temperature.

He frames his argument through a biblical lens: “Jesus, a fairly sharp observer of human nature, argued that parents, when their children ask for bread, are unlikely to give stone instead (Matt 7:9). Tragically, Jesus’ confidence in us is in doubt. Although our children would ask for bread — a future free of the consequences of human-caused climate change — our actions so far have assured them only stone.”

Kugler teaches courses on Jewish and Christian origins, including courses on both the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible and New Testament. His special area of research deals with the interface between the sociohistorical contexts of early Judaism and Christianity and the religions’ interpretation of their received texts and traditions. Kugler was named Professor of the Year by Lewis & Clark students in 2007.

The Oregonian Bread, not stone

Two Overseas Juniors head to Strasbourg to discuss Obama’s presidency

tspeel — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:51:55 +0000

Parasa Chanramy (’10) and Jeanette Valleau (’10) were among over 60 students and speakers from North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, who gathered recently for a three-day conference in Strasbourg, France, to discuss whether or not President Obama would make a difference in US - European relations. Chanramy and Valleau have been studying with the Foundation for International Education (FIE) in London and were awarded fellowships from FIE and Lewis & Clark to attend the conference.

Following the Opening Plenary Lecture by Dr. Stephen Ryan, of the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland, on the topic “Will Illusion Breed Disillusion? Obama, Europe and Global Politics,” students participated in discussions on the future of US foreign policy, the new president’s challenges in the Middle East, and the impact President Obama might have on NATO as it celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding.

Lewis & Clark Overseas and Off Campus Programs aim to enhance on-campus curricula and provide unique academic and experiential opportunities abroad. With programs in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America, these overseas opportunities send over 260 students abroad annually. To learn more about Lewis & Clark Overseas and Off Campus Programs, click here.

Economics professor quoted in U.S. News

tspeel — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:51:37 +0000

Professor of Economics Eban Goodstein is quoted in a recent in U.S. News & World Reports about a trend in educating youth about conservation. Goodstein, co-director of National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions, led 804 institutions and 250,000 people in a “day of engagement” on February 5. The teach-in was designed to bring college students together to discuss global warming and policy solutions and included student participation with members of Congress through videoconferences. On the generation this teach-in targeted, Goodstein said, “Students have a truly heroic task that they have no choice but to fulfill in their lifetimes. [The task is] saving the planet as we know it, so that their children can also inherit a beautiful and rich planet.”

US News (Washington, D.C.) The Future of Climate Change: How to Teach Children to Conserve

Jules Bailey B.A. ‘01 elected to Oregon House of Representatives

Emily — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:52:06 +0000

Jules Bailey B.A. ’01 was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives this fall. The following is an update about Bailey written by senior political science major Ben Brysacz for a site devoted to the Pamplin Society, of which both Bailey and Brysacz are members:

Pamplin Fellow Jules Bailey (’01) has some new digs in Salem. Formerly Jules Kopel-Bailey, Bailey was elected to represent District 42 in the Oregon House of Representatives. This district—including the heart of Southeast and portions of nearby Northeast—is so consistently Democratic, that the primary election, rather than the general election, is the real contest. In the race to replace outgoing Representative Diane Rosenbaum, Bailey faced three other democrats and finished with 41 percent of the vote, more than 10 points ahead of his closest rival. He had no Republican opponent in November, and handily defeated Pacific Green Party candidate Chris Extine.

Bailey has a dizzying resume. A native of Portland, he attended Lincoln High School, and worked on invasive species removal in Forest Park before starting classes at Lewis & Clark. He then took a leave from Lewis & Clark to work for a Swiss development company in Vietnam. After returning to LC to complete his degrees in International Affairs and Environmental Studies, Bailey won a Truman Scholarship, which he used to spend a summer working in Washington, DC at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through a policy program with the Brookings Institution. From there, he went on to earn a Master’s in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Professionally, Bailey has worked as a policy analyst for Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradley, as a consultant for UNICEF in the Sudan, and currently as a Senior Policy Analyst at ECONorthwest, an economic consulting firm here in Portland. Oh, and he also speaks Mandarin Chinese.

On leave from ECONorthwest for the duration of the legislative session, Bailey has been assigned to four committees: Sustainability and Economic Development, Environment and Water, Transportation, and Revenue. He has several big goals in this session including an energy efficiency bill, which he’s been working on “every waking moment since the end of the primary.” The program would use publicly and privately-financed loans to pay for homeowners and small businesses to retrofit their buildings for energy efficiency. The loans would be repaid slowly through utilities bills, but consumers would actually see a net decrease in these bills as a result of increased efficiency. The real beauty of the program though, according to Bailey, is that it will be revenue neutral.

Keep reading about Bailey at the Pamplin Society site…

Assistant Professor Andraé Brown contributes chapter to “The Black Male Handbook”

tspeel — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:39:56 +0000

Andraé Brown, assistant professor of counseling psychology:

Brown recently appeared on a panel introducing “The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life,” a collection of essays about the political and social climate in the black community. This book tells the stories of black males from the hip-hop generation and tackles issues on surviving and living in today’s world. Brown’s chapter is titled “Moving Toward Mental Wellness,” and he will be hosting a seminar in February based on the work.

Brown’s “Moving Toward Mental Wellness” opens with a personal story about his father’s recovery from his fourth heart attack in ten years. Brown writes, “My father’s fight was not against flesh and blood but against the dark forces of the world. New combatants emerged daily, whether racism, sexism, corruption, police brutality[…]and he battled them all with great vigilance.”

Law Student Nick Kahl wins District 49 House race

tspeel — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:58:39 +0000

Law student Nick Kahl attributes his win in the District 49 House race to voter outreach. Kahl, who took in 56% of the votes against his opponent John Nelsen, was not very surprised with his victory: “We ran an aggressive grassroots campaign. I’ve knocked on, I’d say, 14,000 doors. The amount of voter outreach – that was the difference-maker.” Although Kahl was pleased with his win, he stresses that he wants to make a difference in his community first and foremost by revitalizing the sense of pride in Rockwood that he was so used to as a child growing up.

The Gresham Outlook (Gresham, Ore.) Kahl ready to fight for East County in Salem

Professor of Economics Eban Goodstein prepares for new climate-change teach-in

tspeel — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:57:43 +0000

Professor of Economics Eban Goodstein is working to create another global warming teach-in, called the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions, on February 5. Goodstein organized Focus the Nation, a nationwide dialog about climate change, last January; his new project will concentrate on the climate change policies put in place within President-Elect Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office. Goodstein is optimistic that this project will draw large crowds the way Focus the Nation did, which included 1,900 participating colleges and groups. “This is a time for young people to engage with political leaders in Washington and basically spend a day learning, and take that learning to decision makers,” said Goodstein.

The Chronicle of Higher Education (Arlington, Va.) Professor Who Organized Climate-Change Project Plans Another Teach-In

Lewis & Clark faculty share election expertise

tspeel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:02:03 +0000

Throughout the election season, members of the Lewis & Clark faculty offered their expert analyses of various political races. Weighing issues of race, culture, and history, faculty members have studied the presidential race, as well as congressional races and ballot measures.

Explore this interactive map to learn more about Lewis & Clark faculty members’ contributions to the national political discourse in various media outlets throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The map provides links to full-text versions of more than 30 articles citing Lewis & Clark faculty experts that appeared in newspapers from Detroit to Denver, Washington, D.C. to Seattle, and throughout the Portland metro area.

Recent updates include:

Robert Klonoff, dean of the law school, in the National Law Journal, November 6

Cynthia Cosgrave, teacher education instructor, in Beaverton Valley Times, October 23

Faculty members featured:

*John Callahan, Morgan S. Odell professor of humanities

*Cynthia Cosgrave, teacher education instructor

*Robert Eisinger, associate professor of political science

*Alejandra Favela, assistant professor of education

*Steven Hunt, professor of communication

*James Huffman, Erskine Wood Sr. professor of law

*Robert Klonoff, dean of the law school

*Robert Miller, professor of law

Law school dean addresses “Obama effect” on public interest law

Jodi Heintz — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:41:39 +0000

Robert Klonoff, dean of the law school, spoke with the National Law Journal about how the next administration under President-elect Obama might effect the field of public interest law. Public interest law is the practice of law pursued on behalf of both individuals and causes that are not typically served by the for-profit-bar. Public interest lawyers can serve the public by working for civil legal services organizations, non-profit organizations, public defense organizations, prosecutors offices, government agencies and lobbying for non-profit organizations.Lewis & Clark Law School graduates enter public interest careers at a rate that is more than three times the national average. In 2007, the law school had the fifth highest percentage of graduates entering public interest law careers.

National Law Journal The latest ‘Barack effect’: new interest among law students in government, public interest jobs

Assistant Professor of Political Science Todd Lochner analyzes slow-moving obscenity case

tspeel — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:52:34 +0000

Todd Lochner, assistant professor of political science, discusses the slow process of prosecuting obscenity cases during the past eight years of the Bush administration. Lochner points out that because, under the Clinton administration, these charges were typically coupled with other counts, they became higher priority. Considered more of a “moral barometer” under the current administration, these obscenity cases face numerous delays. “It’s not so much the number of obscenity cases they bring, but the qualitative nature of what they’re trying to do by bringing them. The prosecution is trying to set boundaries as to the acceptable realm of adult material,” says Lochner.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Penn.) Federal obscenity case, filed 5 years ago, has stalled

Robert J. Miller, professor of law, connects the Doctrine of Discovery to the Lewis and Clark Expedition

tspeel — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:55:03 +0000

Professor of Law Robert J. Miller links the Doctrine of Discovery to both Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, stating that “Lewis and Clark were not out there by accident. They were making geopolitical claims.” Miller, author of “Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and Manifest Destiny” (Praeger Publishers, 2006), is a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, where he serves on the Circle of Tribal Advisers to the National Committee of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Portland law professor has a new take on Lewis and Clark

Callahan and Eisinger discuss the importance youth participation has on politics

tspeel — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:08:55 +0000

John Callahan, Morgan Odell Professor of Humanities, and Robert Eisinger, associate professor of political science, recently spoke with the Seattle Post Intelligencer about the exciting injection of youth participation in Oregon politics this election season.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, Wash.) Obama gets young people back in the race

Junior to gain political insight as congressional intern

Anne — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:17:33 +0000

Jonathan Shectman, a junior international affairs major, will work in the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer through a congressional internship program of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Shectman hopes that his internship will help him “gain an understanding of how domestic legislation works and and about Congress’s role in making foreign policy decisions.” Read an interview with Shectman here.