The first evidence we have of the new craze of "Hilling," or taking photos with the cutout of Hill Building that Phi Alpha Theta sells for the low, low price of $20, is the Mock Trial Team posing with it at the Nature Center.
Way to lead the way Mock Trial Team!
Send your hilling photos to r-crawford.2@onu.edu and I will blog you!
from a press release by ONU Communications and Marketing
ADA —
Ohio Northern University students and students from Perm State University in
Russia connected via Skype to discuss the Cold War on Thursday, Nov. 15, at
8 a.m.
ONU Students
Russ Crawford, associate professor
of history, initiated the relationship with Perm State University when one of
his graduate student friends married a Russian woman and taught English at PSU. From
there, a telebridge using the Elluminate Conferencing System was created, and
three years ago Crawford delivered a talk about sport and the Cold War and
answered student's questions.
The program continues to grow under the direction of Professor Kate Isaeva of PSU and Crawford, and
the latest overseas conversation will have Crawford’s students in his Cold War
course conversing with their Russian counterparts.
PSU Presentation
“We hope to learn from them how
Americans were depicted in their popular culture: books, propaganda posters,
movies, television and the like. American students, when they think of the Cold
War, if they ever do, would likely see the Russians as a threat,” Crawford
said. “To have Russian students tell our students that we were viewed in the
same way should be a bit jarring to their preconceived notions. This course is
already fairly uncommon in the diversity of views presented by faculty who have
expertise in those areas. Adding the Russian view will make it even more so.”
Crawford
added that Perm itself is of particular interest because it was the location of
artillery and tank production, much like Lima, Ohio. Reportedly, Perm’s
industry was so sensitive that Soviet maps did not even list its location.
PSU Presentation
The talk went very well, with around twenty ONU students and roughly the same number of PSU students talking with each other. A PSU student created a fine presentation that explored how the Cole War, along with the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis were discussed in Russian text books. Not surprisingly, some texts blamed these events on American aggression. One surprise was that in the old Soviet popular culture, more attention was given to depicting the triumph of socialism in that country, rather than demonizing the American enemy.
This was quite different from American popular culture that often used the Soviets as the enemy.
ONU Students on the PSU screen
This event was a unique one for students studying the Cold War in American universities. To actually talk to Russian students would have, during those years, been controversial, to say the least. That Russian and American students can now freely exchange their ideas is a measure of how far our nations have come since those dark and cold days.
Photos courtesy of Matt Chaney and the PSU & ONU Facebook page that Professor Isaeva set up to keep the conversations going.
Forgot this one for a while, but over a hundred ONU students, faculty, staff, and members of the public gathered at the Inn on election night to watch the results. A majority of the students present thought that Republican challenger Mitt Romney would win (oops), and a vast majority had voted, early or in person.
Courtesy of a grant from the Ohio Campus Compact's Campus Election Project, secured by the College Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Pi Sigma Alpha, attendees were fed great food by the Inn's caterers. The Inn also gave attendees a $10 gift certificate to use on their next visit and offered a 20% discount on dinner that night!
Thanks to the Inn staff that took great care of us from 7:30 to 11:00 and to all that shared our common celebration of American politics!
Stephen Borden, who graduated in in 2011with a BA in History and a minor in Public History/Musuem Studies, is nearing the end of his Masters Program at Indiana University/Purdue University-Indianappolis. He reports all going well and that he is having a great time, even as time is flying past. As a part of his program, he has served internships in several musems, including working as the Register of the Masonic Library and Musuem of Indiana, as Collections Intern at the Eiteljorg Musem of American Indians and Western Art, and as a Gallery Programming Specialist at the Indiana State Museum.
Well done Stephen! Hopefully Professor Schuck and I can bring students out to see you and the rest of the ONU colony at IUPUI sometime in the spring!
Ashleigh Kaleugher, who graduated from ONU in 2011 with a BA in Criminal Justice, is nearing completion of her MS in Criminal Justice from Tiffin University. She is currently aiming at a change in course and is planning to enter the Geography Ph.D. Program at Ohio State University. Kaleugher, seen here during her crowning as Miss U.S. Beauties winner in 2010 - the only picture we have of her.
Well done Ashleigh on your forthcoming MS and best of luck in the future!
Dr. Nsia-Pepra recently presented a paper at the International Studies Association Midwest Conference in St. Louis, MO. Below is the detail of his paper:
“Legal Analysis of ECOMOG’s Legitimacy to Forcefully Intervene in Ivory Coast to Restore Democracy”
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’ threat to forcefully intervene to restore democracy in Ivory Coast if incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo persistently refused to cede power to popularly elected Alassane Dramane Ouattara was criticized by critics as illegitimate. Critics questioned ECOWAS’ legitimacy to use force in restoring democracy in member countries especially in the absence of such security provisions in ECOWAS’ founding Treaty. This paper presents a critical legal analysis of ECOWAS’ legitimacy to forcefully intervene and restore democracy in Ivory Coast. The paper argues that despite the absence of a formal legal security instrument, ECOWAS’ action would be legitimate due to the following: its globally supported historic precedence in Sierra Leone and Liberia, collective self-defense, emerging norm of “ Responsibility to Protect” and humanitarian intervention, state practice of democratic intervention and global condemnation of Gbagbo’s recalcitrance and support for the popularly elected Ouattara.
The Ohio Northern Mock Trial competed at a tournament held at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois from November 10-11, 2012. Here, they debated this year's civil case, which involves a surviving spouse suing a deep sea diving company for the death of the other spouse. This was the second tournament of the season for the two polar bear teams, and it proved to be a great learning experience. With many members graduating this past year, the two teams are now fairly new, housing only three returning members. Nevertheless, one team gained ballots in three out of the four rounds, and the other team gained ballots in one out of the four rounds.
Franklin Howard, a returning member, also earned an outstanding witness award with perfect scores on the plaintiff side of the case.
The mock trial team will resume competition at the beginning of the new semester.
Three members of the Saudi Prison Management Certificate Program recently traveled to Ohio State University to present on their ESP program that is at the heart of the program. Umar Sulayman, Shauna McMillan and Zebo Abduvakhabova presented their practices in the English for Specific Purposes on two panels. One presentation was titled From ESL (English as a Second Language) to ESP: Overcoming Barriers that discussed the program that teaches English to the Saudi officers in the context of their profession, rather than teaching conversational English. The second presentation titled English for Special Purposes (ESP): Restoring Content in ESL Programs argued that students learning English should employ language specific to the particular field in which they will be working.
Beth Daft and Heather Fishbaugh, two other members of the ESP team, also attended.
We can always learn more about the Electoral College that selects the President of the United States and the ONU webpage has a series of questions and answers by Dr. Alexander. You can read the Q & A and learn more about this often misunderstood institution.
NHK World, a news service from Japan has spent considerable time on the ONU campus chronicling the 2012 election and how our students are taking an active role. In a recent report, HPJ students were prominantly featured. The report by Jun Takao followed Senior John Curiel, the President of Campus Democrats and Freshman John Willamowski, the President of Campus Republicans. Both students are Political Science majors in our department. The report follows the two and other ONU students through the visit of the CSPAN bus, the debate over health care, and ends with Curiel and College Democrats working on campus to get students to the polls to vote for President Obama, in what turned out to be a successful effort.
Curiel, Willamowski, and all of the other ONU students who were featured in NHK World's report acquitted themselves very well and did a great job in helping Japanese viewers understand how our elections work in a specific place. To watch the report, clik here.
The NHK crew spent a great deal of time on campus this fall and we were very glad to have them! Domo arigato and well done all!
Dr. Alexander has been fielding requests for interviews from near and wide in the past few weeks. The Electoral College, the possibilities of a tie in that body, election results thrown to congress, or faithless electors, are all topics that he has responded to questions from the local, national, and international press lately. We have already reported on Alexander talking to Canadians, and now he has even crossed the Atlantic! His interview with Slate France can be read here, although, if you don't read French, you may want to use Google Chrome, which will automatically translate the story.
When Dr. Alexander has a chance to stop going from one interview to another, we will get a more complete account of all of the media outlets that he has furnished interviews with. Watch this space!
Daniella Chambers, a senior International Studies major, had the incredible opportunity to be first at the microphone during President Obama's November 2 visit to Lima. Daniella is taking the semester off and working for the president's reelection campaign.
This kind of experience is truly invaluable, and having one of ours help introduce the President of the United States is such an outstanding happening that more words cannot do it justice.
Ohio Northern University Founded in 1871, Ohio Northern University is a competitive, comprehensive university affiliated with the United Methodist church. ONU is one of the few private universities to offer a unique blend of quality liberal arts and professional programs in its five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business Administration, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law.
The Ohio Northern Mock Trial competed at a tournament held at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois from November 10-11, 2012. Here, they debated this year's civil case, which involves a surviving spouse suing a deep sea diving company for the death of the other spouse. This was the second tournament of the season for the two polar bear teams, and it proved to be a great learning experience. With many members graduating this past year, the two teams are now fairly new, housing only three returning members. Nevertheless, one team gained ballots in three out of the four rounds, and the other team gained ballots in one out of the four rounds. 
