Friday, November 30, 2012

Mock Trial Team Kicks Off "Hilling?"


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!








Tuesday, November 27, 2012

ONU and Perm State University Students Discuss the Cold War



PSU Students
 Cold War Discussion


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.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Election Night Extravaganza!

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!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Alumni Living the Dream in Grad School

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!



Alumna Eyeing New Path

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!



Professor Nsia-Pepra Presents Paper

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.

Well done Dr. Nsia-Pepra!

Mock Trial Drops the Gavel on a New Season


From Roving Reporter Amarilla Fair:


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.

Well done Franklin!