9 students work in honorary fellowship

By Frank Lee, July 4th, 2009


Not all learning takes place inside the classroom.

This summer, nine students from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University are working on community service projects that build leadership skills and social development.

The students are part of the Marie and Robert Jackson Fellows program, which was established in 2008 through an anonymous donation made to St. Ben’s in St. Joseph.
“What the fellowship does is allows students to do full-time work that would not be ordinarily compensated,” said Matt Lindstrom, associate professor of political science at CSB/SJU and director of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement.

The students attend six to eight seminars throughout the summer where they focus on leadership skills, philanthropy, public speaking, grant writing and other topics.
The goal of the program is to improve community life by engaging in both political and community service activities.

“A long-standing tradition at St. Ben’s, St. John’s has been the Benedictine influence of giving and civic work, so this Jackson fellowship continues the tradition of a holistic education where students are not only exposed to classroom theories and ideas but apply them,” he said.

The program is open to students of all majors and includes a highly competitive application and selection process.

The summer work sites vary by degree of leadership and interest from each Jackson Fellow.

“The anonymous donation to St. Ben’s provides funding for nine students, and it’s proven to be quite successful last year, and we’re hoping to expand the program,” said Lindstrom, who directs the fellows program along with Marah Jacobson-Schulte, CSB/SJU service-learning coordinator.

Throughout the summer, students in the program will also learn from each other’s experiences and take part in a reading curriculum intended to develop leadership, entrepreneurial and civic skills.

“We were looking for students who are willing to take risks, who want to do something beyond just sort of building their resume. We wanted students who have been leaders throughout their campus as well as community, or have traveled internationally or volunteered,” Lindstrom said.

More than 40 students applied to be in this summer’s program. They were then narrowed down to a pool of about 15 who were interviewed for the nine spots that would receive a $4,000 stipend.

“The idea is that we want to pay them a wage that allows them to work full time and not have to worry about working two or three other jobs, so they can focus their entire summer on their community involvement and for that reason it’s growing in popularity,” Lindstrom said.

“A lot of students are very qualified and interested in working the public sector or working in politics, public policy or community service, but they simply can’t afford it. Very few people can.”

The Jackson Fellows for this summer are:
Christen Beckstrand, a German and music double major. Beckstrand is working for the St. Cloud Symphony developing a curriculum template for the fourth-grade school outreach program, executing an educational music program for children 7-12 at the St. Cloud Public Library and writing a grant.

Emily Bina, a communication major. Bina is working for the Midday show with SJU graduate Gary Eichten on Minnesota Public Radio News in St. Paul. She is responsible for updating the Web site, writing scripts and editing audio.

Jacqueline Duchschere, a political science major. Duchschere is working for the Office on the Economic Status of Women for the Minnesota Legislature on an archiving project and on a pay equity project.

Catherine Hansen, biology major. Hansen is working for The Center for Cross-Cultural Health in Minneapolis, engaging the Somali community. Her work includes anatomy education for women and a study of interaction between patients and health care professionals.

Laura Huiras, a political science major. Huiras is working for Minnesota 2020 in St. Paul. Her duties are focused on keeping up with educational news, identifying problems and recommending tangible solutions to focus on the success of Minnesota’s educational policy.

Yesenia Murillo, sociology major. Murillo is working on a civic engagement project for Anna Marie’s Alliance in St. Cloud.

Ashley Ver Burg, a biochemistry and environmental studies double major. Ver Burg is working for 1000 Friends of Minnesota in Brainerd on conservation design development, natural resource protection and citizen involvement in land-use processes.

Michael Johnson, a political science major. Johnson is working for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services in St. Paul as an intake screener, court courier and researcher dealing with cases in family, housing and benefits law while supplying legal services to the poorest in the community.

Brian Long, a communication and English double major. Long is working for PrideAlive through the Minnesota AIDS Project in Minneapolis, an outreach program that works to educate young gay men about HIV prevention, the risks of HIV and STDs.

Nick Coleman named Senior Fellow of the McCarthy Center

As a Senior Fellow, Coleman will organize several events on campus, write columns for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, mentor students and serve as a resource for the McCarthy Center.


Star-Tribune Articles:

A Remedy for Fort Snelling's Forgotten War

MIAC Profiles of Excellence: Jeff Schnobrich, Saint John's University

Jeff Schnobrich '09, McCarthy Center participant, featured in College Sporting News.

by Rich Mies, CSN Mapping the MIAC Columnist

There are all kinds of family traditions, ranging from how we worship to whether we serve in the military to how we celebrate the holidays. For many, like Jeff Schnobrich, the choice of college is influenced by family tradition, too. There is a long line of men in Jeff’s family who attended Saint John’s University, and Jeff has continued this tradition. In doing so, he has been a key part of the SJU football team as well as having many off-field activities and accomplishments. In addition, he has become a semifinalist for the Draddy Award, also known as the “Academic Heisman.”

“My dad, grandpa, several uncles and cousins have all attended Saint John’s,” Jeff said.”My brother did, too, for a year. One of my cousins who went here is Matt Schnobrich, who won a bronze medal in rowing at the Beijing Olympics this summer.”

Because of his family connection, Jeff was familiar with SJU, so when the time came to choose a college, his choice did not surprise anyone. “I didn’t even apply at any other school,” he said. “I pretty much knew for a while that I wanted to be a Johnnie.”

While at Saint John’s, Jeff has excelled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.90 GPA. He has been involved in various activities in the political science department, including an internship this summer in Washington, D.C. Jeff also has participated in an overseas study program in Guatemala and several related programs. As a result, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) has named him as one of 164 semifinalists for the 2008 Draddy Trophy. He also is a candidate for the NFF 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Awards.

“Jeff is blessed with many fine qualities,” stated SJU coach John Gagliardi. “He is almost a straight A student, an excellent running back, and all around fine young man in every way.”

Jeff grew up in New Ulm, a city of 14,000 about 100 miles southwest of the Twin Cities. He has two older brothers. “Andy, the oldest, has Down’s syndrome,” said Jeff. “He works back home in New Ulm. Corey went to Saint John’s for a year before transferring to Iowa State, where he earned a degree in architecture. He works in Chicago now.”

He attended New Ulm Cathedral High, where he played football, hockey and baseball. On the ice, Cathedral fielded a cooperative team with New Ulm’s public high school. Jeff played forward, seeing time at both wings and center, as the team needed. He skated on the third line as a sophomore and moved up to the first line for his junior and senior years. Jeff was named to the all-conference team as a senior, as well as the MVP of the New Ulm team. He also won the Hobey Baker Character Award. New Ulm lost in the quarterfinals of Section play in Jeff’s sophomore year and in the semifinals each of the next two seasons.

On the diamond, Jeff was a three-year starter. “My sophomore year, I played second base, third or center field,” he recalled. “I started in center the last two years.” He was named to the all-conference team his junior and senior years after being honorable mention as a sophomore. Jeff also earned All-Section honors as a junior and as a senior, and was named to the all-area team by the New Ulm Journal.

The Greyhounds are among the better high school programs in the state. “My sophomore year, we lost to Sleepy Eye-St, Mary’s in the Section final,” said Jeff. “We lost to them in the playoffs in my junior year, too. We beat them the next year and went on to win the State Class 2A championship.”

Jeff was the starting running back for Cathedral his junior and senior years. As a junior, he had a breakout season, eclipsing the school single-season rushing record with more than 1,100 yards, leading the Greyhounds to a 9-3 record. Jeff was named to the all-conference team and the Journalnamed him to its all-area team as the Greyhounds won their Section but lost to Medford in the opening round of the State.

In his senior year, Jeff topped his own rushing record, rushing for 1,390 yards. He also broke school records for single game yardage (302), single season all-purpose yards (2,050), single season touchdowns (19), career rushing yards (2,487) and career all-purpose yards (3,487). He was named offensive player of the year for the conference as well as all-conference. Jeff was also all-state honorable mention and was the Journal’s area offensive player of the year. “We made it to the Section championship game, but lost to Mankato Loyola,” said Jeff.

Jeff was named Cathedral’s outstanding senior male athlete his senior year.

He was active in drama throughout high school, playing roles in Annie, Little Women, and Fiddler on the Roof before landing the lead role in Music Man his senior year. He also competed on the Speech Team for two years. Jeff also sang in the choir. He was named an AAA award winner for Subsection 7. The AAA award recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and the arts.

The summer before Jeff’s senior year, he and a group of friends organized a community theater group. “There were 10 of us who started our own theatre group,” he said. “That summer, we put on Godspell. The organization we started still is in existence.”

Jeff was a member of the National Honor Society and was commended for the National Merit Scholarship program. The Mankato Free Press named him to its All-Area Team for Academic Excellence. He was valedictorian of his graduating class.

He was a member of the Knowledge Bowl team for four years. “My senior year, we made it to State, where we took 13th,” he said. “We had to compete in the larger schools division, and were one of the smallest schools in that division.”

Jeff was a member of the student government for four years, and was Council President his senior year. He was chosen to represent his school at Boys’ State before his senior year.

As a senior, Jeff was the recipient of two prestigious awards. The New Ulm Rotary Club gave him its annual Service Above Self award, and he was named the winner of the Lumen Christi Award. “That goes to the senior who best exemplifies the principles the school stands for,” he explained.

While many of his peers agonized with trying to decide where to attend college, Jeff’s decision was a quick and painless one. He considered only one school, Saint John’s, knowing well from familial experiences what to expect of SJU as well as the benefits of a Saint John’s education.

During his time at Saint John’s, Jeff has been part of the Johnnies’ football team all four years. He did not see action as a freshman, but he saw action in seven games his sophomore year. He carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards and hauled in three passes for 24 yards as the Johnnies tied for first place in the MIAC with Bethel and advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs. They beat Central (IA) 21-13 and Whitworth (21-3) to advance to the quarterfinals, where they lost to UW-Whitewater, 17-14, finishing their season 11-2.

Last fall, Jeff was the Johnnies’ third leading rusher, garnering 206 yards in 11 games. He also caught 16 passes for 139 yards and scored six touchdowns. Saint John’s finished second in the MIAC but earned an at-large berth in the NCAA playoffs. In the opening round, they beat Redlands (CA) 41-13 before losing to Central, 37-7, ending the year 10-2.

This fall, the Jays are off to a 3-2 start and are 1-2 in league action. Jeff leads the team in rushing with 202 yards and is the Johnnies’ second leading receiver with 23 catches for 246 yards. He ranks ninth among receivers in the MIAC.

Jeff decided to try his hand at track his freshman year. “”I thought it would be fun to try something new and different,” he explained. He ran various sprints and sprint relays for the Johnnies during the indoor and outdoor seasons his freshman and sophomore years. He is contemplating returning to the cinder this winter and spring.

He did not compete in track last year as he was participating in a study abroad program in Guatemala. “I initially became interested in studying abroad before coming to SJU after hearing about my cousin Matt’s semester in Spain,” Jeff stated. “After coming to SJU, I heard other great endorsements for studying abroad and realized that it would be easy to ‘fit in’ academically, as it is for most students. I knew that I wanted to study abroad in a country where I could be immersed in and learn another language. Having taken some Spanish classes, my choices were then narrowed to Spain and Guatemala. Chile, the other Spanish language program offered through CSB|SJU, is in the fall, and I was not going to miss a season of football. I decided to go to Guatemala both for the set-up of the program, which included lots of one-on-one instruction and other interesting classes, and because I thought it would be a more unique experience.”

He spent the semester in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. “It was an incredibly eye-opening experience,” related Jeff. “We were completely immersed in the local culture. This included staying with a host family the entire time I was there, as well as taking one-on-one Spanish classes for four hours a day for the majority of the program. Another academic highlight was a Mayan Cosmovision class, team-taught by a Mayan priest and a cultural anthropologist. Among the highlights of the semester were climbing numerous volcanoes. We also learned about Guatemala’s history and culture, especially its Mayan history and culture.”

There were numerous volunteer opportunities as well. Jeff participated in one that helped with marketing for Kuchub’al, a cooperative of small women producers. He also got involved in a hydroelectric project for Finca La Florida, a small group of communal farmers.

Jeff sports a 3.90 GPA, majoring in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Economics. He has made the Dean’s List five (of six) semesters and is a Regents’/Trustees’ scholar as well as a recipient of a Lynn Gresser Political Science scholarship.

At Saint John’s, Jeff has been involved in the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. The Center is a nonpartisan learning and outreach center that emulates the principles the late Senator espoused. It fosters enhanced civic engagement and dialog about public policy. The Center hosts a series of lectures in the area of public policy and public affairs on campus and sponsors a Washington (D.C.) study program that enables interested students to intern in a government, political, or non-profit office while earning academic credit.

“I became interested in doing the internship through some political science professors, and I knew I needed some work experience related to my field of study,” he said. “I was one of 12 CSB-SJU students in the program who spent the summer in Washington. Not only did we live together and discuss our internships as a group, but we also had seminars, organized by our professors, with alumni and professionals in various fields in DC. The professors helped with application to various sites and helped us prepare for a summer as working professionals in D.C.”

Jeff spent the summer of 2008 working as an intern for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “I applied to the Transportation Committee because of my interest in transportation issues,” he said. “My duties and responsibilities varied: wherever I was needed, I would help. This would often include assisting in the preparation and conducting of committee hearings and meetings. I also did administrative work in the office, and I did research as needed for committee staffers. I was able to sit in on Congressional briefings and staff meetings, and I was also able to attend presentations by important D.C. figures.”

Currently, Jeff works as an office assistant in the Political Science department. One of his main responsibilities is promoting and organizing the Summer Study Program.

After graduation, Jeff is strongly considering Grad School. “I may delay that and get involved in something public policy related,” he said. He is unsure at this point if he will return to DC or get involved in something at the local or regional level.

Because of his familiarity with the school, Jeff arrived at Saint John’s with anticipations about the education SJU would provide him. His experiences not only equaled those expectations but greatly exceeded them. “I’ve gotten what I consider to be a great education, not only in the classroom, but beyond,” he stated. “It stretched from the rain forests of Guatemala to the halls of DC. At the same time, I was still able to play football and run track. It has been a great place to be.”

[The photos are used courtesy of the Saint John’s University Sports Information Office.]

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) is widely respected as one of the premier conferences in nearly every sport competed in Division III. Year after year, the MIAC produces teams and individual student-athletes who excel in their given sport. At the same time, the MIAC schools maintain a reputation of commitment to academic excellence. This article is one in a series of spotlights on some of the young men and women who represent the league’s commitment to excellence, both in the classroom and athletics during the 2008-09 academic year.

This feature will be included in the “Profiles of Excellence 2008-2009″ book which will be available for order at RDM Publishing. It will feature profiles of student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, written by CSN’s “Mapping the MIAC” columnist Rich Mies.

Romney Blasts Obama's 'Apology' Tour

Posted: Monday, June 01, 2009 4:01 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Abby Livingston, Katelin Schartz, and Mark Murray
At a speech today in DC sponsored by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, Mitt Romney called for increased defense spending, and also again criticized President Obama for going on a "tour of apology" while traveling abroad.

"It’s not because America hasn’t made mistakes -- we have -- but because America’s mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world," he said, adding: "Britain’s Guardian newspaper noted that Mr. Obama has been more critical of his own country, while on foreign soil, than any other president in American history. That would be a most unfortunate distinction at any time."

Seeking to bolster his national security credentials, especially if he makes another White House bid, the one-term Massachusetts devoted much of his speech to calling for more defense spending. "We cannot allow the economic crisis to conceal the very real threats to our nation’s security," Romney said. "We cannot ignore the intentions of competitors who would replace America’s leadership with their own, and set back the cause of freedom."

In fact, Romney was fiercely critical of Obama's "domestic" spending at the expense of funding for national defense. "I fear ... that he will look to the military budget to find the biggest cuts and finance his domestic priorities.”

The potential 2012 presidential candidate detailed a litany of other criticisms of the Obama administration -- including its handling of North Korea. “Arrogant, delusional tyrants can not be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows. Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent.”

After the speech, Romney spoke to reporters about GM filing for bankruptcy. He cited a November op-ed he penned advocating for bankruptcy and showed frustration that the action has taken so long and that the federal government has been a party to that delay. When asked if either the Bush or Obama administration were to blame for the drawn out bankruptcy, he expressed a hesitancy to "point fingers" but ultimately said, "Both."

Photos from Johnnie/Bennie Day at the Capitol

Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for college students to go to the Minnesota State Capitol and lobby for the Minnesota State Grant Program by meeting with their local representatives. This government grant gives an average of about $3,000 to about 25% of our campuses, and lets recipients choose the place of higher education that best suits them - which makes it an extremely beneficial and pertinent grant to Minnesota's private colleges. The day is organized by members of the Minnesota Private College Counsel, and the day ends for Bennies and Johnnies with a networking event organized by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement.

Photos from Politics and a Pint

March 23rd | The Power of Doorstep Democracy

Photos from "Reflections on Public Life and Civic Engagement"

Video: "Green Design in the 21st Century: Lessons from the World."

Chris Butters' lecture on green building from February 18th.

Follow the link below to view the presentation:
http://real.csbsju.edu/asxgen/mccarthy/Chris_Butters_021809.wmv

Photos from Sally McNamara's presentation on “A Conservative European Memo to Obama”

Two senior statesmen reflect on public life and civic engagement

St. Paul, Minn. — Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger discuss their experiences in public life and the need for civic engagement.

The discussion was sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at St. John's University.

Midday host Gary Eichten moderated the discussion.

Walter Mondale and Dave Durenberger speak on "Reflections on Public Life and Civic Engagement"

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Two senior statesmen will talk about their years of public service and civic engagement during a panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 16, at Pellegrene Auditorium, Saint John’s University, Collegeville.

Former Vice President Walter Mondale and former Sen. Dave Durenberger will speak on “Reflections on Public Life and Civic Engagement.” They will be joined by moderator Gary Eichten, host and producer of Minnesota Public Radio’s Midday program.

The discussion, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at CSB and SJU. The center seeks to engage the campus and wider community in debate and discourse regarding public policy and public affairs.

Mondale, Durenberger and Eichten are no strangers to the SJU campus.

Mondale, the nation’s 42nd vice president under Jimmy Carter, was a eulogist during the Memorial Mass for former Sen. Eugene McCarthy Jan. 23, 2006, at the Abbey Church. McCarthy was an SJU graduate.

Durenberger, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1978-95, recently completed the second annual Eugene McCarthy Scholar in Residence at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. And, both Durenberger (Class of 1955) and Eichten (Class of 1969) are graduates of SJU.

Many political scientists credit the Carter/Mondale administration for creating a new model of the role of a vice president. Mondale traveled extensively throughout the world advocating U.S. policy. He was the first vice president to have an office in the White House, and he served as a full-time advisor and troubleshooter for the administration.

Before becoming vice president, Mondale served as Minnesota attorney general from 1960-64, and as a senator from 1964-76.

He was the Democratic nominee for president in 1984, losing the election to President Ronald Reagan. He served as ambassador to Japan under President Bill Clinton in 1993-96, and was tabbed in 2002 to replace Sen. Paul Wellstone as the Democratic nominee for Senate after Wellstone died in a plane crash 11 days before the election. Mondale lost the election to Norm Coleman.

Born in St. Cloud, Durenberger was the son of long-time SJU athletic director George Durenberger. During his tenure in the Senate, Durenberger served as chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence; chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee; and chaired the Intergovernmental Relations Subcommittee.

Durenberger is currently a senior health policy fellow at the University of St. Thomas, and chairs the National Institute of Health Policy, a program of St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business. He was also named by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to lead the Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs.

Sally McNamara speaks on “A Conservative European Memo to Obama”

March 3, 2009

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – What do Europeans think of the new administration of President Barack Obama?

Sally McNamara, a senior policy analyst in European affairs at the Heritage Foundation’s Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom in Washington, D.C., gives a lecture on “A Conservative European Memo to Obama” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at room 204A, Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, College of Saint Benedict.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and Mark Kennedy’s Frontiers of Freedom Lecture Series. Kennedy, who served Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-07, is a 1979 graduate of SJU.

In addition to her lecture, McNamara will speak with selected students from CSB and SJU March 11. She is also scheduled to address an international political economy class, taught by assistant professor Derick Becker.

McNamara concentrates on American relations with the European Union and European countries, with particular focus on economic reform policy, trade issues and the war on terrorism. She also analyzes NATO’s evolving role in post-Cold War Europe.

A native of Nottingham, England, who came to America in 2004, McNamara served as chief parliamentary aide to Roger Helmer, a member of European Parliament in Brussels. Previous to that, she acted as a regional press officer for the British Conservative Party in the East Midlands, United Kingdom, and served on the Nottingham City Council.

The Thatcher Center was created in 2005 to study and help strengthen transatlantic relations. Its primary focus is to preserve and improve relations between the U.S. and Britain; advance American and British interests in Europe; and promote joint American-British leadership in the global war on terrorism.

GOP goes soul searching

Ever wonder what lingers in the hearts of Republicans as they retool for a return to power?
By LISA VAN DUSEN
Last Updated: 1st March 2009, 3:58am

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There I was, in the bowels of the Omni Shoreham, trolling for the soul of the Republican Party, when I got an offer I couldn't refuse.

"You've gotta get out on an aircraft carrier to really see it," said Bud Barnes, a retired American Airlines pilot and Vietnam vet from Little Rock.

Having never been on an aircraft carrier, I really didn't want to discourage the invitation, but I had to ask.

"What does the aircraft carrier have to do with rebuilding the Republican brand?"

"You'll see what I'm talking about. Really."

He'd been talking about the state of conservatism in America in the post-Bush, mid-Obama honeymoon wilderness, tracing a continuum from the French Revolution and Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Rush Limbaugh and I guess my increasing bewilderment was making him desperate.

By the end of day one of "Where did we go wrong?" post-mortems and Obama obsessing at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Barnes' aircraft carrier field trip was looking pretty sensible.

The annual CPAC conference was expected to draw a record 9,000 attendees this year, all wanting to hear something that would not only overtake Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's falsetto response to the nation last Tuesday night as the sine qua non for conservative electoral rebirth but maybe even sum it all up in one, great defining idea.

MORAL CRUSADE
"We will not yield!" intoned Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, who, to great effect in the room, cast the road to victory as a moral crusade for "freedom, free markets and traditional moral values." The problem with, "We will not yield," is that, although it may rally the Christian right, it's still really about the other guys you're not yielding to.

Former Arkansas governor and former and seemingly current Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, whose daughter Sarah's intro stole the show, railed against the Bush record and against John McCain for voting for the $700-billion September Wall Street bailout before taking a stab at an idea that also offered the bonus of closure: "We didn't lose because we wanted to keep unborn babies from ending up in wastebaskets. We lost because we were too closely associated with people who'd spend $1,400 on a wastebasket."

OK, so it's no, "Morning in America."

Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock, 27, is the youngest member of the House of Representatives who recently earned rightie points for resisting the stimulus stumping charms of the new president and voting against the recovery package anyway. As a The Key to Victory? Listen to Conservatives, panelist, Schock issued a call to action based on clear-cut principles, invoked the boldness of Ronald Reagan and advised a clear articulation of "what we stand for" without really filling in the blanks. "When Republican candidates show a little heart, we trump anything the Democrats can offer," Schock said, adding smiling helps.

RECAPTURE THE SENATE
Other strategies from the podium included deploying the politics of personal destruction against Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and New Jersey Sen. John Corzine as a recapturing-the-Senate plot and replicating the Democrats' 50-state strategy by selling the GOP message on traditionally Democratic turf (they may have to re-tool that wastebasket talking point first). Those are really about the other guys, too.

Meanwhile, in the hallways and on nearby street corners, the foot soldiers were making a lot of sense, especially some of the young ones.

Kurt Sorensen, 22, a Republican student leader from St. John's University in Minnesota, said, "We're going to have to be more inclusive. We need to offer a choice to the voter."

Asked for one central idea that should define the Republican agenda for the next four years, Sorensen said, "We won't spend money we don't have."

Not surprisingly on the same day Obama unveiled his $3.5-trillion budget, that idea was pounded home in most of the speeches. But after eight years of ballooning Bush deficits, it may be a hard message for the GOP to own and its mileage depends on the failure of the economic recovery.

Michael Murphy, 62, an Atlanta political consultant, echoed what was developing into a theme all its own and that, for now, may be the only one with any traction.

"Right now, Americans are hungry for change and the fulfillment of the Obama promise. But people will find out there's no such thing as a free lunch."

You never know. But that's also all about the other guy.

Health Policy Crisis and Solutions

February 12, 2009

Scholar in Residence and former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger and New America Foundation Senior Research Fellow Guy Clifton headlined a luncheon forum to discuss health care policy.

Follow the link below to view the discussion:
http://real.csbsju.edu/asxgen/mccarthy/2009-02-12HealthPolicyCrisisAndSolutions.wmv

Faith, Ethics, and Health Care

February 11, 2009

A conversation with:

• Sen. Dave Durenberger, SJU '55
• Bernie Evans, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Virgil Michel Ecumenical Chair in Rural Social Ministries
• Toby Pearson, Exec. Director of Catholic Health Association of MN
• Kathleen Twohy, CSBSJU Nursing Department Chair

Follow the link below to view the discussion:
http://real.csbsju.edu/asxgen/mccarthy/2009-02-12FaithEthicsHealthCare.wmv

The Future of Policy and Partisanship

February 10, 2009

A panel discussion featuring Sen. Dave Durenberger, Sen. Mark Dayton, Rep. Mark Kennedy, Sen. Rod Gramms.

Follow the link below to view the discussion:
http://real.csbsju.edu/asxgen/mccarthy/2009-02-11DaveDurenberger.wmv

Dave Durenberger conducts second McCarthy Residency

01/23/2009

Former Minnesota Sen. Dave Durenberger, a 1955 graduate of Saint John’s University, conducts the second annual Eugene McCarthy Residency Feb. 9-13 at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.

Highlighting the residency will be two panel discussions which are free and open to the public, including one that includes three former senators and a former representative from Minnesota.
“Improving Congress: Advice and Debate from Former Members of the Republican and Democratic Parties,” is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 at room 204C, Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, CSB. The panel consists of Durenberger, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1978-95; former Sen. Rod Grams, who served from 1995-2001; former Sen. Mark Dayton, who served from 2001-07; and former Rep. Mark Kennedy, a 1979 graduate of SJU who served in Congress from 2001-07. Lori Sturdevant, an editorial writer and columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper, is the moderator of the discussion.

Durenberger will also be part of a panel, “Faith, Ethics and Health Care” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Room 264, Quadrangle Building, SJU. That panel includes Bernard Evans, associate professor of theology at CSB and SJU and the Virgil Michel Chair in Theology; Kathleen Twohy, professor of nursing and chair of the department at CSB and SJU; and Toby Pearson, executive director of the Catholic Health Association of Minnesota.

An invitation-only luncheon and discussion with Durenberger and Dr. Guy Clifton, a neurosurgeon, clinical investigator, administrator and health policy advocate who is now devoting himself to health policy reform, is at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 at room 204C, Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, CSB. Although the event is free, you must register by Feb. 2 with Stacy Penk by calling 320-363-3266, or by e-mail at

spenk@csbsju.edu. Registration is limited.
During his residency, Durenberger will speak to political science, nursing and senior ethics seminar classes at CSB and SJU.

Born in St. Cloud, Durenberger was the son of long-time SJU athletic director George Durenberger. While attending SJU, he was involved in Army ROTC, becoming the program’s first cadet battalion commander and the top honor cadet. He went on to serve in the Army as a military intelligence officer from 1956-63.

In 1978, Durenberger defeated Minneapolis businessman Bob Short in a special election to complete the unexpired term of Sen. Hubert Humphrey, who had passed away earlier that year. He was reelected in 1982 (defeating Dayton) and 1988 (defeating Skip Humphrey). During his tenure in the Senate, Durenberger served as chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.

Durenberger is currently a senior health policy fellow at the University of St. Thomas, and chairs the National Institute of Health Policy, a program of St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business. He was also named by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to lead the Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs.
Durenberger’s visit is sponsored by the

Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at CSB and SJU. The center seeks to engage the campus and wider community in debate and discourse regarding public policy and public affairs.

Professor to discuss green design at SJU

February 11, 2009

Times staff report
COLLEGEVILLE — A professor and author from the University of Oslo in Norway will be visiting St. John's University on Feb. 18 to speak about green building.
Chris Butters will give a lecture at 7 p.m. in Room 264 of the Quadrangle Building.
Butters will speak on "Green Design in the 21st Century: Lessons from the World."
He will show examples of state-of-the art buildings and urban development in Europe that have high social qualities and almost zero energy use or climate emissions and discuss issues related to creating a sustainable world.
A consultant and designer of sustainable communities and buildings in Europe, Scandinavia and Asia, Butters spent a decade in Bhutan as a consultant architect for schools and hospitals.
Butters' speech is free and open to the public.

McCarthy Center sponsors participation in Student Conference on United States Affairs

From Nov. 5 through 8 the McCarthy Center for Public Policy sent Sean Suter and Jenny Schwope to participate as student delegates in the Student Conference on United States Affairs held at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.

This annual conference brings together college students from across the country and around the world to discuss American foreign policy.

Read more...

Peace, Poetry and Politics

“Peace, Poetry and Politics” examines the role of poetry as a form of social protest and as a means of calling for peace and justice. The program is sponsored by the Literary Arts Institute of the College of Saint Benedict and the Eugene McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement in collaboration with Graywolf Press. The program will feature three writers who will respond to the topic: Fred Marchant, a Graywolf poet and one of the first Marine officers honorably discharged as a CO during the Vietnam War; Brenda Hillman, a noted poet with seven books of poetry who is also an energetic activist with Code Pink’ and Nick Flynn, also a Graywolf poet and memoirist who has just completed a new book exploring Abu Ghraib and torture.

The program will recall the poetry of protest in World War II and in Vietnam, highlighting Graywolf’s recent publication of a collection of poems by William Stafford titled Another World Instead. The book centers around Stafford’s experience as a conscientious objector during World War II. Eugene McCarthy, an alumnus of Saint John’s, was an admirer of Stafford; in fact, he read Stafford’s poems on the Senate floor and was able to recite the poems from memory. And McCarthy was himself a poet. We will use these past events and experiences as a means to illuminate the situation on the current war-fronts and to explore these questions: do words have any effect on a nation at war? Is the declaration of conscientious objection a public or private act? How does a nation imagine itself at war and can that imagination be enlarged or transformed?

There will be two presentations with this lively group of writers, one on campus on February 5th in Alumnae Hall (HCC) at 7:30 PM and the other in Minnesota Public Radio’s UBS Forum in St. Paul on February 6 at 7:00. Registration will be required for the St. Paul event.

Please visit the McCarthy Center events calendar for a full list of events sponsored by the McCarthy Center.

State-based public policy internships

The Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University is offering a fellowship program for students who wish to intern at public policy think tanks in their home states. This fellowship also involves two weeks of training in Washington.

Participating think tanks in Minnesota include the Center for the American Experiment and the Freedom Foundation. Applicants should apply to the Koch Summer Fellowship Program at GMU.

Opportunity for publication: Encyclopedia on U.S. Government and the Environment

The U.S. Government and the Environment: A Reference Encyclopedia is edited by Dr. Matt Lindstrom and will be published by ABC-CLIO in 2010. This two-volume encyclopedia covers the actors, institutions, events, issues, politics, and policies related to U.S. environmental politics and policy from historical and contemporary perspectives

There are currently over two hundred entries ranging in length from 250 to 2000 words. Authors will be paid a stipend for all accepted work. To get a copy of the list of entries or to propose entries, please contact the encyclopedia editor, Dr. Matt Lindstrom at mlindstrom@csbsju.edu or (320) 363-3364.

Professors, government professionals, graduate students, independent authors and other experts will be issued contracts and deadlines upon acceptance by the editorial team.

Internship Listing: Sen. Klobuchar

Each year opportunities are made available to bright and dynamic college students to view, first hand, the workings of government. While you are here, we hope to do several things to make this the most productive experience you have had to date. We will:

• Clearly define expectations
• Offer a rigorous curriculum
• Provide for diverse learning experiences
• Solicit input for further development of the program

For some of you this may be your first internship, and for others, this may be another in a line of internship experiences. Regardless, we have planned this program with the expectation that you will all leave the Office of Senator Klobuchar with skills that can be applied to whichever future endeavor you explore.

It is important to Senator Klobuchar that you leave with a diverse experience. Our aim is to go far beyond just a "bullet point" on your resume and introduce you to public service and the legislative system.

Below you will find more detail about the experiences available in our Minnesota and Washington offices and how to apply.

What can you expect from an internship in Minnesota ?

In the Twin Cities office, you will work directly with congressional aides on a wide range of issues.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Answering phones and assisting constituents with requests
• Assisting constituent advocate staff with casework and related tasks
• Assisting outreach staff with research, event planning and other work in key communities
• Assisting the scheduling and communications staff
• Helping to plan and participation in a monthly community service project
• Other assigned tasks

Every effort is made to match interns with staff based upon interests and previous experience and positions will be filled based on office needs.

Full and part-time unpaid internships are available. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made.

How to apply for an Internship in Minnesota

Please submit the following:

• Application Form (Download)
• Cover Letter Demonstrating Your Writing Skill
• Resume
• Short Writing Sample
• Three References

Internships for the Minnesota program are available for the following four sessions:

• Summer Session
  June through August
  Deadline: May 15th
• Fall Session
  September through December
  Deadline: September 15th
• Spring Session
  January through May
  Deadline: December 15th
• January Session
  Deadline: December 15th

If you would like to be considered for this program, please send your application materials by mail, email, or fax to:

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar
1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
Minneapolis , MN 55415

Phone: 612-727-5220
Fax: 612-727-5223
Email: Joe_Campbell@Klobuchar.senate.gov

Audio: CSB/SJU students featured on All Things Considered on election eve

Students Laura Huira, Joal Reeves, and Brian Wieliczka were featured in "I'm a college student - where should I vote?" on Minnesota Public Radio News.

Video: Second Annual McCarthy Lecture with Julian Bond

Audio: James Read on Minnesota Public Radio News

Professor James Read's book Doorstep Democracy was one thing considered on the October 30th edition of All Things Considered on Minnesota Public Radio. Listen to host Tom Crann discussing the book here, and visit this MPR page for extended interview segments.

Minneapolis: Intergovernmental Relations Intern (Paid)

The following is a verbatim listing from the Minneapolis Office of Intergovernmental Relations. The McCarthy Center posts relevant internship listings without preference for political party or cause.

The Office of Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) is looking for a full-time, temporary intern. The position is for a minimum of six months starting in December 2008. It is designed to provide an opportunity to a recent college graduate or current graduate student. Successful applicant will work closely with Intergovernmental Relations staff as they advocate for the City of Minneapolis’ legislative agenda at the state legislature. Applicant should have an understanding of the Minnesota State Legislature and an interest in legislative/local government issues.

In addition, the IGR Department is looking for someone interested in assisting community-based nonprofit organizations with fundraising, specifically following up with grants related technical assistance. This may include meeting with organizations to help them develop a grants strategy, identify funding opportunities (government sources and private foundations), and editing draft grant proposals.

Duties:

• Assist IGR staff with development of 2008 legislative agenda
• Track legislative issues before the Minnesota Legislature
• Write/edit weekly report updating and summarizing legislative activities and departmental actions
• Research legislative issues and City policies and initiatives
• Assist IGR staff at the Capitol
• Work with community organizations and identify their legislative priorities
• Update city elected officials and department heads regarding legislative actions
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum starting salary $8.67 hr. May be higher depending on qualifications.

• BA degree required
• Excellent writing skills (may be asked to supply a writing sample)
• Need to be able to work full time during the normal work day—some evenings/weekends possible
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Must provide own transportation to and from outside meetings
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite including Microsoft Access

To apply:
Send resume by Friday, November 7, 2008 to: Gene.Ranieri@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
-or-
Gene Ranieri, Director
Intergovernmental Relations
Rm 301M City Hall - 350 S 5th St
Minneapolis, MN 55415

For additional information, call the Intergovernmental Relations Office at (612) 673-2043.

Photos from Oct. 8, 2008 healthcare panel discussion

Photos from the healthcare panel held at CSB.
For more photos, visit our online album.

Photos from Liam Fox visit for the Mark Kennedy Frontiers in Freedom lecture series

Photos from the recent event with Liam Fox, Member of the British Parliament.
For more photos, visit our online album.

Position Announcement: Coordinator, McCarthy Center

Saint John's University invites applications for the full time (75%) position of Coordinator for the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. The successful candidate will take the lead in planning and organizing all logistical aspects of events and programs to ensure it meets the expectations of sponsors, presenters and those attending. The Coordinator will provide general support to the Director of the Center as well as Center sponsored scholars, students, and guests, review and monitor the Center budget, including preparation of all reimbursements and expenses, and develop a budget tracking mechanism. This position will welcome CSB/SJU students, faculty, alums and interested visitors to the Center and ensure incoming requests are organized, processed, and responded to in an efficient manner. In addition, the Coordinator will provide supervision of the Center student assistants and volunteers.

Qualifications:
Post-secondary education with two to three years of related office experience desired. High School Diploma required.
Good organizational and time management skills, good sense of “detailed” work, excellent initiative and follow-through ability necessary.
In addition, the successful candidate will have strong office management skills and interpersonal communication skills.
Computer knowledge and ability with the willingness to remain current with web-design, word processing, and database software.
Some knowledge or interest in public policy and civic engagement is preferred.

Qualified individuals should submit a letter of interest, resume, and a list of three professional references to:

Saint John’s University
Human Resources - Position # HRW200897
P.O. Box 7188
Collegeville, MN 56321
employment@csbsju.edu

Women and people of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Saint John's University is an EEO/AA employer.

Photos from Politics and a Pint with Nick Coleman

Photos from the recent Politics and a Pint with StarTribune columnist Nick Coleman. For more photos, visit our online album.

British Parliament member Liam Fox speaks on growing threats to national and international security

Update: Photos now online.

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Liam Fox, a member of the British Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for Defense, speaks at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 in the Alumni Lounge, Quad Building, Saint John’s University.

He speaks on the growing threats to national and international security. The event is free and open to the public.

Fox was elected as the Member of Parliament for Woodspring in April 1992 and was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Howard, the then Home Secretary. In July 1994, he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip, and promoted to the position of Senior Government Whip the following year. He was a Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1996 until the 1997 general election.

In June 1997, Fox was appointed Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Constitutional Affairs. He then served from 1999 to 2003 as Shadow Secretary of State for Heath before being appointed Co-Chairman of the Party in 2003. Subsequently, from May 2005 to December 2005, he served as Shadow Foreign Secretary.

Since December 2005, he has been the Shadow Secretary of State for Defense. Fox is also a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

The event is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, in conjunction with Mark Kennedy’s Frontiers of Freedom Lecture Series and Students Fostering Conservative Thought at CSB and SJU. Kennedy, who served Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-07, is a 1979 graduate of SJU.

Health care public policy panel held at CSB

Update: Photos now online.

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – A panel on health care public policy is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Room 204A, Gorecki Dining and Conference Center, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph.

“At What Cost? A Health Care Policy Panel” looks at who should pay and manage health insurance, and what are the dangers and benefits of government and market solutions.

The panel includes:

• Twila Brase, a public health nurse who is president of the Citizens’ Council on Health Care, a non-profit organization based in St. Paul;
• Steve Ehlen, an insurance broker at Holland and Frank Agency, Sartell. He is a 1993 graduate of Saint John’s University;
• Joe Friedrich, economics professor at CSB and SJU whose areas of academic interest include health economics and the design of health care financing. He is a 1964 graduate of SJU;
• State Rep. Larry Hosch (DFL-St. Joseph), who is a 2001 graduate of SJU. Hosch is the vice chair of the Health Care and Human Services Finance Division committee for the House;
• Kathy Mock, vice president for public affairs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. She is a 1980 graduate of CSB.
  

The event is sponsored by The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. The center seeks to engage the campus and wider community in debate and discourse regarding public policy and public affairs. More information about the center can be found at www.csbsju.edu/mccarthycenter.

Families USA internship opportunities

The Villers Fellowship
The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice was created in 2005 by Philippe Villers, Founder and President of Families USA. Villers Fellows work in our health policy department and assist our organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities. Specifically, Villers Fellows will conduct research on a range of health care policy issues, and write and contribute to publications that are relevant to current health policy debates.

In creating the fellowship, Mr. Villers aspired to develop a network of young leaders who share a passion for health care justice. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to health care justice work following their year as a fellow. Additionally, in order to encourage the development of future leaders, Villers Fellows must commit to mentoring at least one person over the course of their careers.

The application deadline for the Villers Fellowship is January 15, 2009.

You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on our Web site:
http://www.familiesusa.org/about/the-villers-fellowship.html

If you have any questions about the Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice or would like to request hard copies of the application brochure, please contact Melissa Rosenblatt at villersfellowship@familiesusa.org

The Wellstone Fellowship
The Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice aims to advance social justice through health care advocacy by focusing particularly on the unique challenges facing communities of color. Through this fellowship, established to honor the memory of the late Senator Paul D. Wellstone, we hope to expand the pool of talented social justice advocates from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate an interest in health care policy and racial/ethnic health disparities. Additionally, we are looking for an individual who displays the potential to contribute to social justice work after their year of hands-on experience as a fellow. You can find more information, including a downloadable application form, on our Web site:
http://www.familiesusa.org/about/wellstone-fellowship.html

The application deadline for the Wellstone Fellowship is February 6, 2009.

If you have any questions about the Wellstone Fellowship for Social Justice or would like to request hard copies of the application brochure, please contact me at wellstonefellowship@familiesusa.org

---

Both fellowships are year-long, full-time, salaried positions at the Families USA office in Washington, DC. Each year, one candidate will be selected for each fellowship. Selected fellows will receive a compensatory package that includes an annual salary of $35,000 and excellent health care benefits.

Panel on Judicial Independence a success

Justice John Simonett '48 and 2006 recipient of the Fidelis Apparitor award.

From L to R:

• Minnesota State Senator and attorney Julianne Ortman
• Philip Kronebusch '81, CSB/SJU Professor of Political Science
• Michael Ford '70, Minnesota State Bar Association President
• Former Minnesota Governor Al Quie
• Anoka County District Court Judge Sharon Hall '76
• Karna Peters, chair of the MSBA Judiciary Committee
• Justice John Simonett

The McCarthy Center welcomes Julian Bond for the 2008 McCarthy Lecture

SCTimes: Panel at CSB to debate judicial selection

• Original story
• Event Information
  

By David Unze
dunze@stcloudtimes.com

The College of St. Benedict will host a panel discussion Tuesday on judicial independence and how Minnesota selects its judges.

John Simonett will chair the panel. Simonett is a St. John’s University graduate and former associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

It is an opportunity to educate the public about the state of judicial elections and the possible options for the future, said Matt Lindstrom, director of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement and associate professor of political science at St. Ben’s and St. John’s.

A 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down Minnesota’s long-held canon prohibiting judicial candidates from stating their views on disputed legal or political issues.

That decision — Republican Party of Minnesota vs. White — allows candidates to claim political party affiliation.

Many see that as the first step toward the practice of outside influences raising huge sums of cash to challenge candidates with opposing political views.

While that has yet to happen in Minnesota on a large scale, many in the legal community are concerned it will.

That concern and what to do about it likely will be central to the discussion at St. Ben’s, Lindstrom said.

He hopes the panel conveys to those attending “not what to think, but what to think about,” he said.

Among the panelists scheduled to speak at the discussion are:

• Michael Ford, a St. John’s graduate, attorney at Quinlivan & Hughes and president of the Minnesota State Bar Association.
  
  
• Former Gov. Al Quie, chaired a commission that studied the issue of judicial elections and made recommendations for how they could be changed.
  
  
• Anoka County District Court Judge Sharon Hall, a St. Ben’s graduate who has served on the bench since 1993.
  
  
• Karna Peters, an attorney with Peters and Peters in Glenwood who is chair of the state bar association’s judiciary committee.
  
  
• State Sen. Julianne Ortman (R, Chanhassen), who is a member of the Senate’s judiciary committee.
  
  
• Philip Kronebusch, political science professor at St. Ben’s and St. John’s.

State Department Chief of Staff to speak on U.S. Foreign Policy

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Brian Gunderson, State Department chief of staff under Secretary Condoleezza Rice, speaks at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16 at the Alumni Lounge, Quad Building, Saint John’s University.

Gunderson speaks on “An Overview of U.S. Foreign Policy Today.”

A native of Minnesota, Gunderson became chief of staff under Rice on Jan. 28, 2005. He came to the State Department from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he served as chief of staff to Robert Zoellick. In that capacity, he helped manage USTR as the agency completed free trade negotiations with 10 countries and launched negotiations with 12 others.

Before joining the Bush administration, Gunderson held many senior positions on Capitol Hill. He was chief of staff for House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas), and advised the Congressional leadership on foreign policy, defense and international economics. He played a key staff role in the passage of the 2001 and 2002 tax acts, trade promotion authority, China trade legislation, national security, appropriations and other legislation.

The event is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, in conjunction with Mark Kennedy’s Frontiers of Freedom Lecture Series and Students Fostering Conservative Thought at CSB and SJU. Kennedy, who served Minnesota in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-07, is a 1979 graduate of SJU.

Nick Coleman: McCarthy gaffe is like calling Kenneth Starr 'Ringo Starr'

Fame is fleeting, prophets are without honor in their own land and idiots rule.

During Tuesday's proceedings at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, a photograph of former Minnesota Sen. Eugene McCarthy was shown during a roll call of the honored dead -- departed stalwarts of the Democratic persuasion who have gone to their rewards since the last convention, four years ago.

It would have made a nice moment. But they called him "Joseph McCarthy."

Read more...

SJU alumnus and Professor of Public Policy John Brandl '59 dies

John Brandl, a 1959 graduate of Saint John’s University and a former Minnesota legislator, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict, and professor and former dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, passed away Monday, Aug. 18 in Minneapolis. Brandl was also a regent at Saint John's University from 1991-2000.

"The Saint John's community is saddened by the death of alumnus, colleague, former Regent and beloved friend John Brandl," said Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John's University. "John Brandl was a giant in Minnesota politics and economics. He combined a brilliant mind for scholarship with an unusual ability to apply theory and research as a public servant in numerous policy-making positions, both in Minnesota and at the national level. He had an abiding faith in the capacity of Benedictine values to foster decency, integrity and generosity. The wisdom and balance John demonstrated throughout his life provide enduring inspiration for all."

Brandl graduated cum laude from Saint John’s with a degree in economics and went on to earn a M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. He served in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Economic Opportunity, the Economic Development Administration, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He served 12 years in the Minnesota Legislature.

Visitation is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapel, 5000 W. 50th and Highway 100, Edina, Minn. The funeral is at noon Monday, Aug. 25 at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis, with Fr. Michael O’Connell officiating. Burial is 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26 at Saint John’s Abbey Cemetery, with a reception following in the Great Hall for friends, faculty and staff to greet the family.

"John Brandl Scholars" Endowed

“John Brandl’s accomplishments as educator, legislator and civic leader serve as a model for all of us,” said Dan Whalen ’70. “I can think of no better way to honor him than to encourage today’s students to learn from his example through the John Brandl Scholars program.”

Dan and Katharine Whalen have designated $1 million from their gift to the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement to endow the John Brandl Scholars program.



John E. Brandl is a 1959 graduate of Saint John’s. The John Brandl Scholars program celebrates Brandl's lifelong commitment to mentorship and scholarship in higher education, public policy and politics. The endowment will fund summer public policy research projects conducted by students and faculty. These collaborative research projects will range from local to international policy arenas, reflecting Dr. Brandl's diverse career and CSB/SJU’s commitment to ethical leadership and the common good. The Brandl Scholars will participate in a broad range of experiential learning opportunities under close faculty mentorship.

Brandl graduated cum laude from Saint John’s and earned master’s and doctorate degrees from Harvard University. He was Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Saint John’s University and professor and former dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Brandl held positions at the federal level in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, Office of Economic Opportunity, the Economic Development Administration, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary, U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He served in the Minnesota Legislature for 12 years. In addition to faculty positions at alma maters Saint John’s University and Harvard University, he held teaching positions at Boston College, the University of Wisconsin, the University of the Philippines and the University of Sydney. He served as president of several national and regional groups and received many civic honors and awards. Brandl was the author of numerous books, monographs, articles and reviews.

Saint John’s welcomes contributions to the John Brandl Scholars endowment. Please contact John Taylor at 320.363.2596 or jtaylor@csbsju.edu.

Alumni and student event in D.C. a success

A celebration of the first year of the McCarthy Center was held on June 26, 2008 in Washington, D.C. This event brought the 2008 Washington interns and Alumni/ae & Friends of the McCarthy Center together to celebrate and network.
Group with Senator Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader, current national co-chair of Obama 08, co-chair of Bono's One Campaign, author of Critical: What We Can Do About the Health Care Crisis
Lisa Spoden ('83), reception co-host, Senior Partner and Executive VP of Strategic Health Care and new member of CSB Board of Trustees, talking with Mary Winzenberg, CSB '06, with the National Assn. of Attorneys General, and Erik Anderson, current SJU student and intern at Rep. Ellison's office
Al Eisele ('58), editor at large, The Hill, McCarthy Center 2008 Scholar in Residence, discussing his residency at the 2008 First Annual Washington DC McCarthy Center reception
CSB students and DC interns Laura Johnson (intern at David Turch and Associates) and Jessica Vining (intern at Dutko Worldwide) along with other CSB and SJU alums at the reception
Charles Howell, son-in-law of Senator McCarthy, husband of Ellen McCarthy-Howell with CSB and SJU alums and students at the reception
Dan Whalen ('70), former SJU Board Chair, benefactor of McCarthy Center, with Hon. John Lindstrom ('63), and David Turch ('63) reception co-chair and founder of David Turch and Associates at the reception

Washington D.C. intern update

Sean Suter, SJU '10, is one of thirteen CSB/SJU students to participate in the Washington D.C. Summer Program. Continue to follow the McCarthy Center website for updates, pictures, and stories from the summer interns.

Senator Obama and Sean Suter

Senator Obama's summer intern group

Student Conference on US Affairs in West Point, NY

Each fall semester, the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement sends one CSB and one SJU student to the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY for an undergraduate student conference focusing on international public policies. Students live in the barracks, eat in the mess halls, and enjoy debate and discussion with other students from around the world. All expenses are paid by the McCarthy Center.

More information about the conference is in the conference email below and at the web site linked in the following email.

If you are interested in being considered for nomination, email the following to Suzanne Reinert no later than August 15, 2008. Late applications will not be accepted. Early applications are welcomed.

Your application to be a CSB or SJU delegate should include the following:

1. A cover letter no longer than three pages explaining why you'd like to go, what you could offer the conference and elaborate on your experiences that help prepare you for this conference
   
   
2. Unofficial transcript
   
   
3. Resume

Thanks for considering this opportunity. Have a great summer.

Video: Politics and the Changing Nature of Journalism

This panel discussion features Al Eisele, Editor-at-Large of The Hill, blogger on Huffington Post, former Washington correspondent for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and Press Secretary to Vice President Walter Mondale, Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Nick Coleman, Kitty Eisele, editor, National Public Radio, Fred de Sam Lazaro, Correspondent, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, and SJU Chair in Critical Thinking, Nick Hayes.

Students participate in Washington Summer Study Program 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thirteen students from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and Saint John’s University, Collegeville, are participating in the Washington Summer Study Program through the end of July.

The program, operated by the political science department in conjunction with The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at CSB-SJU, is designed to provide students an opportunity to live and work in the Washington, D.C., area while earning academic credit. Each student serves in a Congressional office, on a committee staff, in a government agency, in a nonprofit organization, or with a public affairs group, learning and working in a community. They apply for their internships based on their interests.

In addition to the work experience, program co-directors Matt Lindstrom, associate professor of political science at CSB-SJU, and Claire Haeg, assistant professor of political science at CSB-SJU, conduct weekly seminars and arrange supplemental meetings with alumnae/i and other professionals to enhance the learning experience. Among the alumnae/i who have spoken to the students are David Rehr, ’81, president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters; and Peg McGlinch, ’95, former chief of staff for Rep. Tim Walz (D, Minn.).

Students serving internships from CSB include:

• Bibi Abdalla, a junior political science major from St. Paul, Minn., is interning at the office of Representative Keith Ellison (D, Minn.);
• Laura Johnson, a junior political science major from Minnetonka, Minn., is interning at the offices of David Turch and Associates, a government relations firm which provides strategic planning, legislative goal setting, and political analysis;
• Kristina Nesse, a junior political science and economics double major from Albert Lea, Minn., is interning at the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D, Minn.);
• Jessica Vining, a senior political science and philosophy double major from Troutdale, Oregon, is interning at the offices of Dutko Worldwide, a government affairs strategy firm.

Students serving internships from SJU include:

• Erik R. Anderson, a junior political science major from Eden Prairie, Minn., is interning at the office of Representative Keith Ellison (D, Minn.);
• Colin Blair, a sophomore political science and prelaw major from Anchorage, Alaska, is interning at the offices of the Americans for Tax Reform;
• Barry Griffin, a junior political science major from Nassau, Bahamas, is interning at the offices of Caribbean-Central American Action, an organization working to promote economic development in the Caribbean and Central America;
• Brad Hagemeier, a senior political science and economics double major from Eden Valley, Minn., is interning with the Agriculture Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives;
• Jacob Haider, a junior political science and history double major from Forest Lake, Minn, is interning at the office of Senator Norm Coleman (R, Minn.);
• Daniel Haller, a junior political science and peace studies double major from Albertville, Minn., is interning at the D.C. Public Defender’s office;
• Jeffrey Schnobrich, a junior political science major from New Ulm, Minn, is interning at the Transportation Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives;
• Boris Sekulic, a junior political science major from Bosnia and Herzegovina, is interning at the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• Sean Suter, a sophomore political science major from Rochester, Minn, is interning at the office of Senator Barak Obama (D, Ill)

For more information on the Washington Summer Study Program, click here.

Stearns County Courts Internship

Project assistance with the Stearns County Adult Drug Court and Stearns County Family Dependency Treatment Court

Brigid Murphy '89 is the coordinator for both of these courts and would provide guidance and oversight to an intern. You may reach Brigid via e-mail at brigid.murphy@courts.state.mn.us or her direct office number is 320-656-6364.

Video: Eugene McCarthy memorial service

The Saint John's memorial Mass from January 23, 2006. Abbot John Klassen of Saint John's Abbey will be the celebrant. Eulogists include Walter Mondale, former U.S. vice president; Albert Eisele, a Saint John’s alumnus and a long-time Washington journalist whose book, "Almost to the Presidency," is a biographical review of Eugene McCarthy and Hubert Humphrey; Eugene McCarthy’s son, Michael; and the Rev. Hilary Thimmesh, OSB, president emeritus at Saint John’s.

CenterCast on iTunes

Sign up for CenterCast, the McCarthy Center podcast, for audio and video on iTunes and your iPod. By signing up, our lectures, events, meetings, and video will always be up-to-date on your computer.

To get iTunes, click here. For more ways to subscribe to the CenterCast feed, click here.

Public Innovators Undergraduate Internship

Root Cause is a nonprofit organization that accelerates enduring solutions to social and economic problems by supporting social innovators and educating social impact investors. We do this through business planning and implementation, leadership development, research, and the creation of professional and funding networks that unite the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Our key initiatives include consulting, social enterprises, knowledge sharing, research, and public policy.

Public Innovators, a nonpartisan Root Cause initiative, introduces government leaders at the city, state, and federal levels to social entrepreneurship and guides them in identifying and advancing transformative and sustainable solutions to today's toughest social problems. Public Innovators builds off our work with the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor’s Office, as well as two Root Cause reports: Social Entrepreneurship and Government: A New Breed of Entrepreneurs Developing Solutions to Social Problems, published by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Advancing Social Entrepreneurship: Recommendations for Policy Makers and Government Agencies, a co-publication with The Aspen Institute. These publications and more information are available at www.publicinnovators.com.

About the Internship

The director of Public Innovators is Minnesota-based and seeks an unpaid intern for the summer, with the possibility that the position may be extended into and through the academic year. The intern may also apply for academic credit.

A new initiative, Public Innovators is experiencing rapid growth and is at the cutting edge of research and practice on social problem solving. This internship offers an excellent opportunity for students to gain significant knowledge of and experience in: the nonprofit sector and nonprofit management; public policy and government; and innovative approaches to social problem solving. The intern will be expected to commit to a set number of hours each week and must have access to a personal computer. If committing to full-time work during the summer, the individual may be eligible for a stipend. There is some flexibility in the particular projects the intern will work on, depending on skill set and interests.

Possibilities include:

• Brainstorm and research potential strategic partnerships
• Contribute to fundraising and development strategy
• Manage web outreach strategy, including Public Innovators’ own website, blog and wikis
• Research critical policy issues in specific states
• Conduct research and draft memos on policy issues and efforts, such as the creation of a social innovation fund and tax structure changes to enable new organizational forms
• Administrative assistance
  

Additional Qualifications

• Currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree
• Excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Internet, etc with access to own computer (laptop preferred)
• Interest and comfort in working in an entrepreneurial, start-up environment
• Ability to work independently and a desire to take on increased responsibility
• Strong project management skills and public policy exposure desired
  

To Apply

Send your resume to Colleen Ebinger at cebinger@rootcause.org with a cover letter describing your interest in the internship and your relevant skills/experience. Questions about the position are welcome.

Applications will be considered as they are received; priority consideration to early responses.

Mark Kennedy video available online

Eleven students participating as delegates in state party conventions

You don’t need to be a political science major to realize there are major differences between the Minnesota Republican and DFL political parties. But one thing is clear – students from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and Saint John’s University, Collegeville, will meet those differences head-on at each state convention.

Five students from SJU are delegates to the Republican state convention May 29-31, and six students from CSB and SJU are delegates to the DFL state convention June 6-8. Both conventions are in Rochester.

The Republican state delegates are SJU students Chase Kroll (sophomore, history major, Orono, Minn.), Colman Silbernagel (junior, political science and history, Perham, Minn.), Kurt Sorensen (senior, mathematics, Burnsville, Minn.), Heath Stoll (junior, accounting, Apple Valley, Minn.) and Chris Van Guilder (senior, political science, Delano, Minn.). SJU student Ryan Lais (sophomore, management, St. Paul) is an alternate delegate to the convention.

“CSB and SJU students add vibrancy to the Republican community with their youthful enthusiasm,” Sorensen said. “Even at the end of the day, we are standing up and speaking before the convention to talk about what we believe in. It’s encouraging to see so many students involved in the process – it shows that this generation cares about the direction of our country and who’s in charge.”

The DFL state delegates are CSB students Ashleigh Leitch (senior, political science/pre-law, Willmar, Minn.) and Robyn Meyer (senior, political science and Spanish, St. Cloud, Minn.), and SJU students Nick Hansen (sophomore, environmental studies, Wyoming, Minn.), Michael Johnson (sophomore, political science/pre-law, Eagan, Minn.), Joe Kane (senior, political science, Golden Valley, Minn.) and Matt Steinrueck (junior, environmental studies, Minneapolis). CSB student Sarah Gaida (senior, political science and peace studies, Rice, Minn.), and SJU students Eric Loehr (first-year, music, St. Cloud) and Zachary Shaheen (senior, biochemistry/pre-med, Elk River, Minn.) are alternate delegates to the convention.

Leitch has also been selected to be an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver.

“The importance of civic engagement at CSB and SJU has sparked a new interest and dialogue on campus and this is the end result: People are getting excited about the change and impact they have in making a society that reflects the Benedictine values of the common good, service, stewardship, hospitality, justice and respect for all individuals,” Kane said.

McCarthy Center receives grant to support Washington D.C. studies

The McCarthy Center wishes to thank the Lawrence H. and Elizabeth S. Dunlap Foundation for their recent grant to support the Washington D.C. Summer Study Program.

Scholarship and Creativity Day

To all members of the CSB/SJU community: you are invited to attend student oral presentations today for the Public Policy Analysis and Recommendation project (Pols 114) in which students diagnose some policy problem and recommend a solution. The presentations will be in Simons G-40. The afternoon session goes from 1-4 PM, and the evening session from 7-9 PM. You do not need to stay for the entire session. These presentations are part of the Scholarship and Creativity Day activities. -James Read, Department of Political Science

Participating Students and Presentation Titles:

1:00-4:00 PM

• Anna Schumacher: Universal Pre-K Program
• Brian Strauss: Southwest Light Rail Transitway: The next step in MSP public transportation
• Ashleigh Leitch: Addressing Human Trafficking through Mandatory Reporting
• Sarah Gaida: Reintegration of Africa's Child Soldiers
• Dan Burgstaler: China's manipulation of currency.
• Casey Wojtalewicz: Feed-In Tariffs in Minnesota: Renewable Energy For and By All
• Jacob Lantry: "Refuse Derived Fuel: A Solution to the Dilemma at St. Paul's Rock-Tenn Recycling Plant."
• Jacob Law: Public Buildings and Environmental Regulation
• Michael Swanberg: Metropolitan Water District
• Kellianne Lauer: Pro Bono Legal Assistance for Undocumented Minors
  

7:00-9:00 PM

• Amy Hoeschen: Common Curriculum: waving an Environmental Flag High
• Tasha Truskolaski: Homeowner Protection Package
• Michael Cronan: The Reinforcement of the Fairness Doctrine
• Sarah Biro: Consistency in Nutritional Education in Public Schools
• Hannah Lammer: Reevaluating Efficiency and Health: Food Stamp Program Reform
• Joe Eiden: Judicial Bypass: Minnesota’s Flawed Option for Minors Seeking Abortion
• Rachel Kohout: Real Costs of War Profiteers: Inefficiency of Private Contracting
• Erik Anderson: Indoor Air Quality in Minnesota Public Schools
• Alan Albert: A New Reformed Health Care System in America
  

CSB/SJU Welcomes Julian Bond for the 2008 McCarthy Lecture

The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement announces that Julian Bond, chairman of the board of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will deliver the secondannual Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture at 7 p.m. Wed., Oct. 29, in the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater on the Saint John's University campus.

Public Policy Forum Debate

On March 11th at 7pm in the Pellegrene Auditorium, The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy & Civic Engagement is sponsoring a public debate on environmental policy. The central debate resolution is “Be it resolved that the free-market is best suited to protect the environment.”

This debate will be well balanced, with highly qualified people on both sides of the event.

Christopher Horner, a best-selling author and a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, will be making an encore appearance and speaking on the affirmative side of the resolution.

Denis McDonough, a ’92 SJU alum, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and advisor to Presidential candidate Barack Obama, will argue against the resolution.

The McCarthy Center will also prepare four students to participate alongside the experts, with two students on each side. A larger group of students will serve as a debate prep team.

With growing scientific knowledge of the multitude of environmental issues, many folks are increasingly interested in the debate over the role of government and private sector in response to these issues. Topics like cap and trade systems, carbon taxes, Kyoto Treaty, and other public policy issues are likely to be addressed, along with capitalism’s profit incentive and how environmental integrity plays in to that.

We hope this debate will interest faculty, staff, and students from many disciplines and political ideas. However, we also hope this will be an informative, lively, and civil debate for those who just want to learn more about the issues and trade offs associated with environmental policy.

A look back at Eugene McCarthy

Broadcast: Midday, 12/10/2007, 12:00 p.m.

Listen to program

E.J. Dionne, one of America's top political observers, pays triubute to the late Sen. Eugene McCarthy, one of Minnesota's top politicians, in a speech at St. John's University. McCarthy, whose 1968 presidential campaign galvanized the anti-Vietnam War movement, died two years ago.

Star Tribune: Honoring McCarthy

Full Article

St. John's University in Collegeville has put a very good name on its new Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. It will bear the name of the late Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, the 1935 St. John's honors graduate who made his mark on the nation's history when he launched an anti-Vietnam War presidential bid 40 years ago this month.

The center, a joint enterprise of St. John's and its sister school, the College of St. Benedict, promises to bring Benedictine values of hospitality and stewardship to public policy work. That's an activity that could use more of those gentle graces.

CSB and SJU receive commitments of $10.3 million to establish Academic Centers

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University have received pledges of $10.3 million to establish two centers of academic excellence and distinction that will engage students in making connections and crossing boundaries in the 21st century. The centers will enhance student learning, promote faculty development and raise public awareness about pressing issues of our day.

The College of Saint Benedict received a $5.3 million commitment from Tom Petters, founder, chairman and CEO of Petters Group Worldwide, for the creation of the Thomas J. Petters Center for Global Education. Petters, a St. Cloud native, is a member of the CSB Board of Trustees. His company has investments in a collection of more than 60 companies around the world including Polaroid, Sunbeam and Sun Country Airlines. Petters is an active philanthropist with particular interest in the development of young people pursuing global understanding and international business. He previously provided funding for the Petters Auditorium of the Benedicta Arts Center at CSB.

Saint John’s University received a $5 million gift pledge from Dan and Katharine Whalen for the creation of the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement. Dan Whalen, who began his career in the public policy arena, is a 1970 graduate of Saint John’s and immediate past chair of Saint John’s Board of Regents. Katharine Whalen, who has an M.A. in public policy from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Affairs, has held various positions in city and environmental planning at the local, state and federal level and at Stanford University.

The Petters Center will help broaden understanding and strengthen engagement of students and faculty in looking outside the United States to understand the global nature of business and model citizenship in our world. It will also build on a nationally-recognized study abroad program. CSB and SJU operate 17 separate study abroad sites on six continents including a 25-year partnership with Southwest University in BeiBei, Chongqing, China.

“The future is dependent upon our youth having a broad understanding of other cultures,” Petters said. “It’s essential to teach students about the importance of understanding cultural differences and exchanging ideas that can be used to enhance the lives of all people, and encourage dialogue for a more peaceful world.”

“Tom Petters has a gift for bringing people together,” said Mary Ann Baenninger, president of the College of Saint Benedict. “Whether supporting our award-winning performing arts center, offering scholarships to students passionate about international business or giving our interns challenging and engaging work around the world, Tom has had a profound impact in the lives of our students, their families, our faculty and staff and our global community.”

The McCarthy Center, named after the late Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy, who was a 1935 graduate of Saint John’s, will grow on a strong foundation in the academic exploration of public policy, governance and citizenship at CSB and SJU and their record in bridging the classroom to the wider world. “I’ve seen what Saint John’s and Saint Ben’s does for students,” Dan Whalen said. “This place really does transform people. And it’s a first rate education. I can’t think of a better investment.”

“We are extremely grateful to Dan and Katharine for this generous commitment and are pleased to meet their request to honor Senator McCarthy in this way,” said Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John’s University. “Our institutions have a long record of producing prominent political leaders and developing programs in the area of public policy. Through Dan and Katharine’s generosity, this center will prepare our students to serve and help address real-world challenges in our communities.”

Both gifts were announced nearly two years after the institutions jointly publicly announced the largest fundraising drives in their respective histories, together totaling $230 million. To date, the institutions have raised $212 million in current and deferred gifts and pledges toward the $230 million goal.

White House internship

The application deadline for the Spring 2008 White House Internship is September 25, 2007.

A White House Internship is an opportunity for current students and recent graduates to experience everyday life at the White House while working with high-level officials on a variety of tasks and projects.

Strong applicants should exhibit:

• Sound academic credentials
• A demonstrated interest in public service
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• A history of community involvement
• Strong character and leadership skills

Beyond experiencing the day-to-day operations of the White House, interns participate in a speaker series, tours, community service projects, and various White House events. For more information and an application please visit our website at:http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html Applications should be submitted to intern_application@whitehouse.gov on or before September 25, 2007 for the Spring 2008 Internship. If you have any questions please contact Meghan Espinoza at 202-456-5979.

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge honored at annual Red Mass

Judge Diana Murphy of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be honored with the Fidelis Apparitor Award during the sixth annual Red Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, on the College of Saint Benedict campus. The public is invited to attend.

The award, which means “faithful servant” in Latin, is given to individuals who have been good and faithful servants of the law. John Simonett, a former associate justice with the Minnesota Supreme Court and a 1948 graduate of Saint John’s University, received the award last year.

Honorees are chosen by virtue of their exemplary service, outstanding competence and leadership, and their adherence to the directive in the Rule of Saint Benedict: “No one is to pursue what is judged better for oneself, but instead, what is judged better for someone else.”

Murphy, who was born in Faribault, Minn., received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, and her law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She was in private practice from 1974-76 in Minneapolis, then served as a judge on the Hennepin (Minn.) County Municipal Court from 1976-78 and as a judge on the Minnesota District Court Fourth Judicial District from 1978-80.

In 1979, she was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat created in U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. She was confirmed by the Senate in 1980, and served as chief judge from 1992-94. In 1994, she became a judge in the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals following a nomination by President Bill Clinton. Murphy also served as chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission from 1999-2004.

Murphy served for 19 years on the SJU Board of Regents, chairing the board from 1995-98. She is now a Regent Emerita. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul.

The celebrant and homilist for the Red Mass is Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey.

The judicial year in many jurisdictions around the world is traditionally opened with a Red Mass. The celebration of the Mass is designed to provide judges, lawyers, civic leaders and academics of all faiths the opportunity to reflect on the powers and responsibilities that are part of their offices.

Red Mass participants ask God to grant the virtues and gifts necessary for the proper and just administration of their duties. The Red Mass name comes from the red vestments and garments that early legal participants wore on this occasion.

Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator

The Minnesota Office of United States Senator Amy Klobuchar is seeking interns for the Fall, 2007 Semester.

An internship in Senator Klobuchar’s office will provide unique experiences to students while they assist staff members with constituent issues and concerns. Here, students will work directly with congressional aides on issues involving constituent concerns and requests. They will also assist the staff in working with city and town officials and non-profit organizations applying for federal grants.

Every effort is made to pair interns with legislative staff based on their interests and experience. Interns will also assist in supporting the legislative and professional staff by conducting research and providing administrative support.

All interns will be asked to work a minimum of 20 hours per week. This will include time both in the Twin Cities office and at various locations throughout Minnesota. If your institution allows or requires college credit, accommodations can be made. These are un-paid internships. To apply or for more information, please call (612) 727-5220 or send an e-mail with a cover letter and resume attached to Joe_Campbell@klobuchar.senate.gov. Please put “Internship” in the subject line.

Writing contest for high school students to recognize interest in public policy

Students from public and private high schools from across the Upper Midwest are invited to enter the second annual College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Public Policy Learning Community Essay Contest.

“Contested Ideas and Methods: Debating Public Policy” is the topic of the essay contest, sponsored by the Public Policy Learning Community at CSB/SJU. The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2007. Entries should be submitted by e-mail to mlindstrom@csbsju.edu or by mail to: Dr. Matthew Lindstrom, Public Policy Learning Community, Saint John’s University, Simons Hall 150, Collegeville, MN 56321.

The Public Policy Learning Community at CSB/SJU is offering this essay contest to foster awareness of and interest in public policy issues at any area and level of government.

Entries may address policy in any area of government, from domestic to foreign, and any level of government, from local policy to international law. Essays will be judged on the quality of writing and support of the theme through evidence, not on the policy issue chosen or specific position held by the writer. A bibliography using any standard academic style is necessary.

Papers should address the importance of the issue and the policies involved in that issue, why they are important, and what improvements could be made to the policies or their implementation. Topics within the scope of public policy include, but are not limited to, education, war, environment, poverty, health care, taxation, trade, criminal justice, civil rights and liberties, international refugees, and much more. Essays should be 1200 words at a minimum.

“This writing contest is meant to show students how public policy affects their lives, and how they can affect public policy,” said Lindstrom, CSB/SJU associate professor of political science and director of the Public Policy Learning Community.

“Through active citizenship, we can help government advance the good of society,” Lindstrom continued. “Many of us are unaware of the effects of even the smallest policy changes on important issues. This writing promotes thought among students about the issues of interest to them, and allows them to research these issues and suggest improvements to public policy that would improve life in society today. With this encouragement, students will hopefully become more politically aware and active citizens.”

There is a first prize award of $200 and a second prize award of $100. Certificates of merit will also be awarded.

E.J. Dionne inaugural speaker at Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture

Editor's Note: E.J. Dionne was a guest on Minnesota Public Radio's Midday program on Tuesday, April 17.

Gene McCarthy admired the writings of Washington Post newspaper columnist, author and commentator E.J. Dionne, Jr. That admiration was mutual.

Dionne praised McCarthy as a "poetic Isaiah whose plain literacy puts many other politicians to shame" and that rare politician "willing to stand alone in the hope that, once in a while, something good might happen."

As the inaugural speaker in the Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, Saint John's University, Collegeville, Dionne will honor McCarthy for his courage to speak out alone in a time of war. His speech, "The Promise and Limits of Politics: What Gene McCarthy Taught Us," is free and open to the public.

Dionne is noted for a keen intellect that delivers reasoned analysis with a passion for people – traits that also applied to the late U.S. representative and senator from Minnesota and Saint John’s University graduate. Dionne – like McCarthy – is also Irish and Catholic.

Dionne's op-ed column – which began in 1993 in the Post – appears in syndication to more than 100 newspapers. He joined the staff of the Post in 1990 as a reporter.

Prior to joining the Post, Dionne spent 14 years working as a reporter for the New York Times newspaper, reporting on state and local government, national politics and from around the world, including stints in Paris, Rome and Berlin.

His best-selling book, "Why Americans Hate Politics: Death of the Democratic Process" (1991, Simon and Schuster), was called a "classic in American political history" by Newsday. It won the Los Angeles Times book prize, and was a National Book Award nominee.

Dionne has also written "They Only Look Dead: Why Progressives Will Dominate the Next Political Era" (1996, Simon and Schuster) and "Stand Up, Fight Back: Republican Toughs, Democratic Wimps and the Politics of Revenge" (2004, Simon and Schuster).

He is a regular political analyst on National Public Radio, and is a frequent commentator on CNN and NBC's "Meet the Press."

In May 1996, Dionne joined the Brookings Institution as a senior fellow in the Governance Studies Program. He is also a senior advisor to The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, and a professor at the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute.

Dionne grew up in Fall River, Mass. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 1973, and received his doctorate from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

The Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture was announced in January 2006, following a memorial service to the three-time presidential candidate at Saint John’s Abbey Church. McCarthy, a native of nearby Watkins, Minn., spent seven years as a student at Saint John's Preparatory School and University, and nearly one year as a member of the Benedictine community of Saint John's Abbey.

The annual public lecture will feature distinguished speakers who will address topics cherished by McCarthy – including politics, poetry, social and economic justice, constitutional reform, campaign finance and other pertinent public policy issues.

The lectureship will carry on McCarthy's deep commitment to the ideals and principles of democratic self-government. It will seek to inspire a new generation of young people to pursue fresh ideas, to challenge the status quo, to effect positive change in their communities and, like McCarthy himself, to lead with honesty, integrity and courage.

Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger speaks on “Health Care and Policy Challenges and Changes”

Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger speaks on “Health Care and Policy Challenges and Changes” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater at Saint John’s University, Collegeville.

His speech is free and open to the public, and is part of the Dr. Martin and Rose Marie Schirber Lecture Series in Medical Ethics at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University – an annual event to provide information about health and medical issues.

Durenberger, who also plans to speak to several CSB/SJU classes Wednesday, March 28, is a 1955 graduate of Saint John’s. He represented Minnesota in the Senate from 1978-95.

Durenberger currently serves as Senior Health Policy Fellow at the University of St. Thomas. He founded and chairs the National Institute of Health Policy.

The NIHP is a not-for-profit membership organization comprised of health care, health plan and business leaders throughout the Upper Midwest. Its goal is to change the health care system from the inside out, and influence national policy health change.

While in the Senate, Durenberger served 16 years as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, plus six years as Health Subcommittee chair. He served eight years on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Durenberger is a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; the Kaiser Foundation Commission on the Future of Medicaid and the Uninsured; the National Committee on Quality Assurance; and the National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care. He is also the advisory board chair of the Medical Technology Leadership Forum.

In 2003, Durenberger was named by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to lead the Minnesota Citizens Forum on Health Care Costs. Durenberger is also the author of “Prescription for Change” and “Neither Madman Nor Messiahs: A Policy of National Security for America.”

Martin Schirber, a 1942 graduate of Saint John’s, served on the school’s board of directors and was a long-time physician in Grand Rapids, Minn. The lecture series was established in the early 1980s to help pre-medicine students at CSB and SJU examine everyday ethical issues.

Former Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice honored at annual Red Mass

The fifth annual Red Mass is at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, on the College of Saint Benedict campus, St. Joseph. The public is invited to attend.

A reception follows the Mass at Teresa Reception Center, Main Building, CSB. Those who wish to attend the reception must register by Nov. 2.

John Simonett, a former associate justice with the Minnesota Supreme Court, will be honored at the Red Mass as recipient of the Fidelis Apparitor Award. The award, which means “faithful servant” in Latin, will be given to individuals who have been good and faithful servants of the law.

Honorees are chosen by virtue of their exemplary service, outstanding competence and leadership, and their adherence to the directive in the Rule of Saint Benedict: “No one is to pursue what is judged better for oneself, but instead, what is judged better for someone else.”

Simonett is a 1948 graduate of Saint John’s University, Collegeville. Following his graduation cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1951, he was a partner from 1951-80 at Rosenmeier and Simonett in Little Falls, Minn.

Simonett served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 1980-94. He then joined the Minneapolis law firm of Greene Espel as a partner in August 1994. He serves as a mediator and arbitrator, listed with the American Arbitration Association and authorized under state’s rules governing alternative dispute resolution.

The celebrant and homilist for the Red Mass is Abbot John Klassen, OSB, of Saint John’s Abbey. A welcome will be given by Sister Nancy Bauer, OSB, prioress for Saint Benedict’s Monastery.

The readers include Judge James Rosenbaum, chief judge, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; and Minnesota First District Judge Martha Simonett, who is John Simonett’s daughter. A reflection will be provided by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Russell Anderson.

The judicial year in many jurisdictions around the world is traditionally opened with a Red Mass. The celebration of the Mass is designed to provide judges, lawyers, civic leaders and academics of all faiths the opportunity to reflect on the powers and responsibilities that are part of their offices.

Red Mass participants ask God to grant the virtues and gifts necessary for the proper and just administration of their duties. The Red Mass name comes from the red vestments and garments that early legal participants wore on this occasion.

CSB/SJU Hosts Spring Policy Forum on “Metropolitan Growth: Debating the Good Life”

• Event Record

The Public Policy Learning Community at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and Saint John’s University, Collegeville, sponsors its annual Spring Policy Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Auditorium on the SJU campus.

The topic of this year’s event is, “Metropolitan Growth: Debating the Good Life.”

A four-person panel will discuss the increasingly important issues of land use, housing and transportation, and look at the questions, “How do we grow?” and “Where do we go?”

“This panel brings together nationally-known experts with diverse viewpoints on the best ways to respond to a myriad of public policy issues facing our growing metropolitan areas,” said Matt Lindstrom, associate professor of political science at CSB/SJU and director of the PPLC. “Covering ecology, economics and ethics, the panel is sure to be both informative and entertaining.”

The panel consists of:

• Karen Anderson, mayor of Minnetonka, Minn., from 1994-2005, and a past president of the National League of Cities (2001-02). She completed a term as president of the League of Minnesota Cities in 1996, and served for eight years as a Minnetonka council member at-large;
• Joel Kotkin, an Irvine Senior Fellow at the New America Foundation, and the author of number of books on cities and urban growth, including “The City: A Global History” and “The New Geography, How the Digital Revolution is Reshaping the American Landscape”;
• Parris Glendening, executive director of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute (SGLI) and the former governor of Maryland (1995-2003). The SGLI was created by Glendening to help state and local elected, civic and business leaders design and implement effective smart growth strategies.
• Randal O’Toole, an economist who has been director of the Oregon-based Thoreau Institute since 1975, and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute since 1995. His recent research and policy interests have centered on regional planning and growth management in Portland, Ore., and more recently, on the New Urbanism. His publication, “The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths,” is a critical appraisal of growth management and regional planning in Portland.

The panel will be moderated by Ernie Diedrich, professor of economics and environmental studies at CSB/SJU. He has been a member of the faculty since 1980, and is known for his intellectual and social interest in environmental economics.

Diedrich co-founded the schools’ environmental studies program, and has served in a variety of leadership roles in non-profits, such as the Minnesota League of Conservation Voters, the Minnesota Project and, most recently, the Avon Hills Initiative.

The event is free and open to the public.

Saint John’s University Announces The Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture

Saint John’s University announces the establishment of The Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture to honor one of its most distinguished graduates.

The annual public lecture, conducted at Saint John’s University, will feature distinguished speakers who will address topics cherished by Senator McCarthy – politics, poetry, social and economic justice, constitutional reform, campaign finance – as well as other pertinent public policy issues.

The announcement followed a memorial service for McCarthy attended by his family, friends, monastic confreres and political contemporaries, including former Vice President Walter Mondale.

During seven years as a student at Saint John’s Preparatory School and University and nearly a year as a member of the Benedictine community of Saint John’s Abbey, McCarthy was exposed to significant spiritual and intellectual movements – monasticism, liturgical renewal, social action, ecumenism, liberal arts – which he integrated into the fabric of his personal and professional life.

Late in life, McCarthy expressed his hope “that future generations of students are exposed to the same intellectual movements I encountered as a student at Saint John’s.”

“By establishing The Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture, Saint John’s seeks to ensure that the memory and legacy of this remarkable and courageous man will live on as a source of inspiration for generations to come," said Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John’s University. “Gene McCarthy embodied values at the heart of Benedictine life and reckoned deeply with Catholic teachings on social justice and personal integrity. He was a man whose college education and religious formation prepared him to lead others by manifesting a Christian conscience in his writing, speaking and actions.”

Reinhart added, "This lectureship will further Senator McCarthy’s commitment to democracy, and it will advance his resolve to ‘restore faith in the processes of American politics and government.’”

The McCarthy Lecture will be a centerpiece of the Center for Public Policy at Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict.

“I sincerely hope that one day soon the lectureship will evolve into a full-fledged endowed Chair in honor of Senator McCarthy,” noted Reinhart. “Gene dreamed that one day such a program would focus on ‘social justice and its relationship to economic history and moral teachings of the Catholic Church.’”

The lectureship will carry on McCarthy’s deep commitment to the ideals and principles of democratic self-government. It will seek to inspire a new generation of young people to pursue fresh ideas, to challenge the status quo, to effect positive change in their communities and, like McCarthy himself, to lead with honesty, integrity and courage.

To reflect McCarthy’s interests, this lecture series will be comprehensive in scope. It will emphasize, in McCarthy’s words, “the projection of the spiritual and intellectual ideals that I was first exposed to at Saint John’s into politics and government.”

In expressing the McCarthy family’s appreciation to Saint John’s for establishing a lectureship in honor their father, Michael McCarthy stated, “The scope of this series promises to stimulate the kind of thoughtful discussion our father sought to promote in his public and private life—discussion informed not just by policy and politics but also by poetry, philosophy and by concerns of the people, whose voice too often goes unheeded.”

McCarthy, who died at age 89 on December 10, 2005, was a seminal figure in Minnesota and national politics in the last half of the 20th century. He was a five-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a two-term U.S. Senator and a three-time presidential candidate. He changed the course of history when he sought the presidency in 1968, galvanizing popular opposition to the war in Vietnam, forcing President Johnson from office and hastening the end of a war that cost more than 58,000 American lives.

Memorials to the Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture may be made to:

The Eugene J. McCarthy Lecture Fund
Saint John’s University
P.O. Box 7222
Collegeville, MN 56321

CSB/SJU Hosts SpeakOut on Hurricane Katrina

• Event Information

The College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Philosophy Department and Project Logos at SJU will sponsor a SpeakOut on Hurricane Katrina at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, in Alumni Lounge on the SJU campus. The conversation will explore implications of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy locally and nationally. The SpeakOut is free and open to public.

This “town hall meeting” will begin with short presentations by Tony Cunningham, CSB/SJU professor of philosophy; Matt Lindstrom, CSB/SJU associate professor of political science and director of the public policy learning community; Derek Larson, CSB/SJU assistant professor of history and director of the environmental studies program; and Ozzie Mayers, CSB/SJU professor of English. The presentations will be followed by an open discussion.

Contest for H.S. Students to Recognize Interest in Public Policy