C-SC introduces Model U.N. class, political science major
 

Dr. David Fistein, lecturer in political science and sociology, will teach the Model U.N. course next semester.

Fall 2008 will introduce many new things to Culver-Stockton students, including a new major in political science.  As part of the new EXP@CSC curriculum and the new major, C-SC will introduce a new Model U.N. class in which students will learn about the United Nations and then show off what they have learned at a Model U.N. conference in Chicago at the end of the semester.

C-SC is creating the political science major because “you can’t have it,” according to Dr. David Fistein, Ph.D., lecturer in political science and sociology.  “Over the past 10 to 15 years, there has been a change in the social sciences world – an international change. The political sciences are now more important, and society is becoming more and more aware of politics,” he said.

As an introduction to the new major, the Model United Nations (POS 399) will be offered as a Fall 2008 semester class from 2:30 – 4:05 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays as a 12-week course worth three credit hours.  There is an approximate fee of $300 that must be paid by each student in the class to cover fees for the Model U.N. and travel costs.  A minimum of five people must sign up for Culver-Stockton to participate, but the class tops out at 20 students.

In the Model U.N., like the actual United Nations, there are representatives from every country. Since students participating in the model aren’t really from the country that they represent, students spend time researching their country and learning how it would react in certain situations or how that nation’s government would conduct itself. Culver-Stockton students will be representing Slovakia next fall. 

“I picked the country, for this year at least,” Fistein says.  “The American Model United Nations International hosts a lottery early on, but we hadn’t been signed up yet.  For late-comers, you simply choose your first through fifth choices and then you hopefully get one of your top choices.  Slovakia was my first choice.  I thought it would be good for the students to start out as a small country that normally agrees with the United States.”

The Model U.N. simulation will be held November 22-25 in the Chicago Sheraton Hotel. Following an opening session for the whole group, students will split up into committees to discuss various topics such as nuclear warfare, drugs, and terrorism. “The days will be extremely intense,” according to Fistein. “The students will be up working by 8:00 a.m. and may not get to bed until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. most nights.”

Dr. C. Patrick Hotle, associate professor of history, said that C-SC’s interest in initiating a Model U.N. program is very much in keeping with the college’s commitment to offering a solid global education to students. “A well-prepared, 21st century student, must have a solid background in the major issues that preoccupy today’s international relations,” he added.  “In addition to the knowledge acquired in global issues, the active learning experience of simulating a U.N. delegation offers the student experience in debate, diplomacy, and cooperation.  The Model U.N. program will also dovetail well with the college’s newly enhanced study abroad opportunities.”

“The United States is often ridiculed by other countries because our citizens don’t travel out of the country as much as the citizens of other countries do,” added Fistein. “This is a great opportunity to gain awareness of what other countries expect and how they think and communicate.”

For more information, contact Fistein at x6694, or by e-mail at dfistein@culver.edu.  Also, you can visit www.amun.org for more information on the American Model United Nations International.



Students win honors at C-SC Young Writers' Conference

Ron Stormer, associate professor of English, welcomed students to the Young Writers' Conference.

About 70 area high school students attended the sixth annual Young Writers’ Conference at Culver-Stockton College on April 2, with seven of them winning recognition during the writing competition.

The Culver-Stockton College Young Writers' Conference is designed to encourage students to consider writing careers, according to its organizer Carolyn Kane, C-SC Professor of English Emerita.

“We, of course, want to introduce these exceptional young people to our campus and to our academic programs at Culver-Stockton,” Kane said. “Ultimately, we hope the high school students enjoy the experience and learn something in the process. Maybe they will decide that writing is a sensible and enjoyable career.”

Carolyn Kane, Professor Emerita of English, discussed the importance of a career in writing.

Speakers at the conference included Leisha Kelly, keynote speaker, a former Culver-Stockton student and author of 10 historical novels, including the "Country Roads Chronicles," set in rural America during the Great Depression. Kelly also wrote three novels about Than Dorn, a mysterious hero whose adventures took place during the medieval period. Velvet Hasner '01 and Kim Gaither '79 conducted workshops, as did Kane and C-SC professors Steven Long and Steve Wiegenstein. Hasner is currently the publishing coordinator for University of Missouri Health Care, and Gaither is former general manager of Upchurch and Associates, Canton, and C-SC assistant professor of finance.

Students participated in different writing workshops throughout the day.

Kane said this year’s conference was the best attended and drew students from Canton, Palmyra, and other Missouri communities; as well as students from Quincy, Ill., and Iowa.

“The quality of this year’s attendees was very high,” she added. “They asked excellent questions of our speakers. We look forward to holding the event again next year.”

Dr. Fox addresses JWCC regarding core values

Dr. Bill Simpson, JWCC president, presented Dr. William Fox, C-SC president, with gifts as part of Fox's participation in the college's meeting.

Dr. William Fox recently was guest speaker at an all-college meeting at John Wood Community College (JWCC). Dr. Bill Simpson, JWCC president, invited Dr. Fox to address one of the community college’s quarterly campus-wide meetings about “The Importance and Role of Core Values in a College.”

JWCC identifies its core values as self-development, excellence, accountability, and integrity.

Dr. Fox described John Wood the person, the pioneer, and others of the frontier era -- including the founders of Culver-Stockton -- saying that “C-SC and JWCC share that frontier heritage that says that learning must include an education in human virtues, ideals, and judgment.”

He also described his personal experiences of practically growing up on the campus of the first community college in Maryland, where his father taught. He said that C-SC and JWCC are tied together partially through their emphasis on the human spirit, core values “by which we teach and by which we live” that they share with many U.S. colleges and universities. He added that as Russia, India, and China see growth in higher educational institutions in the future, their values focus more on technical expertise.

“The future of the American college hangs on our core institutional values...well-conceived values that allow both JWCC andC-SC to take students of promise and show them how to develop themselves. We show each of our students that they can matter and change the world,” Fox said, concluding, “In the coming years, John Wood and Culver-Stockton will be remembered because of our values and will become known by them more than anything else we do.”

Nominations sought for Helsabeck Prize

Nominations are being sought from the Culver-Stockton College community for the Helsabeck Prize for Excellence in Teaching. The Helsabeck Prize, established in 1980, is a cash prize of $1,000 and will be awarded during Commencement. Recently, all students received the nomination form through e-mail.

Your help is needed to identify a current faculty member who, in your judgment, exhibits those qualities that mark the truly outstanding teacher. Since Culver-Stockton is, above all things, a teaching institution, awards for excellent teaching speak to the very heart of the college's work.  From 1990-93, the Helsabeck Prize was awarded to junior faculty with less than six years of service and non-tenured status. In 1994, the entire faculty were again included in eligibility.

While definitions of excellent teaching vary, qualities that are frequently identified include: knowledge and proficiency in the subject area; creative approaches to the subject matter; ability to nurture interest, enthusiasm and responses in students; clarity of educational objectives and course expectations; maintenance of high expectations and standards; openness to other points of view; fairness; and effective timely feedback to students.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of faculty, students, and administrators. You are invited to submit a nomination to Dr. R. Joseph Dieker, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, Henderson Hall. Nominations will be accepted through April 21. Students can access the nomination form from the student tab of MyCulver. For more information, contact Debbi Henderson.

The following is a list of past Helsabeck Prize recipients.