The Civicist: January 2020

Democracy promotion is a central pillar of the foreign policy of many states, but the results are often disappointing. In her book Promoting Democracy: The Force of Political Settlements in Uncertain Times, JMU Political Science professor Manal Jamal examines how Western donor assistance can both help and undermine democracy in different parts of the world

James Madison University President Jon Alger talked with Stewart Harris on his podcast "Your Weekly Constitutional" about the role Virginia has played in establishing and maintaining representative democracy. Take a listen.

In the lead up to the November 2020 U.S. presidential election, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has created resources to help voters better understand the critical international issues at stake in the campaign.

The U.S. Census Bureau has a new explainer video about how to fill out the 2020 Census questionaire.

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting to fill hundreds of thousands of temporary positions across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. These are flexible, well-paying jobs, ideal for students. Learn more and apply here.

In an Education Dive article focused on what colleges can do to help students vote in the 2020 Election, author Natalie Schwartz writes about efforts at JMU with a special focus on the traveling candidate town hall organized by JMU’s Office of Residence Life and The Madison Center.

The All IN Campus Democracy Challenge recently recognized James Madison University President Jon Alger as a Standout President for his leadership in cultivating a culture of democracy and voter participation on campus and beyond. “It’s crucial that colleges and universities assume a leadership role in efforts to enhance our democracy, and graduate civic-minded students capable of solving tomorrow’s challenges,” said President Jonathan Alger. “This award reflects the work being done by many faculty and students here at JMU. I am honored to accept the award on their behalf and look forward to working with countless partners across campus to continue the good work focused on civic engagement. James Madison University, named for the Father of the Constitution, has an important role to play in preparing people for active and responsible political engagement.”

Dan Glickman and Alan Solomont write on CNN.com about how young voters will be key to winning 2020 elections based on turnout rates in 2018 and the impacts of institutionalizing civic learning and democratic engagement in higher education. “College campuses have always been hotbeds of student political activism, but the rate of engagement from these voters in 2018 is historically large. This can be attributed, at least in part, to colleges and universities investing in the civic development of their students by embedding political and policy discussions in classroom learning, encouraging non-partisan voter registration and helping students confront consistent barriers to electoral participation (such as providing information about where and when to vote). This is happening, for example, at James Madison University in Virginia; De Anza College, a community college in Cupertino, California; and the University of Texas at Austin.”

JMU Political Science Professor Dr. Howard Lubert wrote about what the framers of the Constitution thought about impeachment in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

U.S. presidential candidates are on track to smash campaign fundraising and spending records. JMU Political Science Professor Dr. David Jones talked with Fortune Magazine about campaign finance.

In January 2020, JMU Provost Dr. Heather Coltman, Center for Global Engagement Associate Executive Director Dr. Felix Wang, and Madison Center Executive Director Dr. Abraham Goldberg and Associate Director Dr. Carah Ong Whaley visited the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in the Dominican Republic to establish civic and global learning partnerships. The JMU delegation learned about how UNIBE has developed curriculum to include experiential learning with local and global impact to address complex societal challenges. The Madison Center and Dukes Vote hope to offer exchanges between JMU and UNIBE students that focus on political learning and democratic engagement. In addition, Center for Global Engagement programs in the Dominican Republic will include a visit to UNIBE where JMU students will have the opportunity to participate in lectures and workshops with UNIBE students.

In December, Steven Thomas, Northeast Neighborhood Association Community Organizer, Madison Center Associate Director Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Community Service Learning Associate Director Jamie Williams (in spirit) presented at NASPA's Multicultural Institute in New Orleans about working alongside community partners for social justice. Carah also co-presented a workshop on the 2020 Census focused on how campuses can ensure a complete and accurate count. Full presentation here.

In November, Madison Center Executive Director Dr. Abraham Goldberg, Associate Director Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Engagement Fellow Bry Moore attended the Students Learn Students Vote summit in Washington, DC. Carah facilitated a panel at the summit on the 2020 Census.

October

The iScream 4 Equality van came to JMU to educate about efforts in Virginia to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In partnership with JMU’s SGA Diversity Committee, the Madison Center and Dukes Vote held a tent talk on “Cultural Appropriation,” leading up to Halloween festivities.

November

The Madison Center and Dukes Vote participated in Fall Fest organized and hosted by Black Student Alliance and numerous other multicultural organizations to celebrate multiculturalism and address issues, including criminal justice. The Madison Center and DukesVote offered a rendition of the Race Card Project in which students shared their experience with race in 6 words or less. Stop by Burruss 243 to see what students had to say.

The Madison Vision Series hosted George Mason University Professor Rosemarie Zagarri for a talk about “How Women Won and Lost the Vote in Early America.” Take a listen to Episode 13 of Democracy Matters featuring Prof. Zagarri, "Talkin 'Bout the Revolution: What we can learn from women breaking barriers in early America" on iTunes & Spotify.

The Madison Center participated in the Poverty Simulation organized by Emily Akerson and Mary Walala at the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS) for students across disciplines, including nursing, social services, and health and behavioral sciences. In partnership with United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, we developed a primer about Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE) population and worked with students to write to decision makers. Read our primer here.

JMU Biology Senior Saidah Lehrman organized a Tent Talk with Dukes Vote on Climate Disruption in Festival Student and Conference Center. Read Saidah’s primer here.

Women Breaking Barriers hosted an event about how Virginia will become the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment during the 2020 General Assembly legislative session featuring Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan, Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy and Anthropology Professor Dr. Megan Tracy. Check out this 400-year timeline that walks through the history of women’s rights in the United States noting landmark court cases, milestones of legislative equality and the barriers women faced and broke, created by Democracy Fellow Kearstin Kimm (JMU Computer Science, ‘20) for the Madison Center.