ADP Weekly Notes by Dr. Art Morin

Dr. Morin is Director of the MLS program and a Professor of Political Science.

This 'weekly note' begins a series of weekly notes about FHSU's American Democracy Project (ADP). I am a member fo the FHSU ADP Vision Team. I agreed to serve as the editor of the Weekly Note. If there is anything disagreeable or offensive in these notes, please do not blame FHSU's ADP.

Weekly Note One
     While the U.S.A. has long struggled with the tension between Constitutional principles and the pull of practical politics to weaken or eliminate those principles, the angelic part of our nature has always appealed to and held dear those Constitutional principles. Principles such as "freedom of speech" and "freedom of the press" resonate particularly strongly within the academic community. Higher education in particular has, generally speaking, been granted a fair degree of autonomy.
     Higher education ahs not only benefited because of the relative autonomy granted it, it has also benefited from public subsidization. As a consequence of these and other factors, higher education in the U.S.A. has been able to provide an environment that has fostered great advances in knowledge. Higher education has been able to provide a relatively open environment, where diverse opinions can be heard and tested. And higher education has helped educate milliions of people who have contributed to their families, communities, and workplaces.
     FHSU is engaged in a process to make the connection between higher education and a strong democracy much more explicit and intentional. FHSU's ADP is perhaps the major vehicle that is now driving that process. The purpose of this weekly note is to update everyone regarding what FHSU's ADP has done and what is now going on. In the next note I will begin to describe what FHSU's ADP did last year. Until then, you are, of course, welcome to 'surf' the FHSU ADP Web site.
     See you next week.

Weekly Note Two
     This is the second note about FHSU’s American Democracy Project (ADP). The first note pointed out that “FHSU is engaged in a process to make the connection between higher education and a strong democracy more explicit and intentional. FHSU’s ADP is perhaps the major vehicle now driving that process.” The guiding body of FHSU’s American Democracy Project is its Vision Team, which consisted of faculty, staff, students, and at least one person from the community. Last year the Vision Team was given opportunities to consider efforts at other campuses, what was already being done at FHSU, and what could be done at FHSU. I will say more about what the first and second items next week, but this week I would like to focus on one particular effort taking place on FHSU's campus: the Campus Community Fair.
     Building a strong democracy is not limited to partisan (party politics) activity. Strong and vibrant communities can also be a boon to democracy. Efforts to strengthen communities – for example, by adding to the services and associations available – offer individuals an opportunity to make a difference right where they live. The Campus Community Fair is a forum where several local organizations provide information on their purposes and services. The Fair is an opportunity to learn how you and I can contribute to our community.
     This year the Campus Community Fair is scheduled for September 8th (a Thursday) from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon. The Fair will be in the Ballroom of the Student Memorial Union. Please drop by and find out the many different ways organizations are contributing to our community. If you find some way to help, so much the better!
See you next week.

Weekly Note Three
     Don’t’ forget the Campus Community Service Fair in the Memorial Union Ballroom, starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow!
     One of the questions faced by the ADP Vision Team was how to make the connection between higher education and a strong democracy more explicit and intentional. Efforts of other universities were discussed in the book that was given to members of the Vision Team (“Educating Citizens Preparing America’s Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility”). For example, the Air Force Academy takes a ‘virtues’ or ‘character’ approach (p. 61). Turtle Mountain Community College used its physical plant (p. 63). Other approaches included an “abilities-based approach” (p. 53) and a “social justice approach” (p. 65). Anyone wanting a more complete list is welcome to contact me.
     Additionally, Provost Gould did an initial campus audit in August 2003 in order to gauge what was already happening at FHSU. The audit was organized into three categories: infrastructure/governing environment; curricular; and campus culture. And example of “campus culture” is the FHSU Mission Statement. The Vision Team did recommend changes in FHSU’s Mission Statement, and that Statement has since been revised. Anyone wanting a copy of the initial audit is welcome to contact me.
     Next week I will begin to report on other activities at FHSU and other action taken by the FHSU’s ADP Vision Team.

Weekly Note Four
     GOOD NEWS: 411 people attended the Campus Community Service Fair. YAY!
     OPPORTUNITIES: Please keep your eyes peeled for activities on Sept. 16 related to “Constitution Day.”
     Here is today’s Constitution Quiz:
True or False The Constitution says nothing about States’ rights.One of the objectives of the ADP is to encourage more civic engagement. Service learning can be one way to help students get civically engaged. FHSU faculty members were using service learning in their courses even prior to the arrival of ADP on its campus. According to a brochure from the Office of Civic Engagement, there are now more than 30 “faculty members who teach service-learning courses at FHSU …”
     The ideal of service learning is to link a need in the community with topics covered in a particular course, that way both the students and the community can experience the real-world relevance of what is studied in the class. Plus, the community benefits from the service provided by the students, and the students have an opportunity to make an immediate and positive impact on their community. Service learning can provide students the opportunity to integrate “doing” (action) with “reading and discussing” (intellect) into their learning experience. If any faculty member would like to know more about how to make service learning part of their teaching experience, please contact Professor Dr. Jill Stafford (x5562) or Professor Christie Brungardt (x4473).
     See you next week.

Weekly Note Five
Reminders:
Thursday, September 23, “Times Talk”
Time and place: noon, Stauffer Lounge
Presenter: Dr. Gary Brower
Topic: “BSE: Mad cow disease in the United States”

Thursday, September 23, “Civil Discussions of Controversial Issues”
Time and place: 7 p.m., Hays Public Library
Presenter: Gene Anderson, JD
Topic: “All I hear is a whimper: Americans sheepishly give up freedoms”

     Last week’s note focused on how service learning was one way to encourage civic engagement. Those of you who would like to know more about service learning, please contact either Professor Jill Stafford (x5562) or Professor Christie Brungardt (x4473).
Two other ways to incorporate civic engagement are through internships and independent studies. An internship would allow the student to work with a group or organization whose purposes are related to the student’s major, or to her educational and professional goals. One advantage that an internship could have over a regular class is a greater ability to match particular internships to specific students.
     Something analogous to this could be done with independent studies. Perhaps one difference between an internship and independent studies is that the former would probably be more ‘action’ and ‘here and now’ oriented while the latter would be more academic in the traditional sense.
See you next week.

Weekly Note Six
     Last week’s note was about the use of internships and independent studies as ways to encourage civic engagement. One reader pointed out the need to have constant mentoring of the student during the internship and independent studies. As part of the mentoring process, the instructor can guide the student in making connections between ‘theory’ and ‘practice.’
     Civic engagement may not be overtly political, but partisan politics is. Students can get involved in partisan politics by helping with campaigns or even running for office. One challenge here is to make sure that as a consequence of political involvement on the part of FHSU’s students the university itself is not perceived to have, and does not have, a bias in favor of a particular political party. Of course, some political offices are technically not partisan. For example, elected offices for the City of Hays or the County of Ellis are not formally tied to political parties.
As far as I know, three political parties have some presence in the Hays area: the Democratic      Party, the Green Party, and the Republican Party (please note that I listed them alphabetically). Here is a Web page with links to political parties in the United States:
     “Directory of U.S. Political Parties”   http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm
Question of the day: are political parties moribund and losing relevance in the U.S.?
     See you next week!

Weekly Note Seven
Reminder: Times Talk, Tuesday, October 11, 2005 from noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Memorial Union Black and Gold Room
Speaker: Dr. Norman Caulfield, Department of History
Issue: Immigration
Everyone is invited
     Last week’s note was about partisan politics, non-partisan politics, and political parties. Hays will have a non-partisan voting opportunity on October 18, 2005. There will only be two polling stations (i.e., places to vote): one will be at the VFW (22nd and Vine) and the other will be at the American Legion building (1305 Canterbury Drive). You will receive an explanatory letter in the mail to let you know which is your polling station (thanks to the person at the Ellis County Clerk’s office for the information about the October 18 election).
     In past Notes I have discussed various ways in which FHSU can encourage civic engagement. Allow me to posit the following: informed engagement is better than uninformed engagement. More fundamentally, a vibrant democracy requires an informed citizenry. To facilitate the development of a more informed citizenry, FHSU has arranged with the “New York Times” and the “Hays Daily News” to make available on campus same-day editions of those newspapers, at no direct cost to the readers (pick up your copy today!). Other sources of information (listed alphabetically):
     BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/?ok
     Common Dreams News Center http://www.commondreams.org/
     The Wall Street Journal online http://online.wsj.com/public/us
     See you next week.

Weekly Note Eight
Reminder:
In Hays: vote on Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Issue: whether to sell liquor on Sunday
     Last week’s note was about FHSU’s efforts to foster an educated public through the ADP’s “New York Times” and “Hays Daily News” reading program. It is true, as one reader pointed out, that any news medium has its bias – and this may discourage some from reading or listening to the news. One partial solution to the problem of media bias is to read from or listen to media with disparate biases (personal opinion: THE ECONOMIST is the best weekly newsmagazine). Another partial solution is to acquire information by consulting scholarly studies. A third partial solution is to take a class related to a particular issue or area. Since the cost of education for full-time FHSU staff and faculty has been greatly reduced (tuition is waived but fees still need to be paid, if the staff or faculty member qualifies), and since many FHSU classes are offered through the Virtual College, this third partial solution is much more practicable (yes, that’s the right word) than in the past. Early registration for Spring 2006 starts at the end of October 2005. FHSU staff and faculty: get excited and take a class!

Weekly Note Nine
Reminder: Times Talk, October 20, 2005, noon to 1 p.m.
Dr. Karyn Thomas
“Hurricane Katrina’s effect on minorities”
Stouffer Lounge, Memorial Union
     The last two notes have discussed sources of information. Good information is required if we are to be an informed citizenry. After last week’s note, a faculty member brought to my attention the United Nations Wire, which can be delivered directly to your e-mail address on a daily basis. You can find the link to subscribe to the U.N. Wire by going to http://www.unwire.org/
     The last note also encouraged faculty and staff to enroll in a class at FHSU. Early registration begins on Tuesday, October 25, 2005. Which day you can begin early registration depends on your status (undergraduate or graduate) and on the first initial of your last name. You can find the calendar for early registration dates at http://www.fhsu.edu/registrar/F2005Cal.shtml.
     Next week’s note will be about other goals set by ADP for fiscal year 2005 (July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005). See you then.

Weekly Note Ten
Reminder: Times Talk, October 27, noon to 1 p.m.
Dr. Robert Howell
“Renewable Energy”
Stouffer Lounge, Memorial Union
Last week I promised that this week’s note would “be about other goals by ADP for fiscal year 2005 …” What I will actually do in this note is report on performance goals from the ADP “Deployment Planning Table” (we were in the West Wing’s ‘War Room’ when we drafted it ;) ). Here are heretofore unreported performance goals (which means I left out the goal about FHSU’s mission statement – you will undoubtedly recall I have reported on the mission statement in Note Three (surely you have been archiving these Notes!) – and the ADP reading program involving the NYT and the HDN):
     To better educate the campus and surrounding community about ADP
     To establish a permanent ADP Speaker Series and Forum
     To develop plans for using student orientations as a way of learning about ADP
     To develop an incentive program for including a Civic Engagement element in coursework
     To complete the campus audit/create institutional Civic Engagement Portfolio
     To research & select methods for assessment of the ADP
See you next week!

Weekly Note Eleven
Reminder: Times Talk, November 9, 2005
Stouffer Lounge, noon
     You will recall that “ADP” stood for “American Democracy Project.” Now “ADP” stands for “the American Democracy Program,” to reflect an ongoing and continual commitment to facilitating the connection between higher education and a strong democracy. Following is a list of information items pertaining to recent ADP-related efforts.
- 1/7 of the faculty report using the NYT
- 175 t-shirts were handed out on Constitution Day
- Also on Constitution Day, 60 people registered to vote
     Efforts currently being pursued:
- The American Jury Project
- Incorporation of ADP into ‘First Year Experience’ for students
     See you next week!

Weekly Note Twelve
Announcements
“ Civil Discussions on Controversial Issues”
Sponsored by the Department of Philosophy
Topic: "Religion in Public Life: The Collision of 'Freedom to' & 'Freedom from'"
When: Tuesday, November 15, 2005, 7pm
Where: Hays Public Library
Speaker: Mayor Kent Steward

“Speakout” on proposed cuts in the national budget related, inter alia, to education
When: Thursday, November 16, 2005, noon
Where: The lawn of the Ellis County Courthouse
Contact person: Pam Pohly, MoveOn.org volunteer, pjpohly@yahoo.com
For more information, see
http://political.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=7016
     Last week’s note mentioned that The American Jury Project was an effort currently being pursued by ADP. Professors Shala Bannister and Elisa Weselis from the Department of Political Science and Justice Studies are working with the project. Professor Bannister provided the following note about the American Jury Project:
     FHSU’s American Democracy Project has adopted Participatory Citizenship: American Democracy and the Jury System as one of the campus’ 2005-2006 initiatives. Drs. Shala Mills-Bannister and Elisa Weselis are the faculty coordinators for the project. They are currently reviewing “Dialogue on the American Jury: We the People in Action,” a curriculum designed by the American Bar Association for use in high schools and middle schools as a tool for educating teenagers about the history of the jury system and the challenges facing the modern jury system. We are looking at several ways in which we might be able to use faculty and FHSU students to deliver this curriculum in area high schools or middle schools or perhaps sharing the curriculum with public school teachers at a workshop.
     The Project Leader at the national level is George Mehaffy, who has visited our campus. For more information about the American Democracy Project, read “Initiative Two” on the following Web page: http://www.uwosh.edu/provost/ADP/initiatives.php.
   See you next week!

Weekly Note Thirteen
   Note Twelve was about the American Jury Project. Today’s joke: Twelve angry men are trying to decide whether the project is a good one – the jury is still out.
   Seriously, ADP is concerned about how to know whether efforts “to make the connection between higher education and a strong democracy much more explicit and intentional” (Note One of ADP’s weekly notes) are successful. In its November 8, 2005 meeting the ADP Vision Team addressed the issue of Key Performance Indicators. A number of ideas were generated, including (quoting from the minutes of the meeting):
1. Exit surveys from Forums
2. Number of students in attendance at Times Talk or Public Events …
3. First Year [Experience]
4. [Use of qualitative measurements]
   As a member of the FHSU community, what indicia would you use to tell you that ADP efforts were having positive results?

Weekly Note Fourteen (there was no note during Thanksgiving Break)
Reminder:
Debate between College Republicans and College Democrats
Date and time: Wednesday, November 30, 7pm to 9pm
Place: The Black and Gold Room in the Memorial Union
Times Talk
Date and time: Thursday, December 1, noon to 1pm
Place: Teal Room in the Memorial Union
Topic: Truth, Torture, and the American Way
Presenter: Dr. William Shanahan
Thanks to those who responded to the request in Note Thirteen. Here are a couple of related questions. Please do send me your responses to these questions.
Have ADP efforts had any impact on you? If so, how?
Do you have suggestions for what ADP should be doing?