3/30 Athenaeum at 1pm - We the People: Preparing Students and Voters as Citizens for 2012

Join us on Wednesday, March 30, at 1pm for “We the People: Preparing Students and Voters as Citizens for 2012” presented by Kara Lindaman.

Winona State University’s American Democracy Project is collaborating with the Minnesota Campus Compact and the Center for Democracy and Citizenship to launch the two-year “We the People” project “which will develop student citizen leaders through a series of events designed to build their skills, connections, commitment and capacities to lead efforts addressing the issues they care about most. While students value leadership development and civic engagement opportunities offered at their campuses and in local communities, they also yearn for more opportunities to gather regionally and statewide, and the staff and faculty who work with them often request more events such as those proposed here. This project responds to that desire and builds on the distinctive strengths of both partner organizations to provide students with trainings and experiences that will support their leadership in all aspects of life.

The Minnesota We the People Project will engage at least 150 college and university students from across Minnesota in four regional workshops offered in Spring 2011 at campuses interested in hosting, followed by a weekend Student Citizen Leadership Summit held at a retreat site in Fall 2011. A variety of follow-up activities led by the participating students—with consultative support from Minnesota Campus Compact and the Center for Democracy and Citizenship available to them—will reach at least 1000 additional students. Through evaluation forms at the end of each event, surveys, and other follow-up communications, we will measures results. Indicators of success will include at least 80% of participants reporting increased ability to communicate their public narrative; increased capacity to build relationships with others who are different; a new framework for citizen leadership; personal growth; new ideas and intentions for action; and a better understanding of the organizational resources available to support them moving forward.”

11/04 Athenaeum at 1pm - Repeal, Amend, or Punt? State Legislative Responses to Unconstitutionality by Matt Bosworth

Join us on Wednesday November 4 at 1pm for Repeal, Amend, or Punt?: State Legislative Responses to Unconstitutionality by Matt Bosworth of the Political Science Department.

The presentation, based on Bosworth’s sabbatical research from 2008-09, will discuss how state legislatures respond when a court declares their laws unconstitutional, especially focusing on Minnesota, Michigan and Wyoming court decisions and legislative responses since 1940. Bosworth will compare the results from the three states with previous research on the U.S. Congress and its responses to court rulings of unconstitutionality, and speculate on possible explanations for variation in responses.

The Athenaeum is located on the second floor of the WSU Library, bluff side. The event is free and open to the public.

For the complete Fall 2009 Athenaeum schedule and for additional information about the Athenaeum, please visit the following: http://www.winona.edu/library/athenaeum/

2/12 - Three Books Explore Lincoln's Complex Genius

On the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's Birthday NPR has professor Eric Froner identify "Three Books Explore Lincoln's Complex Genius"

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100514703

11/5 Athenaeum at 1pm - Eastern European Integration into the EU by Kathryn Ready

Join us on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 1:00 pm for Kathryn Ready's presentation titled "Eastern European Integration into the EU."

Professor Ready will share her experiences and understanding of EU integration activities in Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. She has recently been on a study tour of businesses, universities and parliaments in the region (in May 2007) and will be going again in May 2008.

The Athenaeum is located on the second floor of the WSU Krueger Library, bluff side.

Fall 2008 Athenaeum schedule can be found at: http://www.winona.edu/library/athenaeum/

10/15 Athenaeum at 1pm - Costa Rica's Environmental Movement - by Downs and Hawkins

Join us Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 1:00 pm for this week's Athenaeum. Darrell Downs and Tex Hawkins will present "Costa Rica's Environmental Movement - Round Two."

Professor Downs (Political Science) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Tex Hawkins will discuss their perspectives on Costa Rica's "Peace with Nature" initiative. Their remarks will be based upon interviews with political leaders and conservation advocates in Costa Rica. Downs and Hawkins will also discuss the Costa Rica travel-study course on environmental policy they led in May of 2008.

The Athenaeum Schedule can be found at: http://www.winona.edu/library/athenaeum/

9/17 Constitution Day at WSU

The American Democracy Project is hosting the large sized images and the reading of Constitution of the United States in the WSU Library rotunda.

Please contact Kara Lindamin (klindamin@winona.edu) for more information or about the American Democracy Project at WSU.

01/30 Athenaeum at 1pm - Corruption and the Campaign Finance System - Kurt Hohenstein

When: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 1:00pm
Event: Corruption and the Campaign Finance System
Presenter: Kurt Hohenstein - Professor, History

Hohenstein will talk about the history and evolution of the American campaign finance system with emphasis on the current presidential campaign. He will also discuss his new book Coining Corruption: The Making of the American Campaign Finance System (Northern Illinois University Press, 2007).

Please join us on the second floor of the library. For further information about the Library Athenaeum, please visit the following:
http://www.winona.edu/library/athenaeum/