Political Science

Constitution Day Lecture With Jeffrey Meiser, Sept. 17

September 11, 2015

The political science department and provost’s office will present “Constitutional Foundation of American Foreign Policy” by Jeffrey Meiser on Thursday, September 17, from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m., in Buckley Center Auditorium. His lecture will celebrate Constitution Day, which honors the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and is free and open to all.

Meiser is an assistant professor in the political science department. He was previously on the faculty of the College of International Security Affairs and director of the South and Central Asia Program. He also taught at the University of California at Santa Barbara, The Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Mannheim. His book, Power and Restraint: The Rise of the United States, 1898-1941, was published this year by Georgetown University Press.

For ADA accommodations or event information contact Gary Malecha, political science, at malecha@up.edu.

2015 Mazzocco Lecture, Feb. 2

February 2, 2015

Hassan Abbas will present the 2015 William J. Mazzocco Lecture in Distributive Justice on Monday, February 2, at 7 p.m., in Mago Hunt Center Theater. His talk, titled “The Idea of Justice in Islam: Traditional & Contemporary Debates within Islamic Communities,” is free and open to all.

Abbas is professor and chair of the Department of Regional and Analytical Studies at National Defense University’s College of International Security Affairs in Washington, DC. He is also a senior adviser at the Asia Society. Previously, he served as the distinguished Quaid i Azam chair professor at Columbia University and a senior adviser at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. His latest book, The Taliban Revival (Yale University Press, June 2014), chronicles the Taliban’s survival and resurgence after 2001, through firsthand research and interviews in the area.

The William J. Mazzocco Lecture in Distributive Justice was established at the University in 2006 to honor 1937 graduate Bill Mazzocco, who had a long, distinguished career in military intelligence with various World War II assignments at diplomatic posts, and made significant contributions to the Marshall Plan. He credited his years at UP with giving him a solid moral foundation that guided his steadfast belief in the principles of equitable and fair distribution of wealth.

For more information contact political science at 7274 or polisci@up.edu.

Malecha Wins Spirit of Holy Cross Award

September 22, 2014

Gary Malecha, a longtime professor of political science at the University of Portland, has received the Spirit of Holy Cross Award, given annually to lay collaborators of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The award recognizes lay collaborators who devotedly work to make Blessed Basil Moreau’s vision and mission to “make God known, loved, and served” a reality at the Congregation’s education, parish and mission apostolates.

Malecha was one of six award recipients announced on Sept. 15 by Rev. Thomas O’Hara, C.S.C., provincial superior of the United States Province of Priests and Brothers, to mark the Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Malecha, who has been a professor at the University since 1992, served as chairman of the Department of Political Science for 13 years and currently serves as the University’s NCAA faculty athletic representative.

Malecha was nominated by Rev. Jeffrey Allison, C.S.C., on behalf of the Holy Cross Community at the University of Portland. Fr. Allison said Malecha is supportive of the mission of Holy Cross and is deeply committed to students at the University.

The 2014 recipients also include Melanie Chapleau, assistant to Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., University of Notre Dame; Lori Gorny, office and payroll manager, Provincial Administration Office (Notre Dame, Ind.); Patti Schlarb, seamstress at the Basilica of Sacred Heart, Notre Dame; and Edwin J. and Lea M. Zorn, parishioners, Sacred Heart Parish (Tri-Community Parish), Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The Holy Cross community will formally honor Malecha at a Mass and dinner in January 2015 as part of the celebrations of Congregation found Blessed Basil Moreau’s life. Honorees will receive a proclamation of gratitude signed by provincial superior Fr. Tom O’Hara, C.S.C., on behalf of the entire U.S. Province.

For more information contact the Congregation of Holy Cross office at 8024 or doll@up.edu.

Constitution Day Presentation by Gary Malecha, Sept. 17

September 12, 2014

The policical science department will mark Constitution Day with a lecture by UP political science professor Gary Malecha, titled “Congressional Elections in a New Political Environment.” Malecha will discuss the upcoming 2014 congressional elections and how they might impact presidential-congressional relations and policy which will make up the rest of the Obama presidency. His lecture, free and open to all, is set for Wednesday, September 17, at 6 p.m., in Shiley Hall room 101.

For more information contact political science at 7274 or polisci@up.edu.

Congress To Campus Visit, Feb. 24

February 24, 2014

The University of Portland will welcome former congressmen Gil Gutknecht (R-Minnesota) and Martin Lancaster (D-NC) on Monday, February 24, at 7 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. The event is free and open to all. The former congressmen will discuss the important role that Congress plays in the American political system and the challenges it confronts in carrying out that role.

Gutknecht and Lancaster will be on campus for two days visiting classes and meeting with student leaders, clubs, and programs. The visit is made possible through the Congress to Campus program, created by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress in an effort to improve college students’ understanding of Congress and American government, and to encourage them to consider careers in public service. The program sends bipartisan pairs of former Members of Congress – one Democrat and one Republican – to visit college, university and community college campuses around the country.

For more information, contact Gary Malecha, political science, at malecha@up.edu or 7452. Information about the Congress to Campus program can be found at http://tinyurl.com/pqja64z.

Conversation on Prisons, Nov. 21

November 15, 2013

Vail Fletcher and her communication studies students received a competitive Oregon Humanities Conversation Starter Project grant to host a program titled, “Beyond Bars: Rethinking Our Reliance on Prisons” on Thursday, November 21, 7-9 p.m., in the Bauccio Commons. It will be an interactive conversation focused on considering the following questions: What role do prisons serve in our country? Is it possible to envision a world where people are safe and secure, and where there is accountability, without prisons? Does our prison system, in some cases, actually cause rather than reduce crime? The event is sponsored in part by the Garaventa Center, the Department of Social Justice, the Department of Political Science, and the Department of Communication Studies. The event will be immediately followed by a dessert reception. All community members are welcome. Please contact Fletcher at fletcher@up.edu with any questions and/or if you plan on bringing your class.

Mock Trial Team Update

November 15, 2013

The University of Portland’s Mock Trial Team attended the Emerald City Open over the weekend of November 9-10 in Seattle, according to team advisor Aaron Johnson, political science. One squad placed 5th with a win/loss record of 6-2. Several students also won individual awards. Freshman Daniel Schultz was awarded most outstanding witness of the tournament with a perfect ranking; senior Amanda Danforth placed 2nd overall for witnesses with a nearly perfect score; senior Brendan Bewley was awarded an outstanding attorney award with a near perfect score; and junior Nic Barradas received the Most Outstanding Attorney award of the tournament after achieving a perfect ranking over the course of the weekend, the third year in a row that a UP mock trial team member has taken that award. For more information contact Johnson at 7274 or jonsocu@up.edu.

Constitution Day Lecture

September 13, 2013

William Curtis, political science, will present “The Constitutional Jurisprudence of Justice Clarence Thomas,” a Constitution Day presentation, on Tuesday, September 17, at 7 p.m., in St. Mary’s Student Center. Curtis will discuss Justice Clarence Thomas’s judicial philosophy, approach to interpreting the Constitution, and several of his noteworthy opinions. For more information contact Gary Malecha, political science, at 7452 or malecha@up.edu.

Faculty Sharing Their Work

April 1, 2013

The winners of two prestigious University of Portland faculty awards are scheduled to present their work on Friday, April 5, from 3 to 4 p.m., in Franz Hall Room 034. Outstanding Teaching Award winner Laura McLary, international languages and cultures, will present “Communities, Cultures, Connections: Making Second-Language Learning Relevant,” followed by Outstanding Scholarship Award winner Lauretta Frederking, political science, who will present “Exclusion and Inclusion of Muslim Americans after September 11, 2001: From Religious Identity to Political Interests.” Light snacks will be served. For more information, contact Aziz Inan, engineering, at 7429 or ainan@up.edu.