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Political Science
PO Box 1510
Pembroke, NC 28372
Phone: 910.521.6363
Fax: 910.521.6446
Email: ps@uncp.edu
Location: Oxendine Science Building, Room 1300
Campus Map
season year newsletter
A Newsletter
For UNCP Political Science & Public
Administration Alumni
| Fall 1997 | Vol.
2 No.1 |
POLITICAL SCIENCE TODAY AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE
From The Chair Dr. Robert Schneider Chair-Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science at UNCP begins its twenty-seventh year as a separate academic department. It is also the beginning of my sixteenth year in the department, and my ninth as department chair. This fall also marks the second year of this alumni newsletter; hence, volume 2.
The time does fly! Times also change.
As this department and this university continue to perform their respective missions, it becomes clear that UNCP is not your grandfather's or grandmother's PSU. Today, as a Comprehensive I masters level institution, our mission and the work of our faculty have expanded beyond teaching to include scholarly research, applied research, public service, grantsmanship, and resource development for both the university and service communities.
As I reflect on what we have been, on what we have become, and on what we still might be, I tend to focus on the what "we might be" part of it. My inclination is to be future oriented and to plan for bigger and better things. Still, there does come a time to reflect upon the past, to express our respect and acknowledge our debt to those who went before. There is also a time to celebrate. In three years, as we celebrate our thirtieth anniversary as a department, I would hope we can make it a very special occasion and that all of our alumni will want to be a part of it. We welcome all input from you, our alumni, to help decide how we might best commemorate the occasion. See the request for your ideas under the heading "Project 2001" in this issue.
See also the first in a series of departmental "flashbacks" recounting the "glory days" we have shared together.
As always, I begin a new academic year filled with hope. I hope that you enjoy the news items about the students and faculty. I hope also that each of you continue to participate in your university by sharing news of your life in our alumni news section and by becoming an active supporter of your department's current activities. I especially hope that we will see and hear your support in your response to the request for the political science fund. We need you!
Enjoy the news! Talk to you in the spring.
THE WAY WE WERE: THE 1970's --- First in a series of articles on the history of the political science department. All alumni are invited to submit stories or essays for inclusion in future issues. We need stories covering all three decades (1970's, 1980's or 1990's).
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE DEPARTMENT by Dr. Gibson H. Gray
A charter member of the department faculty in 1971, Dr. Gray also served as department chair from 1981 to 1989.
Life began for the Department of Political Science at what was then Pembroke State University in the fall of 1971. It was then that political science first achieved departmental status. The department's childhood occurred in a decade full of turmoil. The Vietnam War, which began in the 1960's, continued until 1973. The Civil Rights Revolution, which also began in the 1960's, was still going strong. The Watergate Affair reached its climax in 1974. It was indeed a hectic decade.
Faculty and students of the department were caught up in the spirit of the times. The classrooms of the Political Science Department saw some lively, sometimes vehement discussions. Both students and faculty displayed increased political activism, a defiance of the established order, and a stronger emphasis on public service.
I remember Dr. Walter Weisberg wearing cut-off pants and smoking cigars in his classrooms. I remember Dr. Elizabeth Ferris who posted on her door an announcement which proclaimed that "a woman's place is in the House, and in the Senate too!" I also remember Gary Strickland, an energetic president of the Student Government Association in 1972, who exerted a great deal of effort to bring to campus candidates for statewide offices from both major parties.
When the department began in 1971, its faculty was composed of Dr. Chang H. Cho, chairperson; Dr. Min-Chuan Ku, Mr. Terry Hutchins, and Dr. Gibson Gray. Dr. Cho, who hailed from Korea, was a specialist in public administration, Dr. Ku, who came from China, specialized in international law and organizations. Mr. Hutchins, from North Carolina, was the legal adviser to the university and instructor of constitutional law. Myself, originally from Texas, I concentrated on political interest groups and the politics of the Soviet Union. Both Dr. Cho and myself continued to teach in the department throughout the 1970's into the 1980's. Mr. Hutchins and Dr. Ku both left the department before the decade was out.
New members who joined the faculty during the 70's included Dr. Elizabeth Ferris (International Relations and Foreign Policy) and Dr. Walter Weisberg (International Relations and Political Theory). Dr. Ferris left in 1979 and was replaced by Dr. Paul "Rick" Herrick.
Two new programs were introduced in the 1970's. In 1975, the internship program in public administration was initiated. In 1978, Professor Robert Delgrosso came to the department to introduce a criminal justice program.
By the summer of 1981, with the return of Dr. Cho to Korea and the untimely death of Dr. Weisberg, I was the last of the charter departmental faculty left. I would remain through the department's happy and productive second decade, but that first one will always be special to me.
FACULTY NEWS
The 1997-98 academic year finds your political science faculty as active
as ever. Individual faculty members will be presenting papers or
participating on panels at a variety of professional meetings. This
fall, Dr. Hawthorne has already presented
a paper at the American Political Science Association meeting in Washington,
D.C., Dr. Boeckelman has presented a paper
at the Southern Political Science Association meeting in Norfolk, Va.,
and Dr. Normandy has attended a Kettering
Institute briefing in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Schneider
authored a special 1400 word column entitled "Sputnik Revisited, 40 Years
Later" for the October 6th issue of the Fayetteville Observer Times.
As you know from previous issues of this newsletter, all of our faculty
are involved in academic research and publication efforts. In future
issues of this newsletter, we will provide a series of pro-fessional profiles
to acquaint you more fully with each individual faculty member.
There will be more conference activity to report in the spring as well.
The Department of Political Science and UNCP are co-sponsors for the October meeting of the National Association for Schools of Public Administration which is being held in Raleigh. Drs. Barbee, Boeckelman, Hawthorne, and Schneider will re-present UNCP at portions of the meeting.
The Department is espe-cially delighted to have Dr. Barbee back and fit for the fall semester. Dan had a health setback in the spring and underwent a heart by-pass. He is doing well. In fact, he is as youthful and energetic as ever. Welcome back Dr. Barbee!
For any alumni interested in dropping their favorite faculty a line, below is a listing of e-mail addresses which may be useful. Dr. Robert Schneider, schneider@papa.uncp.edu Dr. Dan Barbee, barbee @papa.uncp.edu Dr. Michael Hawthorne, mhawthorne@papa.uncp.edu Dr. Frank Trapp, trapp@papa.uncp.edu Dr. Elizabeth Normandy, normandy@papa.uncp.edu Dr. Keith Boeckelman, boeckelman@papa.uncp.edu
STUDENT NEWS
The Political Science Club has initiated a film series. During the
academic year, several politically oriented films will be shown and discussed.
The intent is to stimulate some social inter-action and to "network" with
fellow students.
Political Science students can utilize the departmental computer lab to take advantage of departmental programs for LSAT and GRE preparation.
Assuming some supplementary funding can be raised, a number of students are making plans to attend the North Carolina Political Science Association meeting to be held in Boone next April.
ALUMNI NEWS
A university survey of 1996 UNCP graduates indicates that 83.2%
are employed full time. Some 29.3% are
employed in business or industry. Interestingly enough, 22.2%
are employed by federal, state, or local government. Another 6.4%
are employed by non-profit organizations. It is somewhat surprising
that the total of governmental and non-profit employees (28.6%)
roughly equals the number of business and industry employees (29.3%)
in this sample of graduates. What does this tell us? Could
it be that political science is as important an undergraduate area of
study as business? Could it be that all of UNCP's students need
some political science?
NOTES FROM YOU @(910) 521-6445/6363 @ Political Science Dept. UNC Pembroke, P.O. Box 1510, Pembroke, NC 28372-1510.
PROJECT 2001
The academic year 2000-2001 will mark the 30th year of existence for the
political science department. We would like to announce the beginning
of Project 2001. Let's join in creating a special celebration to
mark this occasion.
Each alumni newsletter between now and then will include historical essays remembering the department's past and the people who have made it special. All alumni are invited to participate. Write an essay of 300-400 words in which you share your memories of fellow students, professors, and events which are special to you. Feel free to share humorous anecdotes as well. Submit these to Shirley Rodgers at the department address listed below, or e-mail your essays by sending them to schneider@papa.uncp.edu, if this is more convenient.
As we approach the year 2000-2001, we should plan on other methods of
celebration, a reunion perhaps, or perhaps a scholarship fund etc.
Below you will find a survey. Please fill it in and return it to
us ASAP. Let's make Project 2001 something which will make the entire university community set up and take
notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROJECT 2001 SURVEY
1. Which of the following would you agree to support and/or participate in to celebrate the 30th birthday of the department of political science?
-
a. Creation of a political science student scholarship fund
b. A departmental reunion in the spring of 2001
c. Creation of an endowed chair in public policy
d. Other (please specify)
Yes No
If yes, provide your current work and home address as well as phone numbers.
Home Address
Home Phone:
Work Address __
Work Phone:
3. Even though I have checked NO to number two, I will be willing
to contribute financially to or help raise funds for the projects I have
checked off in number one above.
Yes
No
4. I would plan to attend a reunion if held.
Yes No
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return completed survey and any essay submissions to:
Ms. Shirley N. Rodgers
Dept. of Political Science, UNC Pembroke, P.O.
Box 1510, Pembroke, NC 28372-1510
(Amount contributed by Political Science Alumni in response to spring appeal, $0.00)
The competition for higher education money is increasing . In an environment of tightening state budgets, it is tougher than ever for the Department of Political Science to offer the quality education that current and future students need and deserve. Remember, these students will be your future employees, public policy makers, leaders, and citizens. They need your help.
One clear distinction between "great" universities and "average" universities is found in the tradition of graduates and friends providing financial support for the continuation and expansion of their institution. In North Carolina generally, and especially at UNCP, this tradition has not developed. A culture of dependency, i.e. relying solely in tax dollars, has defeated the development of a culture of responsibility and participation. We should be ashamed. The fact of the matter is that support for your university only begins when you graduate. In most states, and at most schools, it is simply "expected" that graduates will contribute to help future students, and the contributions are expected to grow as alumni achieve greater professional and financial success. Success in generating this support will increasingly determine not only which universities are great, but which will survive. That is the nature of contemporary higher education. Your support is necessary for your university and your department. Your financial support will make this university more than what it was, more than it is, and everything it can be. Your lack of support will contribute only to its failure to be great. It may even diminish it.
Our first plea for support in last spring's newsletter generated zero support from political science alumni. Knowing that your support will provide greater visibility for the department, more success for its efforts, and more opportunities for its students, we believe that you will want to rectify this situation. If each of our departmental alums gave only $25 per year, this would generate approximately $5,000 a year to support student and instructional activities. If those who could afford it (and there are more than a few) would give more than $25 per year, the potential to help this department excel is unlimited. This is absolutely necessary in today's budget climate. We don't like to ask for your help, but at a "great" university we shouldn't have to ask.
There has been an extended debate about the extent to which UNC schools will remain "state supported," with tax payers footing all or most of the bill, or the extent to which they will be "state assisted," with universities raising larger portions of their operating budgets from private sources while smaller portions come from the state. The debate is quickly resolving itself and the "state assisted" model is the wave of the future. At least this is what the President of the UNCP system said in a recent interview. It would appear that the UNC system and UNCP must now catch up with the rest of the nation in creating a culture of responsibility and participation.
We need your support to help move beyond the constraints of ever tightening state budgets. We need your support to offer our students the quality education they need for success and that this region needs for progress. Relying upon state funds is no longer enough. Great universities and great departments need the support of great alumni and friends.
Money contributed to the political science fund will be used to:
- Help fund student travel for academic competitions (e.g. Model UN) or academic conferences
- Provide stipends for students serving as research assistants
- Purchase computer software or materials for a departmental resource center
- Support student learning and scholarly activities
- Help, where needed and possible, defray cost of student publications
----------------------------------Detach Here--------------------------------
POLITICAL SCIENCE FUND
Name Date Class
Address
Amount: $25 $50 $75 $100 Other
Make Check payable to: UNCP FOUNDATION INC/political science fund
Mail To:
UNCP FOUNDATION INC
UNC PEMBROKE
PO BOX 1510
PEMBROKE, NC 28372-9988
Current occupation:
I want to help in other ways.
Please contact me about speaking
to students regarding careers and professions.
I will help contact friends
and other graduates about contributing, please help me do so.
I would be willing to make
in-kind contributions of equipment or other materials for teaching and
research.
I can offer an internship
site to a student interested in my current occupation.
Updated: Monday, June 30, 2008
- Coming soon!
© The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
PO Box 1510 Pembroke, NC 28372-1510 • 910.521.6000