Government Department Events
Election Day Viewing Party
Join us on Tuesday, November 5, in the Frank Center Forum, 100 and 101, starting at 8:00 PM. Snacks and BINGO cards will be provided.
Peer Advising
Peer Advising with members of the Government Majors Committee will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 4:30-5:30 PM, in the Frank Center 003.
Open House
The Government Department Open House will take place on Thursday, November 7, from 12 - 1 PM in PAC 002. Learn about the major and the requirements and meet with current Government majors. Lunch will be provided.
A City of YES! How NYC's Zoning Reflects Its Values
Edith Hsu-Chen, Director of Planning for the City of New York, will be on campus and will give a talk on Tuesday, November 12, from 12-1 PM, in PAC 101. Lunch will be provided.
Edith Hsu-Chen is the Executive Director of the New York City Department of City Planning. She was appointed to the position by the Mayor in January of 2022. In partnership with the Chair of the City Planning Commission, Executive Director Hsu-Chen is responsible for setting and implementing the City’s planning and development agenda, promoting inclusive and equitable growth throughout the five boroughs, and putting the city on the path toward robust recovery from the global pandemic. One of her current priorities is to deliver on the administration’s “City of Yes” planning initiative. This three-part modernization of the zoning code will help New York City achieve carbon neutrality, expand economic opportunities, and provide housing for all.
A Conversation with Jim Margolis '93
Come listen to Jim Margolis '93 (Government major) in person as he shares his experience as a six-time Emmy Award winner - one for Veep and five for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - as well as selling pilots to Warner Brothers, Universal, Sony, and Twentieth Century Television. This event will take place on Friday, November 15, 4-5 PM in the Center for Film Studies, room 112.
“Anti-Scientific Americans:” The Prevalence, Political Origins, and Political Consequences of Anti-Intellectualism in the U.S.
A Conversation with Matt Motta ‘13 about Anti-Scientific Americans will take place on Thursday, November 21, 12-1 PM, in the Frank Center 001. Lunch will be provided.
Anti-Scientific Americans offers new theoretical and data-driven insights into the prevalence, origins, and policy consequences of anti-intellectualism in the U.S. Building on recent theoretical advances, the book begins by conceptualizing anti-intellectualism as the dislike and distrust of scientists, academics, and other experts. It then brings together “micro-level” survey data from cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys spanning six decades, and aggregated “macro-level” data from hundreds of opinion polls dating back to the 1940s, to show that anti-intellectualism is both a pervasive and pernicious presence in American public life.
Matt Motta is an Assistant Professor of Health Law, Policy, & Management at Boston University's School of Public Health. His research aims to identify the social and political determinants of anti-science attitudes, and investigate their health policy impact.
Political Theory Social
Calling all political theorists...Profs. Hagel and Cucharo plan to host the political theory socials during the 24-25 school year. The socials include informal conversations about graduate school, thesis work, research, and discussions on political theorists. Check back for future dates.
Pizza with a Professor
Learn about a faculty member's research and, teaching philosophies, and journey to become a professor. Pizza with a Professor is a wonderful way to get to know faculty outside the classroom over pizza. Check back for the Spring dates.
Election 2024 Panel: Prospects for a Peaceful Transfer of Power
Each semester the Government Majors Committee chooses a topic for faculty members to provide insight on the topic from a scholarly perspective. Election 2024 Panel: Prospects for a Peaceful Transfer of Power took place on Thursday, October 17, from 11:50 am - 1:10 pm in PAC 100. The panel addressed the outlook for the candidates, election integrity, election security, and the potential for foreign interference and domestic extremist violence. Panelists discussed how these factors weigh on the prospects for a peaceful transfer of power. This panel comprised of scholars with knowledge and experience on election integrity, security, and countermeasures. Robert Cassidy, Assistant Professor of the Practice, was the moderator.
Lilliana Mason, Associate Professor of Political Science at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, who specializes in domestic extremism and political violence, discussed public attitudes about political violence and how to reduce mass approval of violence.
Carrie A. Lee, the Director of the Civil-Military Relations Center and Chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College, discussed the role of veterans and the National Guard in extremist movements and its implications for American democracy.
David Aaron, Visiting Professor of Government at Wesleyan, who served in the Department of Justice overseeing cases that included malicious cyber activity and seditious conspiracy during the 2020 election, discussed foreign and domestic actors' use of human and cyber means to spread disinformation.
Logan Dancey, Associate Professor of Government at Wesleyan, talked about political developments since 2020 that make an orderly and peaceful transfer of power more likely in 2024 and future presidential elections.