Discussion & Prep Session this Sat.
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We'll have a "hybrid session" this Saturday: an open and free-wheeling discussion and a 30-45 minute training session for the Nov. 22 high school model U.N. We want to go over the responsibilities of delegates, particularly with regard to finding a balance between representing the interests of their countries and also addressing global needs. We need resolutions; we'll review the process of writing them and give you time with coaching to write them. If you have a laptop computer, you might want to bring it. Discussion topics may include, but are not limited to: - As of Saturday, we'll be at "T minus 10 days" until Election Day. Barack Obama is now outspending John McCain by a margin of four to one. Do you think that's fair? John McCain continues to insist that Sarah Palin is fully qualified to be president. Does he know something that most other people don't, or did he make a mistake in a moment of desparation?
- Oliver Stone's movie 'W' on George Bush is "in theaters near you" now. Is it appropriate to write history while it's still being made? In a movie or docu-drama, how do we know what's accurate and what is included for dramatic purposes?
- The resurgence of the Rams raises a question, "Is it reasonable to expect players / students / anyone to work as hard for a teacher or coach whom they may not like or respect as they would as they would for one whom they like or respect?
The session is this Saturday, October 25 at Crossroads College Preparatory School (map) from time is 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. If you need help with transportation or have any questions, please let us know at info@civitas-stl.com.
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Key Events this Week and beyond:
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On Friday evening, October 24 (UN Day), Civitas will be presenting the movie Hotel Rwanda. It is about a terrible period of genocide in Africa. We will have a guest of honor, Eric Greitens, who will relate personal experiences from his humanitarian work in Rwanda. Before the film, Eric will discuss the history of Rwanda from colonialism to the days and months leading up to the Genocide. Afterwards, Eric will discuss his time on the ground as a humanitarian in Rwanda and tell some stories of Paul Rusesabagina's experience at the Hotel Mille Collines. The event will be at the Brentwood Community Center (map) from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM. Copies of Eric's new book Strength and Compassion will be for sale with Civitas subsidizing student costs.
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Journalist Carl Bernstein at Wash. U. This Thurs.
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Carl Bernstein is one of America's foremost journalists; along with fellow Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward he was key to breaking the Watergate story during the Nixon Administration. He has recently written a book on Hillary Clinton. He will be speaking at Graham Chapel on Washington U. campus (map); Graham Chapel is building 41 at G-5 on the map). He is speaking on "Public Ethics: The responsibilities of Elected Officials." His presentation is from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM followed by a "A Legislator's Response" with Missouri state senators Jeff Smith and Scott Rupp. The program concludes at 6:00 PM. It is free and sponsored by the Washington U. Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values. Call Civitas at (314) 367-6480 if you want tips for parking or have any other questions. |
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Election Verification Exit Polling .... you may have never heard of this before, but you've heard of election fraud. This is a case of the defense trying to keep up with the offense; can honest citizens and public officials take sufficient steps to ensure that the Nov. 4 presidential election is as honest as possible. Civitas is working with Professor Kenneth Warren of St. Louis University in the relatively new science of election verification polling. This is a type of polling which measures the likelihood that polling places are accurately reporting results from their precinct(s). Dr. Warren and Civitas are looking for students to work 6 1/2 hour shifts on election day to monitor the election. There will also be a training session the week of October 27 (choice of times to available shortly). A stipend will be paid to participating students. So far we have fifteen students (and potentially many more) signed up from Webster Groves High School (thank you, Julie Burchett); another five should be coming Parkway West (thank you, Kristen Collins) and two from University City High School (thank you Darlene Donegan). We may want more, although there are limitations. If you are interested and either (a) don't have school that day, or (b) can excuse yourself from school that day, please contact us at info@civitas-stl.com or (314) 367-6480.
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Wash. U. Model UN last Weekend
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Two students from Nashville in the Cuban Missile Crisis Committee There were two students from Civitas schools in the Washington University Model United Nations this past weekend. Congratulations to two freshmen from Metro High School: Olivia Huddleston-Boatman who was in the caucus for the U.S. Democratic National Committee and Julia Epplin-Zapf who was in the recreation of the Congress of Vienna following the Napoleonic wars. Thanks to the staff if WUMUNS, especially Secretary-General Alex Choi and Civitas liaison to WUMUNS, Ariana Miller. We hope that more schools and students will want to participating in this very unique series of simulations next year.
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A Unique Model U.N. Committee |
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by Olivia Huddleston-Boatman; Metro, 2012
From October 17, 2008 to October 19, 2008 I had the privilege of participating in the Washington University Model U. N. I was one half of a two person delegation. I represented David Axelrod, the campaign manager for Sen. Barack Obama, in the Democratic Campaign Committee. Over the entire weekend there were six committee sessions. On the committee, I was worked with five other students from Nashville, Tennessee and Washington D. C. The chairs or leaders of the committee were a freshman and a sophomore at Wash U. For the first three sessions, my committee was planning the campaign for Sen. Obama. We chose which states to go to, when to make speeches, and when to issue press releases. Periodically we were given crises to deal with. For example, at about 14 days left in the countdown, Hilary Clinton withdrew her support and we had to work together to address and fix this problem. The only problem we had was the fact that everyone on this committee generally had similar views on everything, so there was not a great deal of debating going on. Therefore, three delegates were given the role of Republicans working with three Democrats in creating a bi-partisan platform for an independent candidate appointed after a tie in the Electoral College. This was very effective in creating some variety in people’s views. Overall, I had a great time. It was fun creating and sticking to an argument that I stood for while backing it up with facts. I was the youngest delegate that participated which was a bit of a challenge, but an exhilarating challenge at the same time. I truly enjoyed this experience. It was academic, testing, demanding, but also amusing. I hope to do it again in the future, and I would recommend participating to anyone who enjoys the model U.N.
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Another Article in The Beacon
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As more and more people throughout the Earth struggle to get sufficient drinking water, something needs to be done to draw more atention to the problem. One step, according to Collinsville High School student Tyler Doyle, would be to make water one of the rights guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Tyler's thoughts appear in the St. Louis Beacon, our community's foremost on-line newspaper.
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Independent Film on Financial Troubles |
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Even before the current financial troubles hit, an Independent Film was made waring: "Wake up, America! W're on the brink of a financial meltdown. I.O.U.S.A. boldly examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United Sates and its citizens. A panel discussion follows. The film "I.O.U.S.A. - One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt." will be shown at the Missouri History Museum and Lindell & DeBaliviere (map) on Tuesday evening, November 18 at 7:00 PM. A panel discussion will follow. We invite any members of our community to see this early showing of the movie.
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Upcoming Civitas Events
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!) Black: High School Blue: Middle School
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| Date | Time | Place | Activity | | | | | | Thurs.
10/23/2008 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Washington
University | Carl Bernstein at Center for Study of Ethics & Human Values | Fri.
10/24/2008 | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Brentwood Community Center (map) | Viewing of "Hotel Rwanda" with Eric Greitens | Sat.,
10/25/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #5 & Model UN Prep Session | Fri.,
10/31/2008 | Early Evening | Varies | UNICEF Trick or Treating | Sat.,
11/01/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #6 & Model UN Prep Session | Fri.,
11/07/2008 | T.B.A. | Missouri History Museum (map) | Eric Greitens Book Signing | Sat.,
11/08/2008 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #7 & Model UN Prep Session | Tues.,
Nov. 18, 2008 | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Missouri History Museum (map) | Independent Film: I.O.U.S.A.
One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt | Wed.
11/19/2008 | 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Chase-Park Plaza (map) | Middle School MUN Student & Teacher Workshop | Sat.,
11/22/2008 | 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM | Spazio's of Westport (map) | High School Model U.N. |
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What's Civitas? See video below: |
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Our thanks to all the students who came to our 2008 Country Draft. This is in preparation for our Saturday, November 22 session at Spazio's in Westport (map) from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. Here is a list of countries that were drafted as of early Tuesday morning, Oct. 7: | Bishop DuBourg Collinsville - Afghanistan
- Kenya
- Vietnam
Lindbergh Maplewood-Richmond Heights - Italy
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
Metro Nerinx Hall - Colombia
- France
- Kuwait
- Turkey
Rosati-Kain St. Joseph's Academy - Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Georgia
- Libya
S.L.U.H. - China
- Cote D'Ivoire
- Japan
- Switzerland
University City - Burundi
- Russian Federation
Webster Groves - Ireland
- Jamaica
- North Korea
- South Africa
- Spain
- St. Kitts
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
| As you can tell, a number of countries still remain for drafting. We will allocate them on a "first request - first serve basis." To request a country or if you have any questions, e-mail us at info@civitas-stl.com or call (314) 367-6480.
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