Civitas Participates in Election Verification
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What Is It? / We Did It! 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. Twenty-four Civitas students worked with Dr. Kenneth Warren of St. Louis University, polling individuals as they left their voting places to see how much the responses that voters gave upon leaving matched the results reported to election officials.
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Training A workshop was held last Saturday with Dr. Kenneth Warren to prepare students for their tasks on Tuesday. At the workshop were the following students: Crossroads: Tianay Pulphus; Lindbergh: Margaux Bavlsik and Katharine Joiner; Parkway West: Kiz Cooke, Michelle Ki, Kaela Nichols, Alex Oakes, and Haley Smith; University City: Jeromy Gully; and Webster Groves: Julia Bakker-Arkema, Max Banerjee, Annie Crites, Claire Gavin, Ginger Gordon, Tim Hebel, Amara Kearney, Ellen Pottgen, Kelly Preston, Derek Ruch, Emma Short, Maddie Siman, and Tim Wiggins. Dr. Warren explained the procedures to be used and the importance of accuracy. Students had their 6 1/2 hour shifts and locations validated and in most cases were introduced to the St. Louis University students or adults with whom they would be working.
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What We Did on Election Day |
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As you probably know by now, John McCain carried the state of Missouri over Barack Obama by a margin of 5,800 votes out of 2,880,000 votes or less than 0.2%. How certain can we be of the actual results when a race is this close? Dr. Kenneth Warren of St. Louis University has been wondering about this question for decades and working on measures to detect irregularities. Over the past several months, we have forged a relationship between the Warren Poll and Civitas to conduct exit polls in the November election to try to measure the accuracy of the reported vote. Twenty-four students from Crossroads, Lindbergh, Parkway West, University City, and Webster worked with us on the project. They were are seven different locations; two in the city of St. Louis, three is St. Louis County, and two in St. Charles County. Our own observations as well as the results that Dr. Warren has received indicates that these students did an outstanding job. Thank you so much; and we have sent additional thanks and comments by e-mail. The results of the exit polling will be coming in several weeks; it takes time to compile the data and write it into a coherent report. Dr. Warren wants this to be transparent; we will keep you informed of information as it becomes availalble.
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Resolutions for High School Model U.N. |
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Bobbi Clemons is doing a terrific job supervising resolution writing for the high school model U.N. Last Saturday at Crossroads, thirteen students from five schools were working in the computer lab, either researching countries and issues or actually writing resolutions. As of now we have two submitted; we need many more to "populate" the Security Council and three General Assembly committees (Political & Security; Economic & Social; and Human Rights). You can submit them to us by e-mail at info@civitas-stl.com or fax them to (314) 367-7742. We prefer the e-mail method because then we don't have to key them in again. If you have questions, you can call Bobbi at the Civitas office [(314) 367-6480] or on her cell phone (314) 443-9785. Working with Bobbi on this project is Civitas associate Ariana Miller, a first year law student at Washington University who has had four years experience in our MUN and is very knowledgable about resolutions. Her cell phone number is (267) 549-5728. Remember that the model U.N. is on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Spazio's Banquet Hall in Maryland Heights (map) from 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM. At the conclusion of the session we will have our workshop with Eric Greitens in preparation for the "Carefully Getting Out of Iraq" conference (see next story).
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Civitas Conference on
"Carefully Getting Out of Iraq"
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Map of Iraq While we didn’t do a good job of keeping this secret, it has been our intention for some weeks that if Barack Obama won the election to explore the challenges he will face in “getting out of Iraq as carefully as we were careless in getting in.” For that reason we will have a special simulation on Dec. 6 and/or Dec. 13 on carefully getting out of Iraq. We will ask students to play roles ranging from president and vice-president of the United States to Sunni Muslims to U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, head of CIA to head of the oil producing cartel (OPEC). We do not intend to take a position on whether it is advisable to "get out of Iraq" now; what we want to do is explore what such a move would look like if it was done carefully.
In preparation for this conference, Eric Greitens (former Navy Seal with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as humanitarian (Rwanda, Gaza Strip, India, Mexico, Albania, etc.) will do a workshop with participating students following our model U.N. on Sat., Nov. 22. Eric can discuss the logistical issues involved in any large-scale military enterprise like this; he will also give vital background on the local geo-political situation in Iraq and the Middle East. Finally he will talk about how a "carefully getting out of Iraq" policy would affect global American foreign policy.
We invite you to participate in the model UN; whether or not you do, we would love to have your brains be part of this conference and at the Greitens workshop from 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM. Both events are at Spazio's Banquet Hall in Maryland Heights ( map). If you are interested in participating in the conference, please e-mail us at info@civitas-stl.com. Let us know if you have any questions.
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Middle School Workshop for 700 On Nov. 19
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The countries have been chosen and the student workshop is just around the corner! Things are swinging into high gear in our Middle School Model UN program. On October 13th, teachers from over 20 schools came together at The Heights and chose the countries they would represent at the spring General Assemblies. Once again, a varied and diverse group of countries will be present at our spring sessions. To check the country rosters, go to http://civitas-stl.com/middle_school_general. We’re still waiting for country rosters from McKinley CJA, Maplewood Richmond-Heights, Crossroads, and Brittany Woods but we hope to have those in and posted in the very near future. Very soon, almost 700 students will converge on the Chase Park Plaza for the student workshop. On Wednesday, November 19, from 9:30 AM -11:30 AM, students will learn generally about the role of the United Nations in the world and specifically about how the Model UN program works and their role within it. Activities for the morning will include an interactive powerpoint, a simulation, and an energetic performance by Bobby Norfolk and Kenya Ajanaku in a program entitled Drums and Voices of Africa. It’s a great way to kick-off our program, and we look forward to seeing everyone there! And as always, please feel free to email Lisa (granichkovarik@sbcglobal.net) or call her (314-865-4704) if you have any questions at all. |
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Eric Greitens and Paul Rusesabagina
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This Friday evening will be the formal book release of Eric Greitens' Strength and Compassion. The program will be at the Missouri History Museum (map), beginning at 6:00 PM. Eric will be there with a special guest of honor, Paul Rusesabagina, the actual hotel manager in the movie Hotel Rwanda. Both will be speaking and you can purchase Eric's book, normally a $65.00 value for $20.00 with the Civitas discount.
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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 warning: "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 | | | | | | Fri.,
11/07/2008 | 6:00 PM- 9:00PM | 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. | Sat.,
11/22/2008 | 2:45 PM
4:00 PM | Spazio's of Westport (map) | Workshop with Eric Greitens on "Getting out of Iraq Carefully" | Sat.,
12/06/2008 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Clayton Community Center (Map) | Civitas Discussion #8 and/or "Getting out of Iraq Carefully" | Sat.,
12/13/2008 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #9 and/or "Getting out of Iraq Carefully" |
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Carefully Getting
Out of Iraq Barack Obama's victory
is already having an
effect on Civitas
programming. Sen.
Obama has spoken of
"getting out of Iraq as
carefully as we were
careless in gettting in.
Civitas will now sponsor
a conference on
"Carefully Getting
Out of Iraq." See
details below Civitas Associates
10845 Olive Blvd.
Suite #155
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone: (314) 367-6480
Fax: (314) 367-7742
info@civitas-stl.com
www.kidswhothink.org
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
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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
Hickman Mills Lindbergh Maplewood-Richmond Heights - Italy
- Luxembourg
- Mexico
- United Kingdom
Metro Nerinx Hall - Colombia
- France
- Kuwait
- Turkey
Parkway Central - Pakistan
- Singapore
- South Korea
Parkway West 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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