...keeping up with Civitas
We now have an RSS ("Really Simple Syndication") feed that keeps you up to date with Civitas happenings. You can subscribe by clicking on the icon above or the one on our home page. You'll receive information on upcoming events as well as helpful reminders. |
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Our survey below has one question plus a comment field. The question is rather lengthy, but we prefer respondents to have background information when possible. |
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Survey Related to Your Spring Vacation Plans |
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It’s been a relentless winter in St. Louis, much more dispiriting in the Northeast. It’s now March and Spring vacation is just a few weeks away for most students. The natural tendency for those flying is to shop for the cheapest fares. At the same time, airlines are struggling financially; with a few exceptions never having recovered from 9/11. The logical step for a business to take when sales are down is to reduce expenses. Airlines have done that in fashions ranging from contracting out maintenance to less-skilled mechanics to scheduling pilots to work long days resulting in them in the cockpit while sleep-deprived. Pilot morale is down because salaries are so low that some of them qualify for food stamps to supplement their incomes. Airlines are often forced to offer cheap fares to attract new customers. Sometimes the discount fares are so low that the airlines actually lose money by selling a ticket, but they do so to retain or attract customer loyalty. The question is this: “Would you purchase an airline ticket if you knew that it was ‘below cost’ for an airline?” a) Yes, in a free market system I am free to shop for the best deal b) No, I think that safety should be first for airlines and that can only be achieved by fares that cover their costs. c) Not Sure |
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Discussion Group This Saturday including
Short Presentation on Peace Corps
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It's been since early January that we had an open Saturday discussion; we've been quite busy with the conference on genocide. This Saturday we have discussion at Crossroads (map) from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Most of the time will be dedicated to topics of your choice, but we will have a special visit from Civitas alumna and Hazelwood Central graduate, Megan Kennedy, who has recently returned to St. Louis after two years in the Peace Corps. Learning about an organization like the Peace Corps is an excellent way to take a step towards "walking the walk" as well as "talking the talk." |
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Preparing for the next Pulitzer Global Gateway |
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Plans are now under way for this Spring's Pulitzer Global Gateway project. The theme is "Fragile States;" countries such as Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Haiti that are struggling for stability, protection of human rights, and economic development. You can already access the web portal by clicking here.
We will have a local component on "communities in crisis;" focusing on some of the rather dysfunctional small towns in our metropolitan area, both in Missouri and Illinois.
A tentative schedule has been sent to teachers and is posted on-line. We know that there will have to be some changes due to the omnipresence of testing; we will keep you informed. |
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Pulitzer Kudos
Congratulations to two students who contributed high quality work to the Pulitzer Global Gateway site.
- Sonya McCanna, Nerinx Hall 2011, who produced a remarkable video for Pulitzer's collaborative program with YouTube called Project: Report. You can see it by clicking here.
- Hope Bretscher, Parkway West 2011, who wrote an outstanding "Share Your Story" piece on the migration of mosquitoes and the impact of this dynamic on malaria. You can access it by clicking here.
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Students Plan to Launch
Coalition for Coexistence |
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As we reported last week, it started as a possible name for a new international organization to replace the United Nations. It evolved into the name of a student group in St. Louis to raise community awareness about the horrors of genocide and to inform legislators and the media of students' deep concerns about the issue: Coalition for Coexistence.
A steering committee has been formed consisting of Hope Bretscher (Parkway West, 2011), Lucy Short (Webster Groves, 2011) and Jenny Starrs (Nerinx Hall, 2011). The three had a very productive online GoToMeeting last evening and will be reporting their plans shortly.
Six students are writing articles for the Beacon; if they are accepted and published, we will give you links to them, hopefully within the next week.
You can access photos from the conference by clicking here.
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Black: High School Blue: Middle School Date | Time | Place | Activity | | | | | Sat.,
03/06/10 | 9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #10 including presentation on Peace Corps | Sat.,
03/20/10 |
9:00 AM
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #11, Coalition for Coexistence, Urban Go-Team | Fri.,
03/26/10 |
9:00 AM -
Noon | Creve Coeur Gov't Center (map) | Middle School Model U.N. #1 | Wed.,
03/31/10 |
9:00 AM -
Noon | Creve Coeur Gov't Center (map) | Middle School Model U.N. #2 | Sat.
04/03/10 |
9:00 AM -
11:00 AM | Crossroads (map) | Civitas Discussion #12, Coalition for Coexistence, Urban Go-Team | | | | |
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