Dear Arthur,
 
This newsletter is very similar to last week's.  We're not "reporting" anything new because we don't want to "fake news" and prefer to leave it to Jon Stewart to report the "real fake news."  So below is what we have in case you missed it last week and hopefully by next week the entertainment moguls will make peace with the writers and Jon Stewart et al will be back in preparation for the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.
 
Upcoming Civitas Events
 
(Actual events in bold -- always subject to change when change occurs!)
Black: High School                                                               Blue: Middle School 
 

Date 

Time 

Place 

Activities 
Sat., 12/15/2007 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Crossroads Discussion Group #9
Sat., 01/05/2008 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Crossroads Discussion Group #10
Sat., 01/19/2008 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon Crossroads Active Citizenship Prep Session #1 1
 
 
1 The Active Citizenship Conference is Fri.-Sat., Feb. 15-16, 2008.  Also, we have changed the date of our second "prep session" for the conference to Feb. 9, 2008 from Feb. 2, 2008.  This way students can campaign on the Saturday before the Missouri presidential primary on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
 
And discuss we did.... 
 
 
Last Saturday, Dec. 1, we had our first of two December high school discussion groups.  Twenty students braved uncertain weather and joined in lively discussion on two topics:
 
  1. False impersonation and more; the disturbing story of a thirteen-year old girl who was bullied on the internet by a "friend's mother" who was impersonating a teenage boy.  The mother's comments led to the thirteen-year old committing suicide.  You can access the story by clicking here.

  2. Discussion on Happiness -- specifically what is the "state of mind" when happiness is best achieved.  We analyzed an advertisement (image above) that recently appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and St. Louis Business Journal.  The ad says" Happiness is a state of mind best achieved with dice in one hand and a cocktail in the other."  It shows B.P. (Beautiful People) "having a good time" at a Lumiere Place Casino and Hotel.

    Students took serious issue of how happiness is portrayed in the ad; found it somewhat sexist, "lookist," and insulting to "intelligent and resourceful people" who have other ways to "best find happiness."  Students from Rosati-Kain and U. City High are working on writing objections to the publications about the ad.

Don't forget, our next high school discussion group is this Saturday, December 15, at Crossroads (map) from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.  We invite you to submit your suggested topics to us at [email protected].

To see additional photos, click here.
 
 For Active Citizenship Conference: 
 
 
The next major Civitas event is the February Civitas Conference on Active, Responsible, and Sustainable Citizenship.  For more information on the Conference, visit the following links: 
  1. Brief Description of Conference
  2. More complete description of Conference
  3. On-line Application Form for Conference
  4. List of Students Currently Signed Up
  5. Directions to Comfort Inn & Spazio's, site of the conference.
 

 

 
Arthur H. Lieber
314-367-6480
Civitas Associates 
10845 Olive Blvd.
Suite #155
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141-7760 
Phone: (314) 367-6480
Fax: (314) 367-7742 
 
Tuesday, December 11, 2007