In the spirit of March Madness: As more Division I athletes and their supporters call for payment for players and even consider unionizing, it raises the question of the purpose of college athletics and perhaps of institutions of higher education themselves. Is it exploitative for universities to profit off of their athletes if it is indeed…
Center for the Study of Public Life
Civic Engagement Certificate Info Session
On Friday, April 3 will be an info session at noon in Allbritton 311 for Wesleyan’s Civic Engagement Certificate, a unique program that encourages students to reflect on their civic life and integrate it with their academics. This is a great opportunity to ask current CEC students about their experiences, learn about upcoming courses, and get ideas for your practicum…
Gerald Leonard on Jefferson’s Constitutions
The third of four lectures in the Centralization and Decentralization series, hosted by the Allbritton Collaborative Course Cluster Initiative:
Gary Lawson on the Decision of 1803
The second of four lectures in the Centralization and Decentralization series, hosted by the Allbritton Collaborative Course Cluster Initiative:
Jason Sorens on Federalism and Secession
The first of four lectures in the Centralization and Decentralization series, hosted by the Allbritton Collaborative Course Cluster Initiative:
Allbritton Talks: Do-Gooders Abroad
Many people, particularly Westerners, travel to the developing world each year to volunteer with NGOs and assist communities in need. However, critics of “voluntourism” warn that the self-satisfaction, thrill, and social media attention gained through service may come at the cost of real progress and make a spectacle of poverty. Others defend the good intentions…
Free ‘Selma’ Screening and Discussion
Update: An additional screening will be held tomorrow (Wednesday, February 11) at 7:45 PM. Pick up a ticket from Sara Wadlow in Allbritton 116 by 5pm today. The Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life, with the support of the Center for Community Partnerships, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and the Office of…
Can American Government Be Fixed? A Discussion with Philip K. Howard
Philip K. Howard is a lawyer, civic leader, and writer whose work addresses the effects of an overly complex legal code on our governing system and daily lives. In The Rule of Nobody, he argues that the American government is paralyzed by detailed, outmoded laws, and advocates for a radically simplified system where officials and citizens are free to be practical — to ask,…
Allbritton Talks: Unpaid Internships
Are unpaid internships exploitative, or is free labor a fair trade for a learning experience? Why do businesses and organizations hire unpaid interns, and should students accept these positions? Who wins and loses in a society where unpaid internships are permitted? We will consider these questions and more over pizza on Friday, January 30 at…
Community Building and Systems Change: An Update from CSPL 210
Students in Professor Joy Anderson’s Money and Social Change course have been hard at work all semester developing their Theories of Change and deciding which local non-profits would receive a portion of their Learning by Giving grant. The recipients will be announced at the 2014 Grantee Party on Monday, December 1 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM. Details to…