JMC Connect Student Newsletter (with two merch giveaways!)
Events and opportunities of interest to James Madison College students.
Content Note: Missing the internship and employment section in this week’s newsletter? You’ll receive information about those opportunities in a new Friday edition of this newsletter for the remainder of the semester. You can view past issues of the newsletter in our JMC Connect online archive and send suggestions to Jane Deacon (locket20@msu.edu).
In This Issue
Upcoming campus events
Meet the Majors events for first-year students
Student org events & updates
Resources to help you navigate life on campus
One more thing: Carson Perz (IR ‘26)
Events
Coming of Age as a Queer Teenager in the Holocaust: Bringing Margot to the Stage
Oct. 28, 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the RCAH Theater. The Amazing Life of Margot Heuman is a play about the first lesbian Holocaust survivor to bear testimony. It offers a rare and important glimpse into queer life during the Holocaust. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
In-Person Graduate & Law School Fair
Oct. 29, 3 to 6 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena. Discover various graduate and law school organizations. Hosted by Career Services Network, explore options for graduate and law schools. Register to attend via Handshake
Networking Advice + Practice with Madison Alumni
Oct. 30, 6 to 7 p.m. virtually via Zoom. Join JMC’s Career Services for a virtual (and low-stakes!) panel discussion featuring Madison graduates who are eager to help you practice your relationship-building skills and offer their own insights on mastering the art of networking. Alumni participants include:
Ewurama Appiagyei-Dankah, SRP '18 (JD Candidate at UM Law and West Michigan Legal Fellow, ACLU)
John Bremer, IR '09 (Director, State Legislation & Policy, Federation of State Medical Boards)
Lee Petro, IR '92 (Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC)
Jeff Prang, IR '84 (Assessor, County of Los Angeles)
Karl Schneider, IR '17 (Analyst, Congressional Research Service)
Register to attend this event via Handshake
JMC Pic or Treat (with Madison swag!)
Oct. 31, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the JMC Library (332 Case Hall). Wearing your Halloween costume to Case Hall? We want to share it on JMC’s Instagram account! Stop by the JMC Library to have your photo taken and grab some candy. The first 10 students who stop by (in costume) will receive a Madison tote bag.
Can’t make it on Halloween? Attendees of Madison’s Nov. 13 Community Appreciation Dinner will also receive these totes!
JMC Education Abroad Fair
Nov. 1, 1 to 3 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall). Meet with professors to learn more about faculty-led programs, talk to staff about semester-long programs and international internships, and chat representatives from the Peace Corp, Fulbright, Boren Scholarship, Critical Language Scholarship and other opportunities. Staff from the Office of Education Abroad will also be on hand to answer questions about the application process and other logistical questions. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Wednesdays with Madison: Post Election Debrief
Nov. 6, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at JMC Library (332 Case Hall). Join Madison faculty members and fellow students for a round-table discussion and reflection on the results of the U.S. presidential election. This event will provide perspectives on the election results from all four majors, including Professors Jordan Cash, Louise Jezierski, Linda Sayed and Matt Zierler. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Non-Profit and Government Career Fair
Nov. 7, 3 to 6 p.m. at MSU Union Ballroom. Calling all students interested in working for a non-profit or in the government sector. This fair is the perfect opportunity for students to network with employers in the non-profit and government sectors. You will have an opportunity to connect with employers in a career fair format. Register to attend via Handshake
National Security Policy and Intelligence Collection: Ethical Considerations and Dilemmas
Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m. in the JMC Library (332 Case Hall). Led by Shawn Turner, this event will feature a conversation on national security decision making and the intricate labyrinth of moral and ethical dilemmas that intelligence professionals face. Turner is a professor of strategic communication at MSU, National Security Communication Analyst for CNN and a retired Marine Corps Officer. His previous positions include Director of Communication for U.S. National Intelligence, at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Assistant Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs at the National Security Council and Deputy White House Press Secretary for National Security under the Obama administration. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Indigenous Hip Hop: Frank Waln‘s Journey of Music, Activism, and Resilience
Nov. 7, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in WKAR Studio in ComsArtSci Building (Room 145). Join the MSU Museum in honoring Native American Heritage month for a dynamic discussion with Frank Waln about his journey, music and how he is striving to educate the world of his culture and heritage. Register to attend via MSU Museum
TEDxMSU: Spartans Speak
Nov. 7, 6 to 9 p.m. in Minskoff Multipurpose Room. TEDxMSU presents an inclusive platform for MSU students aspiring to deliver visionary speeches to their peers. Captivate an audience of your fellow Spartans no matter your speech. Get to know TEDxMSU and enhance your public speaking skills in an enjoyable environment. Learn more and apply via Google Form
JMC Community Appreciation Dinner
Nov. 13, 6 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall). Gather with students, faculty and staff to share a meal in advance of Thanksgiving. You will also receive updates on the college’s fall event programming and student support initiatives and have an informal opportunity to share feedback on what you’d like to see next semester. Bonus: In addition to dinner, attendees will receive a JMC tote bag. Register to attend by Nov. 4 via Eventbrite
Global Learning Conference
Nov. 14, 12 to 6 p.m. at International Center. The Global Learning Conference (GLC) features presentations from students returned from international learning experiences and international students currently studying abroad here in East Lansing. Presentations include a variety of formats such as poetry, journal entries, video, and more. Learn more via Global Learning Conference Website
Meet the Majors Events
First-year Madison students are invited to meet with faculty and learn more about the college's majors and minors at this upcoming event series. Students are strongly encouraged to attend all Meet the Majors sessions prior to declaring a major.
International Relations, Nov. 11, 7 to 9 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall)
Comparative Cultures & Politics, Nov. 12, 7 to 9 p.m. in 339 Case Hall
Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy, Nov. 18, 7 to 9 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall)
Social Relations & Policy, Nov. 21, 7 to 9 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall)
Meet the Minors, Dec. 3, 7 to 9 p.m. in 339 Case Hall
Student Organizations
MSU Model UN
MSU Model UN is a committed group of students who develop Model UN scenarios throughout the year. This culminates in March when we host a conference for over 500 high schoolers from around the midwest. MSUMUN is a great way to develop both teamwork and research skills while engaging in an active community of fellow students. For more information, please visit our website at msumun.org. To join, you can submit an application through our staff page.
Dio de los muertos/Day of the Dead
Oct. 28, 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall). Hosted by Latino Leaders in Policy and JMC Women of Color. Join this event to craft picture frames to include in altars across campus and enjoy conchas and sweets in honor of Day of the Dead and loved ones. Learn more via WOCJMC on Instagram
Refugee Outreach Collective
Oct. 29, 7 to 8 p.m. in 314 Bessey Hall. Paint pumpkins and play Khaoot with MSU’s Refugee Outreach Collective. Learn more via Refugee Outreach Collective on Instagram
Voices of Power Black Voter Rally
Oct. 30, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. right outside the ComArts Building. Join for an afternoon of music, free food and powerful student speakers. Learn more via the Black Students’ Alliance on Instagram
Exploring How Environmental Factors Contribute to Displacement
Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall). Hosted by Refugee Outreach Collective at MSU, this roundtable panel with professors will explore The Intersection of Climate Change and Forced Migration: Exploring How Environmental Factors Contribute to Displacement. Food provided, along with discussion and Q&A. All welcome. Learn more via Refugee Outreach Collective on Instagram
JMC Prof. Jordan Cash was a recent guest on The Political Theory Review podcast, discussing his book "The Isolated Presidency." Listen here: https://apps.jmc.msu.edu/g?c=tptr
Resources
JMC Academic Advising: New Drop-In Hours
Madison’s Drop-In Advising Center (328 South Case Hall) has updated hours for the remainder of the Fall Semester:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Thursday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit JMC Advising online for more information about your advising options and how to schedule an appointment with your adviser.
JMC Community Counselor: Drop-In Counseling
James Madison has a dedicated counselor on staff, Courtney Brown, available for drop-in counseling on Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (S363 Case Hall). Courtney is available for free, confidential conversations to discuss any mental health concerns you may be facing. Visit MSU CAPS for more information about on-campus mental health resources.
Each week, we offer the last word to a JMC student. This week’s One More Thing is from Carson Perz (IR ‘26):
“I am a current junior studying international relations with a second major in information science and a minor in Chinese. During the first semester of my freshman year, I became interested in joining James Madison College’s Human Rights Data Science Lab. Since then, I have had the incredible opportunity to develop lifelong professional skills as well as work on projects that align with my interests in humanitarian aid.
Our work in the lab is incredibly purposeful; the work that the Human Rights Lab does for the International Criminal Court is helpful for their process of convicting human rights violators and war criminals across the globe. In addition to this, the students within the Human Rights Lab get the opportunity to develop skills that will help us regardless of what career path we pursue post-graduation. Students have the ability to conduct research with open sources, utilize satellite imagery tools, manipulate and visualize different points of data, and present their findings to the organizations our lab collaborates with.
Our lab is currently divided in half between a Philippines team and a Libyan team. As one of the lab leaders for the Libyan team, our focus has been attempting to research the frequency of migrant boat departures leaving the Libyan coast and the occurrences of human smuggling routes. Our team has made great progress so far, and I look forward to continuing alongside my fellow student researchers as well as Dr. Brathwaite to hone our skills even more and develop professionally.”