JMC Connect: Week of Sept. 2
Missed last week’s newsletter? View the JMC Connect archive online.
In This Issue
Upcoming campus events
RSO events and updates
Resources to help you navigate life on campus
Opportunities of interest to JMC students
Internships and employment postings
One more thing: Amaya Aten (CCP, Arts & Humanities ‘25)
Events
JMC Lunch Chat
Sept. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop by the JMC Library (332 Case Hall) for a free lunch and conversation with staff, faculty and fellow JMC students. This event is for current JMC students only. Lunch will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Wednesdays with Madison: Learning Lab Night
Sept. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. in 332 Case Hall. Find out about the services of the JMC Writing Consultancy and JMC Math Center. Professor Melissa Fore and the student consultants will discuss how they can provide one-on-one assistance with reading, writing and math strategies. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar »
DEIB Discussions for First-Year JMC Students
Attention: First-Year Students
Sept. 6, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in 338 Case Hall. First-year students are invited to join JMC’s Office of Justice, Equity & Inclusion to discuss diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and how JMC’s learning-living community interacts with these concepts. Register to attend via Eventbrite »
Making Climate Tech Work: Policies that Drive Innovation
Sept. 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m. in 332 Case Hall. Climate tech is critical for averting planetary chaos. Half the greenhouse gas reductions required to reach “net zero” climate targets in 2050 will need to come from technologies that have not yet been invented. Making Climate Tech Work describes how smart government policies can make those technologies a reality. Dr. Alon Tal is a professor at Tel Aviv University. He has founded several environmental organizations, including the Israel Union for Environmental Defense; the Arava Institute, which is being considered for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize; Zafuf; and the Israel Forum for Population, Environment, and Society. Learn more via PDF »
Study Abroad Info Session: Global Development in South Asia
Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. in 332 Case Hall. Learn more about the Global Development in South Asia summer study abroad program with Drs. Linda Racioppi and Sejuti Das Gupta. Students in this program will travel to India and Sri Lanka in May-June 2025 and be introduced to real-world development problems and to potential solutions to long-standing and emerging challenges. (A second info session will be held on Sept. 19.) Learn more via JMC Events Calendar »
Wednesday with Madison: DEI Dialogue
Sept. 11, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 338 Case Hall. EMBRACE (Empathy Mindfulness Belonging Respect Advocacy Conversation and Equity) is a new monthly dialogue led by the Office of Justice, Equity and Inclusion (OJEI). This series — open to all JMC students, faculty and staff — will help familiarize participants with principles of DEI and work to collaboratively define these concepts within the JMC community. Register to attend via Eventbrite »
2024 JMC Stratford Festival Trip: Twelfth Night
Sept. 29. Join James Madison College for a day trip to Stratford, Ont., to see Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night". Ticket purchase ($15) includes your "Twelfth Night" show ticket, bus travel to and from Stratford, and snacks on the bus. Due to international travel requirements, this trip is only open to U.S. residents. Learn more and register to attend by Sept. 23 via Eventbrite »
Student Organizations
Join an RSO
Did you know MSU is home to over 1,000 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)? Join an RSO to meet new friends, build community and get more engaged on campus. Explore MSU (and JMC!) RSOs via Involve@State »
JMC Human Rights Data Science Lab
The JMC Human Rights Data Science Lab is a volunteer-student organization that aids international organizations with open-source data collection. Typical lab work includes open content search, social media analysis, data entry, data visualization and formal presentations to organizations, including International Criminal Court and Amnesty International. Interested in joining? Provide your information via Google Forms
MSU College Democrats
Sept. 3, 6 p.m. in Club Spartan (338 Case Hall). Attend the first meeting of the College Democrats at Michigan State University, featuring congressional candidate Curtis Hertel, State Rep. Julie Brixie and State Senator Sam Singh. Follow @msudems on Instagram »
Spartan Food Security Council
Sept. 4, 6 p.m. in 334A Case Hall. Attend the next meeting of the Spartan Food Security Council, which works to achieve greater food security on campus and in the greater East Lansing area by means of advocacy, education and service. Learn more via the SFSC website »
MSUMUN Info Night
Sept. 4, 6 to 9 p.m. in Wonders Hall C213. MSU Model United Nations is looking for new members to join their staff team. This event is open to all JMC students and features a committee fair where interested students can meet our team and learn about the various committees they can staff. Snacks and free MSUMUN merch for anyone who drops by. Email cos@msumun.org with questions.
Resources
JMC Academic Advising
Beginning Sept. 3, the Drop-In Advising Center is open weekly during the days and times listed below to address any advising needs:
Monday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 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.
JMC Learning Lab
Writing Center: Need help working through an assignment, essay or presentation? Stop by the JMC Writing Center (341 Case Hall) on weekdays (afternoons and evenings) throughout the academic year. These drop-in sessions offer peer-to-peer support from upperclassmen across JMC’s majors.
JMC Math Center: The JMC Math Center consultant, Dheeraj Thota, will be available on Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. via Zoom (passcode: 115170) and on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. for in-person sessions (341 Case Hall) beginning Sept. 12. Learn more via the JMC Learning Lab website »
MSU Student Food Bank
MSU students who do not have an MSU dining plan and are enrolled in courses in fall or spring semester are eligible to use the Student Food Bank. Schedule an appointment to pick up food on Tuesdays, Wednesday or Thursdays via the MSU Student Food Bank »
Opportunities
JMC First Year Mentor Program
Attention: First-Year Students
The JMC First Year Mentor Program will begin accepting applications for mentees this week. First-year students can apply to participate in the program and be paired with an upper-level Madisonian who will help ease your transition to life on campus. Learn more about the program on the JMC website. Applications will open on Sept. 6 and close on Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m. Apply via Microsoft Forms »
Fife Fellows Program
Attention: First- and Second-Year Students
Calling all first- and second-year students interested in political economy and constitutional governance! Consider applying for the Fife Fellowship Program. The fellowship will include:
participation in four reading group meetings (two in fall, two in spring) with Profs. Cash and Wolf,
three lectures (Constitution Day on Sept. 17, two in spring),
and the opportunity to apply for additional conference presentation or internship funding all oriented around learning more about the classical liberal tradition, particularly constitutional and political economy theories.
The fellowship comes with the opportunity for a $1,500 award based on full participation in all events.
Essay applications due by Sept. 11. Learn more via PDF
Internships & Employment
James Madison College Research Assistant Positions
Multiple JMC faculty members are seeking undergraduate student research assistants. View all available opportunities by searching “JMC” on Handshake:
Program Assistant, Global Development in South Asia study abroad program
Undergraduate & Graduate Research Assistants, Palestinian Education Project
Undergraduate Research Assistant, The Influence of Homeowners Associations of the Environmental Sustainability of Residential Development program
Undergraduate Research Assistant, research project The Effects of 30 Years of Debating the Clash of Civilizations research project
Undergraduate positions start at $15/hour with an average of 10 hours/week (varies by position). View all opportunities on Handshake.
Pathway to Research Program
The Pathway to Research program is a four-week synchronous, online program that helps undergraduate students find and connect with mentors to secure an undergraduate research position. This experience is for students who do not have prior research experience and who may otherwise find it difficult to get connected to one. This program walks students through figuring out their research interests to emailing and interviewing with potential mentors. The program seeks to help students find a paid research position. Register to participate by Sept. 7 via MSU Undergraduate Research »
Employment Opportunity: Vote for Equality
Vote for Equality is recruiting students to be Campus Organizers (5-15 hours/week at $16/hour) and Coordinators (15-20 hours/week at $17-20/hour) for its student voter mobilization campaign. Learn more via Feminist Majority »
Research Fellowship at Stanford Law School
Stanford School of Law professor and economist John J Donohue is seeking full-time pre-doctoral research fellows starting Summer 2025. This is a unique opportunity for graduating seniors to participate in groundbreaking empirical social science, public policy, economic, and legal research. Apply by Oct. 21. Learn more via PDF »
Internship: State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou
State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) is seeking interns to join her team for this fall’s election. Interns will assist with Tsernoglou’s reelection campaign in the East Lansing-area and in electing Democratic candidates for the Michigan House of Representatives across the state. More information and application details via PDF »
Internship: U.S. Foreign Service Program
The U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP) is a merit- and needs-based opportunity that offers two paid summer internships to expose undergraduate students to U.S. diplomacy and career opportunities at the Department of State. The program provides writing training, diplomatic history and hands-on experience in the daily operations of U.S. foreign policy. Apply by: Sept. 8. Learn more via USAJOBS »
Fall 2024 Career Fairs
MSU’s Career Services Network is hosting a Fall 2024 Career Fairs Series. Register for these fairs and other upcoming CSN events on Handshake:
Local Job and Internship Fair: Sept. 8
Agriculture and Food Industry Fair: Sept. 24
Construction Management Career Fair: Sept. 26
Each week, we offer the last word to a JMC student. This week’s One More Thing is from Amaya Aten (CCP, Arts & Humanities ‘25):
Shoutout to Amaya Aten! This year Amaya worked as an undergraduate student research assistant, curating rare comedy records with RCAH’s Dr. David McCarthy to develop a “Party Records and the Birth of Black Entertainment” exhibition. Learn more about their work in this YouTube video from Arts MSU.
Have a suggestion or submission for this newsletter? Contact Jane Deacon (locket20@msu.edu).