Read the JMC Connect student newsletter (week of Oct. 14)
Find out what's happening in Case Hall and at MSU during the week of Oct. 14
Content Note: Missing the internship and employment section in this week’s newsletter? Expect to 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, including today’s Murray Scholar Lecture with alumna Megan Threats
Meet the Majors events for first-year Madison students
Opportunities of interest to JMC students, including the Education Abroad Photo Contest
Resources to help you navigate life on campus
One more thing: Shae Eckles (IR ‘25)
Events
JMC Dean’s Drop-In Office Hours
Oct. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in S369L Case Hall. Meet with JMC Dean Cameron Thies during drop-in office hours. Stop by to discuss your experiences at the college, questions you may have about your academic journey or ideas you have for future programming.
Murray Scholar: InFormation for Intersectionality
Oct. 14, 5 to 6 p.m. in 332 Case Hall (JMC Library). James Madison College proudly welcomes alumna Megan Threats (PTCD & CCP ’11) as the 2024-25 Stephen O. Murray Scholar in Residence. Threats will discuss the origins of intersectionality and how she employs it as a critical theoretical and methodological approach to understanding the impact of racism, sexual orientation discrimination, and other systems of oppression on the health information practices and healthcare engagement among Queer BIPOC communities in the United States. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
The Boy (2023) screening and discussion with editor Shaylee Atary
Oct. 15, 12:40 to 2:30 p.m. in the Natural Resources Building (Room 221). The Boy won the Ofir Award (Israeli Oscar) for best short feature. The short film features Avinoam and Barak, father and son from a Kibbutz near Gaza, who are each facing another round of violence in their own way. Shaylee Atary is a graduate of Nissan Nativ Acting Studio and Rimon Music School. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Wednesdays with Madison: Board Game Night
Oct. 16, 6 to 8 p.m. in 332 Case Hall (JMC Library). Wednesdays with Madison is a weekly event series for JMC students, held in Case Hall every Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters. Stop by the JMC Library (332 South Case Hall) for pizza, friendly competition and an opportunity to connect with fellow Madison students. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Palestinian Education Project: Oral Narratives and the Ongoing Catastrophe in Palestine
Oct. 18, 12 p.m. in the International Center, Room 201. Featuring guest lecturer Dr. May Seikaly, Professor Emeritus at Wayne State University, this talk emphasizes the crucial role of oral history in recognizing and affirming Palestinian experiences under occupation and in the diaspora. Recording the oral histories can serve as a tool to affirm Palestinian existence in the face of an ongoing catastrophe. Dr Seikaly has been at the forefront of documenting Palestinian oral histories. Learn more via JMC Events Calendar
Skills Seminar #2: Cultivating Meaningful Professional Relationships
Oct. 23, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in 332 Case Hall (JMC Library). Join JMC’s Career Services and Field Experience Offices for the next Skills Seminar: Cultivating Meaningful Professional Relationships. After completing this workshop, students will be able to: articulate the value of maintaining a professional online presence to support career exploration and internship/job searches, describe approaches to curating and managing a professional online presence, and much more. RSVP and learn more via Handshake
JMC Lunch Chat
Oct. 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 332 Case Hall (JMC Library). Stop by for a free lunch and great conversation with staff, faculty and fellow JMC students! This event is for current JMC students only.
MSU vs. U of M Pregame Tailgate
Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. at Holden Dining Hall. Come out to enjoy a pregame tailgate to celebrate the MSU vs. U of M game. There will be Tailgate-themed food, games, a raffle for prizes and DJ. Cost is 2 combo exchange points/student. Learn more and sign up via Eventbrite
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 the JMC Library
Comparative Cultures & Politics, Nov. 12, 7 to 9 p.m. in the JMC Library
Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy, Nov. 18, 7 to 9 p.m. in the JMC Library
Social Relations & Policy, Nov. 21, 7 to 9 p.m. in the JMC Library
Meet the Minors, Dec. 3, 7 to 9 p.m. in the JMC Library
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
Opportunities
JMC Climate Survey
Have you completed JMC’s 2024 Climate Survey? You should have received an email from MSU’s Office for Survey Research with information on how to complete it earlier this month. The college will hold a spring community forum to discuss the survey’s results and gather feedback on appropriate next steps based on its findings.
Election Defenders De-Escalation Training
All Voting is Local Michigan is hosting an in-person and virtual De-Escalation Training sessions for people involved with or interested in Election Day and post-Election Day activities. These sessions will help prepare individuals for situations that may require conflict resolution skills in coordination with the Election Defenders. Events are nonpartisan. Register to attend via Google Forms
MSU Passport Scholarship
The Passport Scholarship is available to MSU students to obtain their first passport. To participate, you must be a current MSU student, eligible for a Pell Grant, 18 years of age or older and be applying for your first passport. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 15. More information can be found on the MSU Passport Scholarship webpage.
Education Abroad Photo Contest
The 2024 Education Abroad Photo Contest is now open! Share interesting and awe-inspiring photos that highlight your experience abroad. Winning entries will be photographs that convey a strong sense of place or express a cross-cultural experience. Deadline: Oct. 18. More information can be found on the EA Photo Contest webpage.
Field Research Opportunity
Open to all students wanting to participate in a research experience surrounding the partisan impacts on school board elections. Short training days will be held to learn about the project and practice using surveys with voters (Oct. 28 to Nov. 1). On election day (Nov. 5), come survey voters with an exit survey at various locations and learn about partisanship in local school board elections. Apply by Oct. 25. Learn more and apply via Microsoft Forms
Spring 2025: Washington D.C. Social Science Research as Documentary Filmmaking
Join MSU College of Social Science in Washington D.C. during Spring Break 2025. The study-away program explores cultural diversity and sustainability in the greater D.C. area through food cultures. Apply by Dec. 15. Learn more and apply via College of Social Science Study Away
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 JMC students. This week’s One More Thing is from Shae Eckles (IR ‘25).
“MSU Literature Association (MSULA) is the best book club on campus! We’re an organization that explores literature while uplifting underrepresented authors' stories. Not only do we vote on our books and read a wide variety of titles, but we highlight books from underrepresented authors in every meeting. We also have free social events: game nights, movies, crafts, study nights and even the occasional coffee shop/library run! It’s such a welcoming community, MSULA has a place for everyone and I can’t recommend it enough. We typically meet bi-weekly on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.!
“Follow us on Instagram at @msuliteratureassociation for meeting information and updates. Links to our GroupMe and email list are in our bio!” — Shae Eckles (IR ‘25)
Have a suggestion or submission for this newsletter? Contact Jane Deacon (locket20@msu.edu).