POLITICAL EVENT - Kai Degner

Kai Degner to Announce Candidacy for Harrisonburg City Council on Thursday

Seeks Third Democratic Nomination

Harrisonburg, VA — Kai Degner plans to announce his candidacy for Harrisonburg City Council Thursday, June 5, at 5:15 at Clementine Cafe in downtown Harrisonburg. The free event will feature a brief introductory speech by Degner followed by an open community discussion, which Degner plans to make a staple of his campaign.

Degner plans to focus his campaign on three issues: smart growth, citizen education, and open government. "Harrisonburg is changing extremely quickly and we have an opportunity to make decisions today that will preserve the character and spirit of Harrisonburg in 10, 20, and 50 years. The city government has an opportunity to involve citizens in current decisions about the future at a larger scale than has ever before been seen. I have direct experience and knowledge to create additional ways for the city government to be responsive to citizen input."

Quick Facts about Kai Degner

• Member of Harrisonburg's Board of Zoning Appeals

• Graduate of the Harrisonburg Citizen Academy's Inaugural Class

• Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Valley

• Small Business Owner

• Co-founder of The OrangeBand Initiative

• Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelors of Science from JMU

• Member of the Harrisonburg-Massanutten Rotary Club

Leadership Experience

Currently, Kai serves as the Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Valley, where he facilitates collaborative partnerships between business leaders, philanthropists, community leaders, teachers, students and artists in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Before taking his current position, Degner founded and operated a consulting business in Harrisonburg for three years. His business, Converging Voices LLC, focused on a combination of innovative facilitation and conference design, project management, and technology consulting. Kai contracted with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum, James Madison University, Eastern Mennonite University's student government, and other regional clients. As part of this work, he served on the Shenandoah River Fish Kill Task Force, which continues to investigate the causes of annual fish deaths in the Shenandoah.

While self-employed, Degner served on the steering committee for the 2006 National Conference on Dialogue and Deliberation. Here, he entered the dialogue on developing and implementing strategies for local communities and governments to enable diverse stake-holders to collaboratively develop and implement sustainable solutions to complex problems. This experience provides him the knowledge to effectively initiate city-driven programs to meaningfully involve the Harrisonburg community in decisions that impact the city's future.

Community Involvement

In 2003, Degner founded The OrangeBand Initiative, a movement to get more people talking respectfully about what they care about most. OrangeBands are strips of fabric that people can tie somewhere to use as a conversation starter about an issue they feel is important to discuss. A major goal of OrangeBand is to bring together people with differing opinions to respectfully discuss issues that matter to them, and works towards solutions. This OrangeBand model has since been adopted at over a dozen universities and high schools around the country. Degner has personally organized, promoted, and/or moderated hundreds of discussion and/or community events in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham community.

Higher Education

Kai Degner earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelors of Science in Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) from James Madison University, where he was an Honors Scholar. While studying for his MBA, he focused on applying the coursework to nonprofit and small business administration. In ISAT, he concentrated on a combination of environmental studies and geography in the Shenandoah River watershed.

More information at www.KaiDegner.com

POLITICAL EVENT - Archeological Society of Virginia

Jun 4 2008,7:00PM | Municipal Building-Arey Hall

Massanutten Chapter of the Archeological Society of Virginia. Program by Dr. Bernard Means on "New Deal Archaeology. Public is invited. For more information visit www..mcasv.org or call 564-0635.

Final Paper Due Date

The paper is due by 8am on the 9th. I have to have it by then or else I will not be able to get them all graded. Feel free to hand the papers in earlier ;)

Guidelines for Final Presentation

Your final presentation should include the following characteristics:

1. Should be 5-10 minutes long.
2. Should outline the history of the controversy you are examining, the perspective you are using and why, and what you found by using that perspective.
3. You should be ready to answer questions after your presentation.

Additionally, come ready to ask questions. You can significantly help your class participation grade by asking questions of your classmates on Friday.

POLITICAL EVENT - Creigh Deeds

Creigh Deeds for Governor

Breakfast Reception

Place: Traditions Family Style Dining

625 Mt. Clinton Pike

Harrisonburg, VA

Date: Friday, June 6, 2008

Time: 8:00 – 9:00

Kindly RSVP by June 2,

Please make checks payable to

Deeds for Governor

To respond by mail please send to:

Roger Ritchie

Ritchie Law Firm, P.L.C.

71 South Court Square, Ste. A

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

To make a reservation

By phone: (540)433-6124

E-Mail: rritchie@ritchielawfirm.com

Yes, I will attend the Reception at the following level:

□ Patron ($1,000) seated at the head table, and 4 tickets

□ Host ($500.00) recognition and 4 tickets

□ Benefactor ($250) recognition and 3 tickets

□ Friend ($100) recognition and 2 tickets

□ Guest ( $50) recognition plus 1 ticket

□ Individual tickets to reception only @ $25

Name .

Address .

City/State/Zip .

Phone ( ) .

Occupation* .

Employer * .

City of Business * .

Enclosed is my check of $ for .

Virginia law requires every campaign to collect this information from contributors.

POLITICAL EVENT - Cheap Gas From Sam

Here's an easy one:

This is a political campaign stunt I’m not familiar with: paying for part of your gas. Sam Rasoul, Bob Goodlatte’s hybrid car-driving Democratic challenger is planning a campaign event at the Texaco Food Mart on South Main this Wednesday, June 4th at 4:00 for 40 minutes. A press release sent out by Rasoul states that his campaign will be pumping gas, and paying for one dollar per gallon (up to 10 gallons).

POLITICAL EVENT - Arthur Brooks

Who: Arthur C. Brooks, the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy at Syracuse University, and author of "Who Really Cares and Gross National Happiness."

When: June 2, with lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. and program beginning at noon

Where: James Madison University's Festival Center

What: A talk from Brooks on his perspectives on philanthropy in America, presented by the Rocco Legacy Fund

Cost: $11, lunch included, and open to the public. Reservation required by Wednesday. Contact Revlan Hill of The Community Foundation at 432-3863.

Contact Kate Prahlad at 574-6277 or kprahlad@dnronline.com

POLITICAL EVENT - City Council Press Conference

Press Conference

With Dave Wiens and Richard Baugh

Announcing their candidacies for Harrisonburg's City Council

Friday, May 23 - 4:00 PM

Denton Pocket Park, South Main Street, Harrisonburg
(across from Massanutten Regional Library)

POLITICAL EVENT - Sam Rasoul Press Conference

Rasoul will be holding a press conference at 12:30PM on Tuesday, May 27th at the American Legion Post Number 3 on Apperson Drive in Salem. The topic of focus for the event will be veterans issues and will include a description of my positions concerning the G.I. Bill, increased health care coverage, and more focused attempts to repay our veterans for their service.

POLITICAL EVENT - City Council Meeting

Made up of five members elected at-large, City Council meets at 7:00 PM every second and fourth Tuesday of the month in Council Chambers next to Community Development (409 S. Main Street). Meetings are open to the public.

POLITICAL EVENT - Other area events

Princes, Gods and Tricksters-Legends in Japanese Art

Art collection running from May 19th 2008-July 11th 2008

May 19 2008,5-:00pm-7:00pm | James Madison University

Court Days Lecture

May 20 2008,6:30PM | Massanutten Regional library

Randall Jones of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, will speak on "That's Historic? Changing Views of Preservation." Free and open to the public. Sponsored by Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance. For more information, call 540-432-8922 or visit www.courtdaysfestival. org.

Dangerous Living

May 21 2008,7 PM | Court Square Theater

Narrated by Janeane Garofalo, Dangerous Living: Coming Out in the Developing World is a documentary about the realities of coming out in lesser-developed countries. 62 min. Court Square Theater

The Counterfeiters

5/22-25 thu 7:30pm, fri-sat 8pm, sun 2:30pm

THE COUNTERFEITERS or Die Falscher (R; 98 min.) is the true story of the largest counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936.

Winner of the 2008 Oscar for Best Foreign Film!

Tickets $6; $5 for students on Friday

POLITICAL EVENT - Two JMU sponsored art exhibits

May 18-Dec. 18: 1st Annual Area Youth Art Exhibition, Monday-Friday, 8a.m.-6p.m., first floor hallway, Memorial Hall: Over forty pieces of art created by K-12 students from Harrisonburg City public schools, Eastern Mennonite High School and Redeemer Classical School; opening reception May 18, 2-3 p.m.; sponsored by the Office of the Dean, College of Education; free.

Madison Art Resource Site, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and by appointment, Room 2102, Festival Conference and Student Center: The gallery and study center houses the 3,000-piece Madison Art Collection of artifacts and art objects from the Neolithic period to the 20th century; for information, call 568-6934; free.

Additional Readings for Thursday

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/28/comedy.politics/

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=319

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201474.html

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/05/24/the_daily_show_cause_and_effect.php

Midterm Paper Guidelines

The paper should provide a general outline of the case study you plan to examine. The following things should be included:

1. Which perspective do you plan to use and why?
2. Why is that case study historically relevant?
3. A general outline of what argument you plan on making.
4. A bibliography that details some of the sources you might be using and why those sources are relevant.

The paper should be about three pages long. If you want comments at the beginning of next week then the paper is due on Thursday. If you are willing to wait until later next week to get comments on your paper you may hand it in on Tuesday.

POLITICAL EVENT - Sam Rasoul

The Convention to make Sam Rasoul the nominee for the Democrats in the Sixth District congressional Race:

May 24th at 10:00 A.M.
Rockbridge County High School
Lexington, VA

Sample Blogs

Some examples of blogs that received As:

http://hoopensw.blogspot.com/
http://hagense.blogspot.com/

This was by far the best blog in the class:

http://lockhart2024.blogspot.com/

How to create your blog

Follow this link:

http://www.blogger.com/create-blog.g

If you have never used blogger before you have to create an account to be able to post on the course blog and create your own blog. Pick a name for your blog. The name of your blog should have your last name in it somewhere so I can identify whose blog I am reading when grading.

You may be as creative as you want with the blog as long as you fulfill the requirements of the course.

Have fun!

Syllabus

SCOM 353 – American Political Culture and Communication

Contact Information:

Name- Dr. Michael K. Davis

Office – Harrison 2276D

Office Hours – By appointment

E-mail: Davismk@jmu.edu (I am also available via IM through either gmail or aol at davismk13)

Course Structure: This course asks students to engage the modern American political structure paying particular attention to the ways that cultural factors and the ways that we communicate alter the political landscape. The course will focus both on traditional theories of political communication and ongoing political campaigns in the United States.

Assignments:

Midterm Paper 100

Final Paper 300

Participation 150

Blog Assignment 300

Paper Presentation 50

Practicum 100

Grade Scale:

A 940-1000

A- 900-939

B+ 870-899

B 840-869

B- 800-839

C+ 770-799

C 740-769

C- 700-739

D 600-699

F 599 or below

Course Readings:

Book: Political Communication: A Multi-Disciplinary Exploration by Lauren Cohen Bell, 2007.

Blog: Additional course readings will be posted on the course blog at http://scom353.blogspot.com. . Readings (except for the first week) will be placed on the blog by the Friday of the week they are expected to be read.

No Class: Class will not meet from June 2^nd-4^th. On days when class is canceled I still expect you to check the blog or readings and course updates.

Assignment Description:

Midterm Paper: The midterm paper is an extended outline (2-3 pages) that will detail your final paper and outline both the arguments and sources that you will use for the final paper in the course.

Participation: I prefer not to lecture all day every day. Thus, I expect significant class participation. Showing up and meaningfully participating daily will earn you 150 points. Failure to show up will earn you zero points. Most people will fall somewhere in between. You can also help your participation grade by posting to the blog. However, participation on the blog will not make up for a lack of participation in the classroom.

Blog Assignment: Each student will be responsible for creating a blog on blogspot.com. Students are expected to review readings on a daily basis and construct original content. Blogs will be graded on their reflection of student’s understanding of course material, inclusion of new or unique views and demonstration of a familiarity of the modern American political system.

Practicum: Former New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra once said “You can observe a lot by watching.” I believe the same is true of our study of our political system. You will be required to attend five approved events during the course of the semester and post your reactions to these events on your blog. I will post events periodically that I believe illustrate the power of argumentation and advocacy in every day life. There will be events throughout the semester, but you should not wait until the end of the semester to complete them. Some events may be required for all class participants.

Final Paper: The final paper will ask you to examine a case study in the same manner as the course textbook. The paper should be approximately 10 pages long. It should examine a controversy which is not covered in the book.

Extra Credit: I am unable to find all of the relevant articles regarding the ways that political communication functions. You may earn extra credit by sending me a write up on an article which would be appropriate for inclusion on the course blog. If I approve the article you will receive five bonus points. The first person to submit the article will receive extra credit. You may receive credit for up to four articles during the course of the semester.

Or

You may earn extra credit by sending me a write up on an event which would be appropriate for the practicum listed above. If I approve the event you will receive five bonus points. You may receive credit for up to four events during the course of the semester.

Other Class Policies:

Attendance: Participation and other missed assignments cannot be made up. Missing a significant number of classes will significantly reduce your final grade.

Special Concerns: If you have any special concerns please let me know as early as possible. This includes students who need assistance through student services and those who will be missing class for university sanctioned events.

Academic Honesty: I will follow JMU’s policy on academic honesty:

“Making references to the work of others strengthens your own work by granting you greater authority and by showing that you are part of a discussion located within an intellectual community. When you make references to the ideas of others, it is essential to provide proper attribution and citation. Failing to do so is considered academically dishonest, as is copying or paraphrasing someone else’s work. The consequences of such behavior will lead to consequences ranging from failure on an assignment to failure in the course to dismissal from the university. Because the disciplines of the Humanities value collaborative work, you will be encouraged to share ideas and to include the ideas of others in your papers. Please ask if you are in doubt about the use of a citation. Honest mistakes can always be corrected or prevented.”

Inclement Weather Policy:

Decisions to close university operations will be made by the President or a designee. If the decision to close is made, announcements will be made on JMU radio station 1610AM, on the JMU Home Page on the World Wide Web and on area radio and television stations.

When it is necessary to cancel classes due to weather or other emergency, we will hold class electronically, using. Blackboard. Please check Blackboard if class is cancelled for assignments.

Additionally, the university may be forced to cancel or reschedule final examinations. Decisions to close university operations will be made by the President, or a designee. If the decision to close the university and reschedule final examinations is made, announcements will be made as noted above.

Tentative Schedule

Please note this schedule may change as we will have some guest speakers and may go on some field trips

May 12^th – Introductions

May 13^th – Introduction

The Political Science Perspective

May 14^th – The Rhetorical and Mass Communication Perspective

May 15^th – Case Study #1 – 1988 Presidential Election

Case Study #2 – 1998 Minn. Election

May 19^th – Case Study #6 – Reagan’s Inaugural

Case Study #8 – Bush and Terrorism

May 20^th – Case Study #3 – 2000 Presidential Election

Case Study #4 – 2004 Presidential Election

May 21^st – Case Study #7 – Clinton and Lewinsky

Case Study #13 – Pop Culture and Politics

May 22^nd – Midterm Paper Due

May 26^th – Memorial Day (no class)

May 27^th – Case Study #15 – Texas v. Johnson

May 28^th – Case Study # 13 – Clarence Thomas

May 29^th – TBD

June 2^nd – June 4^th – No class

June 5^th – Case Study #12 – Gay and Lesbian Movements

June 6^th – Final Presentations