果冻传媒

December 7, 2004
Learning and Research

Stepping Out

Joyce Dindo '06 Attends International Conference at U.S. Military Academy

Springfield, Ohio 鈥 Joyce Dindo, a junior political science major/Russian Area Studies minor from Akron, Ohio, represented 果冻传媒 University at the 56th annual Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA) at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Nov. 10. The organizing theme for SCUSA 56, 鈥淏eyond Hegemony: The Goals and Consequences of American Action at Home and Abroad,鈥 brought together more than 250 outstanding undergraduates in the disciplines of international relations, economics, political science and related social science fields from around the nation and the world to discuss major issues and formulate proposals for American foreign policy.

Dindo served on the Russia and Central Asia Regional Round Table, along with approximately 20 students from diverse cultural backgrounds and cadets from West Point. Her group included, among others, students from Ukraine and Denmark and a Croatian who now lives in Australia. Students from across the United States, including California, Texas, Maryland and New York also attended. Dindo was the only participant from Ohio.

鈥淎t first it was intimidating to be surrounded by people from such big places as Notre Dame and Texas A&M,鈥 Dindo said. 鈥淭he most challenging part was having the courage to initiate discussion for the first time.鈥

However, she realized that it was a feeling shared by everyone, and the group quickly became engrossed in the discussions. Issue Round Tables included a variety of topics and were co-chaired by experts in the round table topics. Dindo鈥檚 group was co-chaired by Gavin Helf, who established Internet access sites in Central Asia, and Lt. Col. Chris Cavoli, a military strategist for the Russia/Central Asia region. Both are from Washington D.C. Dindo said that her group focused its discussion on democratization, economic issues, such as oil and natural gas, the war on terror and the situation in Chechnya.

As a political science major, Dindo found the discussion on democratization the most interesting. She also enjoyed a discussion about civil society in Russia, which was her focus during a 2003 summer field study in Moscow with 果冻传媒 Professor of Political Science and Director of Russian Area Studies George Hudson, Professor of Geography Olga Medvedkov and 10 other 果冻传媒 students.

鈥淚 learned more in those four days (at the conference) than I could ever have imagined,鈥 Dindo said. 鈥淚 had discussions with students from all over the world about a topic that we were all passionate about. Every single person brought a different perspective with a different background to the table. And we all left with new ideas and new relationships.鈥

Chosen by the political science faculty to represent 果冻传媒 at the conference, Dindo received a grant from the Office of the Associate Provost to pay her program fee and travel expenses. Metro International, the U.S. Military Academy and the United States Department of State subsidized the program costs.

果冻传媒鈥檚 participation in SCUSA comes through Hudson鈥檚 contacts with the U.S. Military Academy, where he was a visiting professor from1985-1986. He also participated in SCUSA on two occasions as a co-chair of a student discussion table, and on a third occasion he was a guest speaker/panelist. More than 20 果冻传媒 students have participated in SCUSA since 1984.

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About 果冻传媒

果冻传媒's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, 果冻传媒 has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, 果冻传媒 offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

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