STUDENT NEWS AND EVENTS IN HISTORY 

Student Interns in District Office of US Congressman (March 2006). While completing her second semester at High Point, political science major, Diana Hussey, has secured a volunteer position with one of US Rep. Howard Coble's district offices. Ms. Hussey reports that the position, which is located in her home town rather than High Point, is "extremely flexible, and interesting." She worked throughout spring break and will be sporadically involved with the office until this summer, when she will intern as her work schedule permits. The office is staffed by a single full-time employee, which has allowed Ms. Hussey to become involved in many different aspects of the Congressman's community outreach services. 

Individuals who want to know more about internships with federal legislators or political campaigns should contact Dr. Corey, Dr. Gabrielli, or Dr. Setzler. Contact and internship information for various elected officials is posted on our bulletin board.

Campus Democrats Host Talk by Leading Progressive Radio Commentator (February 2006). Christy Harvey was invited to give a public presentation entitled "Talk the Talk: Sending the Progressive Message." Harvey is the Director of Strategic Communications at the Center for American Progress and co-editor of both The Progress Report and the blog, ThinkProgress. She is a regular guest on The Al Franken Show and the co-host of The Bill Press Show, which broadcasts nationwide on satellite radio. Harvey has published numerous essays, including contributions to In These Times, the Nation, Michael Moore’s The Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader, and The American Prospect. Before joining the Center, Christy spent five years at the Wall Street Journal as a research director. 

Political Science Major Announces Candidacy for the WV State Legislature (January 2006) Senior Jonathan Miller has kicked off his campaign for West Virginia's 53rd District. The district includes his home town of Bunker Hill as well as Inwood, Gerrardstown, Glengary, Shanghai, Tomahawk, and most of South Berkeley County. His efforts to win the Republican primary are being aided by ten student volunteers from High Point University as well as many supporters at home. 

HPU Alum to Release Latest Bluegrass Album (January 2006) Donna Hughes, a 1996 cum laude graduate, is a good example of the extraordinary things one can do with an HPU history major. Currently living in Trinity, North Carolina, she is a singer-songwriter who is gaining attention as well as acclaim in the world of bluegrass music. She cut her first album in 2001; her second trip to the recording studio led to the production of Same Old Me, which includes twenty-one original compositions. She is about to release another album on Rounder Records, which the legendary Tony Rice has produced. Other bluegrass celebrated artists such as Alison Krauss and Union Station and the Seldom Scene have recorded some of her songs. Donna remembers her days at High Point University thus, "I really enjoyed being a student at High Point. The campus is beautiful, and I felt like I was on a constant vacation, with access to the pool, exercise gym, track and fantastic library." She adds that, "The professors were friendly, helpful, and on a first name basis. I was very fortunate to have been a student there." For more information about Donna, you can visit her homepage on the internet at http://www.donnahughes.com. 

Members of the History department relish hearing from our alums; if it has been awhile since we have been in touch, we would like to know what you are doing these days. Please send updates or just fond memories to Dr. James Stitt, Professor of History (jstitt@highpoint.edu) or Dr. Mark Setzler, Asst. Professor of Political Science (msetzler@highpoint.edu). 

College Republicans Bring Iraq War Veteran to HPU (November 2005) The College Republicans, in conjunction with the Young Americans for Freedom, hosted a talk by Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Scott E. Rutter on the Iraq War. Lt. Col. Rutter, who is also a military analyst with FOX News, led a battalion from the Third Infantry Division that had the primary responsibility of capturing Baghdad International Airport and holding it in the face of opposition from Special Republican Guard forces. Rutter received a Silver Star for heroism for his efforts in the recent war to go along with the Bronze Star with which he was decorated while serving as a company commander during Operation Desert Storm. He talked about the war, the exceptional valor of one of his soldiers--Sergeant First Class Paul Smith, who received a posthumous medal of honor--and the ongoing conflict in Iraq. Individuals who want to know more about the College Republicans should contact Dr. Larry Simpson, professor of history, who is the group's campus advisor. The College Democrats are advised by Dr. Anthony Gabrielli, assistant professor of political science).

Students Attend Amnesty International Regional Meeting (November 2005). Three High Point University students traveled to Atlanta for Amnesty USA's annual meeting in its southern region. For two days, students attended a series of workshops and meetings focusing on how student groups can influence human rights issues, including the use of torture, women's rights, and abuse of refugees. The keynote speaker for the event was K. Emmanuel Yarkpazuo, a Liberian peace activist who was recently granted political asylum in the United States as a consequence of threats to his life. The High Point University chapter of Amnesty International was started this year by two political science majors. The group is advised by Dr. Paul Ringel, assistant professor of History and Dr. Mark Setzler, assistant professor of Political Science.

HPU students at an Amnesty Intl. Meeting in Atlanta

College Republicans Host CATO Institute Senior Fellow  (November 2005) Dr. Tom G. Palmer, a Senior Fellow at Washington's prestigious CATO Institute and Director of Cato University, gave a public lecture entitled "Friedrich Hayek and the Value of Limited Government. Dr Palmer, who holds a D. Phil. in politics from the University of Oxford, is the author of numerous scholarly articles and reviews and has published opinion pieces on politics and morality in such leading newspapers as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. His talk focused on the classical liberal tradition, the American Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution, and how these documents should inform contemporary political issues. The College Republicans and Dr Stephanie Crofton's economics class, Free Market and Capitalism, co-hosted the event. Individuals who want to know more about the College Republicans should contact Dr. Larry Simpson, professor of history, who is the group's campus advisor. The College Democrats are advised by Dr. Anthony Gabrielli, assistant professor of political science).

History Major Interns with Human Rights Group in NYC (June 2005). Jennifer Howell, a High Point junior, has been selected for a summer internship with the Simon Wiesenthal Center in New York City. The Center is an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust by fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach, and social action. The Center works closely with a variety of public and private agencies, meeting with elected officials, foreign governments, diplomats, and heads of state. This coming year, Ms. Howell will be an exchange student at Oxford-Brookes University in England. 

Political Science Majors Selected for Congressional Internships (May 2005). Three of the department's majors have been hired as summer interns by US Representative Patrick McHenry. McHenry is serving his first term in Congress, representing North Carolina's 10th District, which is based in Hickory. McHenry currently holds the distinction of being the nation's youngest federal legislator. HPU students also intern frequently with Congressman Howard Coble, who is completing his 11th term representing the state's 6th District. The 6th District includes parts of High Point and Greensboro. Individuals who want to know more about internships with federal legislators or political campaigns should contact Dr. Corey, Dr. Gabrielli, or Dr. Setzler.  

Student Named Best Delegation Chair at the Annual Session of the North Carolina Student Legislature (April 2005). Lauren Croughan, a freshman political science major, has been named the NCSL's 2004-05 recipient of the Joe D’Amico scholarship, which is given to the outstanding member of the student legislature each year. Croughan also has been elected Secretary of State and will serve on the executive board of the NCSL during the 2005-06 academic year. 

High Point College was one of the founding members of the NCSL in 1937, and the today the organization is the oldest active student legislature in the country. Students who want to know more about High Point University's delegation to the NCSL should contact the club's advisor, Dr. Jim Corey, assistant professor of political science.

College Democrats and Republicans Attend Political Conventions (April 2005). On successive weekends, six members of the College Republicans club and 12 members of the College Democrats traveled to Raleigh for their parties' annual college student conventions. In addition to evaluating various policy resolutions and selecting new leaders for the 2005-06 academic year, HPU students met and mingled with several of the state's top political activists and elected officials. Individuals who want to know more about the College Democrats can contact Dr. Anthony Gabrielli, assistant professor of political science), who is the group's campus advisor. The College Republicans are advised by Dr. Larry Simpson, professor of history.

Political Science Majors Recognized for Their Political Activism (April 2005). Two HPU students have been named members of the nation's top-25 young conservative activists by the Young America's Foundation. Political Science majors Jonathan Miller and Jason Walters were recognized for attending training seminars and conferences, bringing speakers to campus, and participating in a host of other activist events. As a reward for their efforts, the Young America's Foundation hosted the two students for an all expenses paid weekend at the Reagan Ranch in California.

HPU Young Republicans Relax at the Reagan Ranch

Students Join the Nation's Top Political Science Honors Society (March 2005). On March 29, the political Science faculty hosted its annual induction ceremony for the Pi Sigma Alpha honors fraternity. Nine students and the faculty's newest member, Dr. Mark Setzler, were recognized for their outstanding academic performance in their general studies and within the discipline of political science. With chapters numbering over 500 and over 6,000 students joining its ranks each year, Pi Sigma Alpha is one of the largest constituent members of the Association of College Honor Societies.

HPU's 2005 Pi Sigma Alpha Inductees

Seniors Ponder Graduate School Options (March 2005). Letters of acceptance from graduate schools have started to arrive in the mailboxes of the department's graduating seniors who plan to continue their education this coming fall. This year, HPU students have received offers of admissions from a wide range of graduate schools, including Yale and Duke

Cambridge University's International Debate Squad Visits HPU (March 2005). Two of the department's graduating seniors represented High Point University in a debate match with Cambridge University. Two four-person teams, each with a mix of High Point and Cambridge students, exchanged arguments over the desirability of using political assassinations to battle international terrorism. Fifty students and staff gathered to watch the debate and ask questions during the two-hour event. 

Students Participate in Harvard University's National Model UN Conference (February 2005). A dozen High Point students represented the Republic of Cyprus at Harvard University's 2005 Model UN conference. The club's trip to Boston is an annual event that caps off several months of preparation. Each year, club members train to represent a new foreign country by researching and writing issue position papers that take into account the cultural and political intricacies of their assigned country. Students further hone their understanding of the United Nations and the country they will represent at the Harvard conference by participating in a series of practice debates centered on international topics.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the Model-UN program can obtain information from Dr. Kathleen Carter, professor of history, who is the group's campus advisor.

College Republicans Go to Washington, DC (February 2005). With funds provided by the Student Government Association, five members of the College Republicans made the short trip to Washington to participate in the annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Convention, the nation’s best known gathering of political conservatives. Besides getting to meet party insiders and listen to presentations by some of the country’s leading conservative thinkers, the students visited several historical sites in the nation’s capital. 

College Republicans at the White House

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the College Republicans can obtain information from Dr. Larry Simpson, professor of history, who is the group's campus advisor. (The College Democrats are advised of Anthony Gabrielli, assistant professor of political science).

College Republicans Attend Republican National Convention in NYC (October 2004). Two political science majors, both seniors, were present in New York's Madison Square Garden for much of the Republican National Convention. In addition to attending the convention, the students spent a week in New York attending seminars and lectures about past national conventions from leading political experts. 

Students who are interested in learning more about the College Republicans can obtain information from Dr. Larry Simpson, professor of history, who is the group's campus advisor. (The College Democrats are advised of Anthony Gabrielli., assistant professor of political science).

Students Gather with the Political Science Faculty and Media to Await Election Night Results (November 2004). Several dozen HPU students came to the department's election night reception in the Slane Student Center. Fueled by pizza and soda, Students, faculty, and several members of the local press viewed and discussed the elections results for several hours after North Carolina's polls closed. The event was open to all members of the High Point community, and several students were interviewed by local television stations and newspapers.