Center for Strategic and International Studies seminar -Bailey Reutzel

35 Southeast Missouri State University students were selected to participate in a senior seminar, which included studying global issues, learning from experts at one of the leading think tanks on international studies, CSIS and presenting for the university and public community.

Students traveled during spring break for the week long seminar in Washington D.C. They listened and discussed issues such as demography, resource scarcity, climate change and nuclear non-proliferation.

Four faculty advisers, Dr. Mark Langenfeld, Dr. Willie Redmond, Dr. Kevin Dickson and Dr. Sophia Scott, helped students along the way and accompanied them on their trip to Washington D.C.

The 35 students were broken into groups and took part in simulations dealing with climate change and cyber security/cyber terrorism. Each group had to come up with policy recommendations to present to the panel of experts, including military personelle.

Students worked throughout the week with Owen Sanderson, program coordinator for the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy for the Global Strategy Institute. Here Sanderson gives a round of applause to the faculty and students of this year’s CSIS senior seminar.

During their spring break trip in Washington D.C. students also got to explore the city and walk the Mall.

Students got to hang out under the Washington Monument after the half- day seminars with the CSIS professionals.

Many of the students enjoyed the historical parts on the city, including the Vietnam Memorial and the newly constructed WWII Memorial that gives honor to the veterans of the war.

A trip to the Newseum was also one of the students favorites. The interactive museum had the antenna off one of the World Trade Centers from Sept. 11.

Also at the Newseum, were Bill Biggart’s camera and gear. He was the only journalist that died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers.

When students got back from Washington D.C., they started working to put their finishing touches on their presentations for The Next America seminar on April 19.

Speaking on resource scarcity, these students used one of their members real life experience in Uganda, Africa to drive their point home.

Speakers from CSIS also came to Southeast and spoke to the audience, including Tom Sanderson (above). He used his expertise to talk about America’s transnational threats.

The seminar lasted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students and members of the community were given a chance to eat lunch catered by Chartwells and interact with the people around them.

After lunch the students finished presenting their topics, including demography, energy and climate change, nuclear nonproliferation, Russia (presentation above) and Brazil.