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Dear Arthur,
This week's newsletter has information on yesterday's (Wednesday's) Middle School Model U.N. session; next week's session as well as high school discussion groups. Finally, we have a new survey on enacting a more stringent seat belt law in Missouri.
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Final H.S. Discussion Group of 2004-2005 This Saturday!
It has been an outstanding year of group discussions for our high school model U.N. students. We have considered a number of topics, including some that border on "questionable taste" and beyond.
Our final discussion group of the school year will be this Saturday, April 23. It will once again be at Crossroads School (map and directions below) and run from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. This will be another "wide-open" discussion group with students determining the topics of their choice. However, possible topics include the recent selection of a new pope, the 2003 Cardinals trade of Justin Pope to the Yankees, and the legacy of the former Pope's Cafeteria in St. Louis County.
If any student has a question about the discussion he or she may E-Mail us at [email protected].
Map to Crossroads
Streaming Video!
Photos!
Third Middle School Session of 2005 Successful
We want to thank students and teacher from Crossroads School, Holman Middle School (Pattonville), Pattonville Middle School, and Parkway South Middle School who did an excellent job in our third Middle School Model U.N. session of the year. The students passed resolutions on orphanages in Africa for children of AIDS victims, education for women in South Korea, dumping of waste in the ocean, and improving literacy rates. We have a
link to the revised resolutions at the bottom of this article.
Next Wednesday, April 27, students from Northwest Valley Middle School (House Springs), St. Dominic School, St. Gabriel School, and Whitfield School will have their session. Resolutions for the day include ones on orphanages in Africa for victims of AIDS, education for women in South Korea, child labor, dumping of waste in the ocean, occupancy disputes in and around Israel, and literacy rate.
The spring General Assemblies will continue every Wednesday morning until May 11th. Most student delegations have already turned in rough drafts of the resolutions to Civitas for feedback and are now working on improving and revising them. If you haven't done this yet, you still have plenty of time to send those resolutions our way! We've been continuously impressed with the critical thinking and creative problem-solving students exhibit in their resolutions. We're looking forward to watching them present their resolutions at the spring General Assemblies and working with their fellow students to tackle these serious world problems.
Middle School Resolutions!
Photos of April 20, 2005 Middle School MUN
Civitas Picnic on Saturday, May 7!
The annual Civitas spring high school picnic is just a little over two weeks away. It will be on Saturday, May 7, from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM. This year we have a new location (Deer Creek Park in Maplewood). We will supply sandwich and picnic food; however we encourage anyone who wants to cook a meal to do so.
We have a softball diamond rented from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM. This would be a great time for a nice friendly, non-violent game of ball. We will have more details in next week's newsletter.
Directions to Deer Creek Park
Do you think that Missouri should have a more stringent seat belt law? In the state of Missouri, automobile drivers are required to wear seat belts. However, they cannot be pulled over simply because a law enforcement officer notices them driving while not wearing a seat belt. They can only be ticketed for a seat belt violation if they are pulled over for another possible infraction and are not wearing a seat belt.
Many other states allow law enforcement officers to ticket a driver who they observe not wearing a seat belt. A bill to establish a similar policy in Missouri is currently before that state legislature.
Do you think that the Missouri legislature should pass a law that would permit law enforcement officers to ticket a driver solely because he/she is not wearing a seat belt while driving?
Survey on More Stringent Seat Belt Law in Missouri
Previous Survey Results!
Last week's question was:
Do you think that all workers at Washington University in St. Louis should be paid a "living wage?" The cost to the university would be approximately 2.5 million per year?
Responses:
1. Yes, immediately 5 (50%)
2. Yes, gradually 2 (20%)
3. No 1 (10%)
4. Not Sure 2 (20%)
COMMENTS ON THE ISSUE
Bruce Buckland, Monsanto Corporation
Define "Living Wage" and what is the method used to calculate it?
[Note] Living wages are set at approximately 130% of the poverty level in a particular geographic area. The wage that is being sought for Washington University workers is
approximately $10.04 per hour. Currently, workers at Washington University make about $2.00 and hour less than comparable workers at St. Louis University and the University or Missouri -- St. Louis.
Angie Bingaman; Washington University, 2008; St. Joseph's Academy, 2004
As a student at Washington University, I see the SWA (student workers alliance) members camping out in front of our admissions office day after day. Yes, I respect their cause to find equal pay for all workers at the university, but some of their requests seem a bit unrealistic. The workers at my school are hard working, caring and good people and I agree that they deserve more money than they get right now along with more benefits. But I feel that my chancellor and school should determine the wages of these workers on a case by case basis, not as an overwhelming living wage program. Also, the students taking over the admissions building have now gone on a hunger strike and as a student, I want to tell them to be rational, civil and professional about this-- your striking is starting to
give a bad name to our school (especially prospective students that are now greeted on the residential campus area instead of the admissions building), which will eventually hurt everyone attending and working at Wash U.
Gretl Buechler; Parkway South High School, 2006
My sister, Liesl, goes to WashU and was one of the students sitting in on the hunger strike and all, she tells me that they definately do not pay these people enough. Some of what she tells me is crazy about how poorly they are paid when they get some of the messiest most unwanted jobs of many people. After hearing what Liesl had to say and watching things unfold myself I say
DEFINITELY bring up their wages, they deserve it.
World Earth Day Getting Closer!
College students & high-school seniors/juniors- the Citizens for Global Solutions of Greater St. Louis invite you to participate in a new essay contest for an all-expenses-paid trip to San Francisco during the first week of June 2005 to participate in the events related to the 31st anniversary international celebration of World Earth Day, organized in cooperation with the UN Environment Programme and environmental groups in the San Francisco area.
For rules and essay details please click on the link below. The deadline for essays is May 6, 2005.
Link to World Earth Day Information
Additional Links
Photo Gallery
Streaming Video [Real Media]
Civitas Calendar
Civitas Intranets Site
Civitas Home Page
Maps & Directions
Previous Newsletters
Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2004-2005
Checklist for Writing a Model U.N. Resolution
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