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VOL. VI, No. 22;  Tuesday, December 19, 2006   

Dear Arthur,


Today's newsletter includes (Note: You can now click on the blue hyperlinks below to go directly to the story!):

Dr. Michael DeBaun addresses Civitas students on stem cell research.

Civitas Conference  on the Nuclear Club

Next Session of High School Model U.N. on Saturday, January 13, 2007

Hot off the wire: Major League Civil Rights Game

This week's blog on sending more American troops to Iraq.

Israeli Consul to visit St. Louis

SPECIAL NOTE: There will be no Civitas e-newsletter the week of Monday, December 25, 2006. 

    DATE

    TIME

    PLACE

    ACTIVITIES

     

     

     

     

    2007

    2007

    2007

    2007

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Jan-March

     

    Schools

    Class Visits to Middle School Classrooms

     

     

     

     

    Sat.,

    01/06/07

    9:00 AM -11:00 AM

    Crossroads

    Discussion Group #7

     

     

     

     

    Sat.,
    1/13/2006

    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Crossroads

    Second H.S.M.U.N. Session (new)

     

     

     

     

     

    Sat.,
    01/20/07

    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Crossroads

     

    Conference Prep. Session #1 and Seminar
    on Students from Washington U. on China

     

     

     

     

    Sat.,

    01/27/07

    9:00 PM - 12:00 PM

    Crossroads

    Conference Prep. Session #2

     

     

     

     

    Sat.,

    02/03/07

    9:00 AM -

    12:00 PM

    Crossroads

    Conference Prep. Session #3

     

     

     

     

    Fri., 02/16  -
    Sat., 2/17/07

    --

    Comfort Inn -- Maryland Heights

    Civitas Conference

     

     

     

     

    Mon., 02/26/07

    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

    C.C.G.C.

    Middle School Teacher Meeting #3

     

     

    Civitas Home Page
                &n bsp; 


    Dr. Michael DeBaun Gives Outstanding Presentation to High School Students on Stem Cell Research

    Dr. Michael DeBaun gave an extremely informative, articulate, and illustrative presentation to Civitas students on stem cell research at last Saturday's discussion group.  Dr. DeBaun is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Biostatistics and Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine and he directs the Sickle Cell Medical Treatment and Education Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital.  He is also the proud father of Morgan DeBaun, Rosati-Kain class of 2008.


    Readers may recall that the future of certain kinds of stem cell research in Missouri were on the ballot last November.  Many citizens' "education" on the issue was limited to 30-second commercials.  Dr. DeBaun expressed his concern that citizens of Missouri had not been adequately informed about the issue.  He gave us an outstanding introductory lesson on stem cells (both adult and embryonic).  He did not try to influence anyone to accept either side of the issue as it was framed in Missouri last month, but he did explain what were the points of controversy and what were appropriate questions for each of us to address.  One of the recurrent themes that he expressed was that scientific discovery is moving so quickly that it was virtually impossible fifteen years ago to predict what we know about stem cell research now, and consequently we should be careful about saying 'yes' or 'no' to any possibilities that might arise in the future.

    Our thanks to all students who attended.  Our next discussion group will be on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Crossroads (map) from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.  We will not have a speaker, so this will be a time where our topics will be best characterized by the late David Brinkley who would say, "We'll start some place and end some place else."


    Click here to view additional photos



     

     UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL GLOBAL CONFERENCE





    This conference may well be the most engaging one that we have ever had.  The stakes could not be higher than they are in renewed nuclear arms race.  What was once defined as a black and white issue between two polarized sides in the Cold War is now a real game with more than a score of players in a cloud of uncertainty.

    For more information on the conference, click here.


    To immediately sign up for the conference, click here
    Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or (314) 367-6480.

    Click here for photos!



     High School Model U.N. Continues on Saturday, January 13!

    Four weeks of suspense has concluded .... and the winning date for the second session of this year's high school model U.N. is Saturday, January 13, 2007.  It will be at Crossroads School (map) from 9:00 AM - Noon.


    Picking up from a lively model U.N. session on November 18, 2006, students will resume deliberations and voting on Saturday, January 13, 2007.  This second session will be at Crossroads School (map) from 9:00 AM - Noon.

    We will continue to operate with the following committee arrangement:

    • Security Council / Political & Security Committee
       

    • Economic & Social Committee / Human Rights Committee

    Each committee grouping will continue to have its own set of resolutions.  You can access the status of resolutions from the November 18 session by clicking here.  We also encourage you to submit new resolutions.  Please e-mail them to [email protected].  You can get full information on the January conference by clicking here.

     




    We still have a few slots open for interested students:


     
    One hour after tickets for the game went on sale this morning, Civitas purchased ten tickets for the game.  It's a good thing we did; they were almost sold out at that time.  In any event, we will be sponsoring a trip to Memphis the weekend of Saturday, March 31 - April 1, 2007.  Besides the ballgame between the Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians, we'll go to the Civil Right Museum (located at the old Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated).  Those of us from Civitas who have previously been there consider it possibly the most powerful museum that we have ever seen.

    Memphis is also good for Bar-B-Que, blues, jazz, and even a place called Graceland.  We will have more details on this trip as we have time to plan it.  However, we have only ten tickets (of which probably half will go to staff).  If you're interested in the trip, e-mail us immediately at [email protected].

    If you are wondering why the Cardinals and the Indians are the two teams to play in the momentous game on the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in the major leagues, it is because:

    1. The Cardinals (while slow to initially integrate) became a model of racial harmony in the early 1960s.  An excellent description of this was written by Harvard historian, David Halberstam.  The name of his book in 1964.

    2. The Indians (who still have a team name that some consider politically incorrect) were the first American League team to integrate.  They signed Larry Doby to a contract in 1948 and he starred for them for many years.  By the way, the old St. Louis Browns (now the Baltimore Orioles) signed two African-American players shortly after the Indians signed Doby.
    For more information on the inspiration behind the game, the game itself, and related activities, you can access the appropriate Major League web page by clicking here.

    da Blog:


    DO YOU FAVOR SENDING MORE AMERICAN TROOPS TO IRAQ?


     

    It was less than two weeks ago that a special commission headed by former Secretary of State James Baker on former Congressman Lee Hamilton recommended the United States not increase its armed forces in Iraq.  While President Bush said that he was interested in the report, he also has spoken of increasing the number of American GIs and marines in Iraq.  American public opinion is strongly opposed to sending more troops to Iraq.  Do you think that it would be a good idea for President Bush to increase the level of American troops in Iraq?  Why do you think that he is considering this option?


     

    LINK TO CIVITAS BLOG:

     

    LOS  


    ISRAELI-CONSUL TO VISIT ST. LOUIS 

     

    On Thursday, February 22, 2007, Consul General Barukh Binah, an Israeli minister, Congressman Russ Carnahan  (invited) and State Representative Jeff Roorda will address high school students from bi-state areas at Soldan High School. They will talk about international affairs and role of the United Nations. This program is sponsored by Soldan High School's Model United Nations Club in cooperation with ROTC. Our junior officers will present the colors at this ceremony and we are in process of inviting the Mayor to present the key of the City to the Consul General. We are also working with St. Louis PD and the Secret Service to insure a smooth conference. If you have any questions or need more information please let me know.


    Teachers and students: if you are interested in learning more about this event or in attending it, please contact our outstanding model U.N. faculty advisor from Soldan International Studies High School, Dr. Hamid Azimi at [email protected]



     
     


    Additional Links


    Streaming Video [Real Media]
      
    Civitas Blog

     Resolutions (High School U.N.) for 2004-2006
       
    Checklist for Writing a Model U.N. Resolution
     
    Conference (Feb., 2007) on "The Nuclear Club"  
     


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