Student groups organize fall activities and plan spring events

The Graduate Public Affairs Council (GPAC) sponsored a variety of events this fall, including the biannual community service day, an ice cream social, a picnic at Pease Park to celebrate the 30th anniversary, the annual LBJ Olympics, brown bag lunch seminars, and many other activities. Meanwhile, other student organizations--some affiliated with GPAC and others working independently--organized their own fall projects and planned major spring events. Some of these groups are featured here.

Barbara Jordan Forum Committee
The Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy will take place on February 21-23. This year's topic is "The Digital Divide: Myth, Metaphor, and Reality." One of the main speakers will be Shirley Malcolm, head of the Directorate for Education and Human Resources Programs, American Association for the Advancement of Science. For more information and updates visit the forum web site.

International Affairs Student Association
One of the newest student organizations at the LBJ School, the International Affairs Student Association (IASA) gives students a greater opportunity to expand their interests in such areas as foreign policy, international relations, and international development.

During the fall, the group organized a faculty panel discussion to examine some of the issues related to the September 11 terrorist attacks. IASA also compiled an extensive database of international-related internship and job resources and distributed the information to first-year students to help them with their internship decisions. In addition, IASA produced a comprehensive listing of UT Austin graduate courses that will be offered during the spring semester and circulated the information to the student body.

According to Matt Fuller, IASA co-chair, the group is planning a symposium on long-term policy issues stemming from the events of September 11. The event will take place in January or February at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, he said. IASA is also helping with the Barbara Jordan National Forum and will sponsor a speaker who will address the international implications of the digital divide.

Fuller said that one of the group's major objectives is to help the School become a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA). "With our joint degree programs and other . . . classes, LBJ has the curriculum required to enter this elite group but (it) has never applied," he said. "This (membership) will give students access to APSIA's immense job bank and network and help promote the School."

Michael Faust is the other IASA co-chair.

Life Skills/Education Awareness Program
LBJ School volunteers are working with students from Gonzalo Garza Independence High School as part of a mentoring initiative that began in 1983. Called the Life Skills/Education Awareness Program (LEAP), the organization enables LBJ School students to work with high school students who need assistance with homework, exam preparation, and college application forms.

Non-Profit Interest Group
Established in October, the Non-Profit Interest Group works to integrate nonprofit management issues into the LBJ School curriculum and other School activities. The group also offers students who are interested in the nonprofit area an opportunity to learn about academic and professional opportunities available at the LBJ School and in the larger UT community.

Since the group was organized, it has cosponsored lunch talks with the Brown Bag Committee and with the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service.

Policy, Women and Resources
During the fall, Policy, Women and Resources (PoWeR) organized a variety of activities to introduce students to PoWeR, provide networking opportunities, and stimulate discussion of women and policy.

On November 12, PoWeR hosted its third annual legislative panel in the Bass Lecture Hall. Entitled "Texas Women in the Workforce," the event allowed students to gather insights into the legislative process from five Texas women state representatives. Among other topics, the policymakers discussed policies and legislation that support women in the workplace. LBJ School Lecturer Sherri Greenberg, a former state legislator, was the panel moderator.

Other activities organized by PoWeR during November included a lunch talk cosponsored with the Brown Bag Committee that featured Jody Conradt, head coach of UT women's basketball and former UT women's sports athletic director. PoWeR also hosted a lunch with students, staff, and faculty on November 16 to provide a social and networking opportunity to PoWeR members.

During the spring, PoWeR will organize a professional networking dinner that will include representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. PoWeR will also sponsor a panel at the Barbara Jordan National Forum in February.

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December 7, 2001

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