Raising Political Awareness

Seven Clemson university students and political science professor Colin Pearce attended the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States (ACSUS) Biennial Conference held in Ottawa, Canada.

The Creative Inquiry group, the only student presenters at the conference, showed their research on comparative political symbolism to the association panel. In it they observed and analyzed the response to political symbols in various countries, including Canada, the United States and Mexico. Led by political science professor Michael Morris, student participants included Kristen Bender, a sophomore in global politics; Clair Dias, a sophomore in architecture; Brittany Ryan, a senior in political science; Jenny Tumas, a sophomore in communication studies; Leah Davis, a junior in political science; John Cassil, a junior in management; and Nicholas Baulch, a senior in language and international trade. All are students in Clemson’s Calhoun Honors College.

The Association for Canadian Studies in the United States is a multidisciplinary membership-based organization committed to raising awareness and understanding of Canada and the bilateral relationship with the United States. The association supports research and academic activity through its publications, conferences and grant programs and promotes the academy through active advocacy and outreach.

The academic community plays an important part in helping the association educate policy-makers and the public-private sectors about the economic, political, trade, security, defense, environmental, technological, scientific and cultural dimensions of Canada-U.S. relations.

“Being a part of Creative Inquiry has taught me lessons of greater value and practicality than I ever could have gleaned from a textbook. It has provided me with real-world opportunities to collaborate with a team, balance responsibilities, communicate effectively with different personalities and learn more about how to lead and follow.” -Aliece Wilson