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CAMPUS | NEWS
Science of Politics
P
Political science students from across Arkansas
converged on the UAM campus in February
POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS AND FACULTY FROM
across Arkansas converged on the UAM campus February 26-27 for
the 2016 Arkansas Political Science Association’s statewide annual
conference.
The conference brought together 65 speakers from across the state,
according to Dr. Carol Strong, associate professor of political science
at UAM who served as conference organizer and program chair.
The featured speaker was Chris Masingill, federal co-chair of the
Delta Regional Authority, who discussed the unique role educational
institutions of all levels play in the development and growth of Arkansas
communities, especially those counties in the DRA’s footprint with
lower levels of educational attainment. According to Masingill, those
communities “stand to gain greatly from stronger connections with
regional and local institutions of higher education for job training,
skills development, and increased educational levels. DRA is currently
working with more than 20 four-year institutions across its eight-state
region to develop the Delta Research Consortium to help share and
direct funding and focus to Delta-oriented research to help community
leaders, policy makers, and economic developers.”
Also featured at the conference was Dr. John Kyle Day, an associate
professor in the UAM School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, who
discussed his recently published book The Southern Manifesto: Massive
Resistance and the Fight to Preserve Segregation.
In panels, five UAM political science majors presented original
research papers. Sarah Phillips and Jimmy Tyler Harrison of Star City,
Leslie Beard and Robert Fletcher of Monticello; and Emily Mendiola of
Hamburg comprised UAM’s five-person student delegation. Fletcher’s
paper, entitled: “Cycling through New Urbanism: Pedestrian-Oriented
Opportunities and Innovations in Southeast Arkansas,” considered
policies to improve pedestrian access to businesses in Monticello.
Harrison’s paper, “All Tea, All Shade: How the Tea Party Effects the
American Political Process,” and Beard’s paper, “Who’s Really in Control:
A Comparative Examination of Oligarchical Tendencies in Russia
and the United States,” considered the changes in national politics with
the emergence of anti-establishment parties and actors in mainstream
politics.
Phillips’ paper, “The People vs. the State: A Comparative Analysis
of Power Relations in the Development of Spanish Democracy,” and
Mendiola’s paper, “The Power of the Indigenous: Indigenous Autonomy
in Mexico,” considered how social movements impact national politics
within the international community.
Dr. John Davis, a UAM assistant professor of political science,
presented a paper entitled “Campaign Inc.: Data from a Field Survey
of State Party Organizations.”
JACK LASSITER The 2016 Texas A&M-Commerce Distinguished Alumnus
Dr. Jack Lassiter, retired UAM chancellor, is the 2016 Distinguished Alumnus of Texas
A&M University-Commerce.
Lassiter graduated from A&M-Commerce (then East Texas State University) in 1968
with a degree in finance and earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling in
1969.
“I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this award,” said Lassiter. “When I first
came to Commerce, I would have been considered a long-shot to graduate, much less
receive an honor like this one. I was admitted as a probationary student, but thanks to
the patience of some very supportive faculty, I was able to thrive. I’ve never forgotten
that.”
Lassiter became the 11th chief executive officer of UAM in 2004 and retired January
5, 2015 after a long and distinguished career in higher education. Prior to becoming
UAM chancellor, he served in the central administration office of the UA System as
executive vice president after spending four years as chancellor of the UA Community
College in Batesville.
Lassiter first came to UAM in 1977 as director of the school’s Learning Development
Center while completing his doctorate at A&M-Commerce. He left a year later to become
dean of college and student services at Wharton (Tex.) Community College, then
returned to UAM in 1980 as vice chancellor for university relations and student services,
beginning a 17-year stay on the Monticello campus.
4 UAM Magazine