Urban & Environmental Policy

Campaign Semester Program 2012

...provides Occidental College students with an opportunity to learn about political campaigns and elections through first-hand experience.

List of 2012 Participants
An Unconventional Education by Samantha Bonar (August 30, 2012)
Politics 101, Without the Classroom by Ian Lovett (New York Times, November 5, 2012)

The Campaign Semester program will provide you with a full semester of college credit (16 units) for volunteering full-time in a Presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, or gubernatorial campaign during the Fall 2012 semester. You can volunteer for a Republican or Democratic campaign, or a "minor" party if the campaign is set up to adequately supervise volunteers.

The program is open to all Oxy students, regardless of major. There is no application for Campaign Semester. You should simply register for Politics 295, 296 and 297. Important: Before registering, however, you should meet with Professor Dreier or Professor Freer to discuss which campaigns you want to work for and to get their approval.

You must register for the following three courses in Fall semester to participate in the Campaign Semester 2012:

Politics 295 - Seminar on Political Campaigns (4 units)
Politics 296 - Campaign Fieldwork Internship (8 units)
Politics 297 - Independent Study: Political Campaign Analysis (4 units)

Please click here for full description.

Faculty Contact Information
Peter Dreier, Politics and UEP Dept, (323) 259-2913, dreier@oxy.edu
Regina Freer, Politics, (323) 259-2924, rfreer@oxy.edu

Food Assessment Class: Fall 2012- Spring 2013
(2 credits per semester)

The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute is offering an incredible opportunity for students interested in hands-on experience in community food justice. UEPI is seeking up to 15 motivated students to work with youth in Boyle Heights to research and develop a community food assessment with the goal of promoting healthy food access in East Los Angeles.

Background
UEPI is partnering with LA CAUSA (Los Angeles Communities Advocating for Unity, Social Justice, and Action), a 501(c)3 nonprofit that engages historically disenfranchised young people and their families from East Los Angeles to take action against the injustices that impact low-income communities of color. The community food assessment is the first step in a project to improve healthy food access in Boyle Heights.

Description
In the fall semester, Occidental students will research food access issues, food assessment methodology, and begin collaborating with YouthBuild students. Then in the spring, students will gain hands-on experience in community engagement and conducting a community food assessment. The class will be overseen by UEPI staff but will be student-driven; Oxy students will have a leadership role in the design of the class, and serve as mentors for LA CAUSA students.

Requirements
• A commitment for both fall and spring semesters
• UEP 101
• Interest in food justice
• Interest in community engagement and building relationships with LA CAUSA YouthBuild students
• Commitment to taking on a leadership position and fully participating in course activities
• Availability on Friday afternoons for class meetings

Schedule
The class will meet, along with LA CAUSA students, every other Friday from 12-4 unless otherwise specified. Meetings will alternate between the Oxy campus, field locations in Boyle Heights, and elsewhere in Los Angeles. Students will have research assignments during the other week, and will be expected to check-in with UEPI staff.

Registration
Please email Megan Bomba at bomba@oxy.edu to notify us that you are interested.

  • Office: 1882 Campus Rd.
  • Email: schico@oxy.edu
  • Phone: (323) 259-2991
  • Mailing Address: Occidental College, UEPI (MS-M1), 1600 Campus Road, Los Angeles, CA 90041