DC Recap - June 23rd to June 27th

Haven’t updated in a while so here is recap of the rest of the time I was in DC. Once SPS kicked in things got real busy for me in Washington.

Monday, June 23rd

Here is a recap of SPS’s day on the ropes course in the woods of Virginia. (Link to Recap). After we got back I taught the first of my case studies in the late afternoon. The case study was on “Lying in Government”. It was ten mini cases meant to introduce students to the case method and look at when/if it is ethical to deceive people while in varying types of public service. Incidentally, I think that the SPS Class of 2008 has at least five ids with perfect board scores, yet another very sharp group. Although looking forward to China I will miss not seeing this group all the way through the month long program. One of my co-workers and fellow history department mates at the “H”, Doc. Barnes, stopped by to observe the program.

The handwritten appeal from Gideon v. Wainwright that won the right for legal representation for defendants unable to afford their own attorneys

After the case study Ryser and Micah picked us up and we jetted to Rockville to a nice restaurant called Addie’s. Doc had a drink with us and heard some “Grubby” stories. Grubby is yet another moniker of Pete’s youth in Erie, Pa. She could only stay for a drink so we dropped her off at the Metro and we continued or loud conversations and story telling. It was great meal and time.

Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24th and 25th

The days were extremely packed with case studies and the prep, research, and adjudication of the Supreme Court Case, District of Columbia v. Heller. For the story of the days academic activities check out the links here and here. Sorry for the laziness but there is no need to recap twice in two different forums.

New Nationals Park in in southeast DC.

Thursday, 26th

I slept in a little today and strolled into the office around 11ish. The students were busy with other case studies. They also were buzzing from the Supreme Court decision of the case they worked the previous day. Here is the story link. After the day in class activities the group made our way down the National Mall for a walking tour of the monuments. It was a good time.

World War II Memorial

Group pic with the Lincoln Memorial in background.

Once the kids were back on the bus I slid over to Norm and Virginia’s place to wait for Brittany to get in from Memphis. Once Britt got picked up from the airport by one of her friends in DC, for those questioning my chivalry I had no car in DC, we went to Clyde’s in Chinatown for a bite to eat and a couple of drinks.

Friday, June 27th

I had a full load today. In the morning the students and I went to the Spy Museum. The students seemed to have a good time. The museum is a BIT commercial but still an enjoyable and educational experience. After a return to Albans and lunch we read and discussed the Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize winning series about the scandal involving the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. For more info NPR has a good series of stories about the subsequent issues after the story broke. The students were appalled by the stories and findings. It should be noted that story although certainly damaging to the Department of Defense and Veteran Affairs really shows the effects of the massive and crippling bureaucracy and how it hurts everyone involved. After the discussion we broke the kids into groups to make recommendations for both short and long term solutions. Ironically they students’ ideas were quite similar to the official findings. Here is an executive summary to peruse if one has the time. The great thing is that the students will get to meet one of the authors of the series of article, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Priest. (Pictures of that meeting)

If you want to folow the rest of the events of the program follow the blog on the right of this page.

Photos of the program.