On Wednesday, February 26th, the department hosted an Inklings gathering featuring Dr. Vance McMahan, one of the department’s professors of practice, who spoke about “Serving the UN: The Good, the Bad and the Surprising.” A U.S. former Ambassador and Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Dr. McMahan’s talk drew on his personal experience there and explored the presidential appointment process; General Assembly voting patterns, including the issue of countries who receive significant aid from the United States but fail to support the U.S. on important votes; and the budget structure of the UN. He also discussed serving on the Economic and Social Council and described its extensive oversight responsibilities, primary functions and its role in providing a forum for non-government organizations to have a significant voice on UN issues.
Kyle Turner, a political science student who attended, found the talk to be a “good experience” in which he “learned much about the UN” from someone who worked there. Graduate student, Kaleb Kelly enjoyed the “behind the scenes look at the operations” of the UN and felt it was “both interesting and informative.” Another graduate student, Rex Wyatt, found the meeting allowed for a “better understanding of the nature and process of the UN.”
The department’s “inklings” gatherings take their name from a small group of intellectuals (whose ranks included J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) who met weekly at Oxford University in the early and middle decades of the 20th century to read aloud and discuss their works in progress.
