History and Government Student Opportunities and Organizations

At �۶�app, your experience as a student in the Department of History and Government goes beyond the classroom. Whether you’re passionate about politics, debate, international relations, or leadership, you’ll find opportunities to hone your skills and develop your strengths.

Mock Trial

The �۶�app Mock Trial team offers students an opportunity to act as attorneys and witnesses in a simulated jury trial. Each year, the team prepares to prosecute and defend a criminal or civil case with an invented fact pattern.

Students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses, delivering persuasive and compelling opening statements and closing arguments. The case file is created by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) and is used nationally, allowing our team to compete against other Mock Trial teams throughout the country.

As part of the Mock Trial team, you'll meet about two times per week in both the fall and spring semesters. The team travels to one to two regionally located tournaments per semester.

Mock Trial provides the opportunity to hone and develop public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork skills in stressful situations. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity for those that may be interested in future careers in the legal profession to learn more about the trial process, and, specifically, the role of an attorney. The team uses its efforts to mature in Christ and to learn to better exemplify Christ’s love in all of its endeavors.

Any Cedarville student is eligible to join; Mock Trial is not limited to any major and is open to all interested students, subject to a tryout at the start of the fall semester.

Please reach out to Professor Greg Thompson for more information.

Mock Trial team

Model UN

The �۶�app Model United Nations (UN) team provides a co-curricular opportunity for students interested in careers related to government, diplomacy, and development.

As part of the team, you'll meet weekly to prepare for the competitions and to learn materials appropriate for a United Nations-related simulation. Students develop skills in public speaking, the ability to work in groups in stressful situations, writing and editing, and diplomatic relations with people from across the world — all while learning how to better exemplify Christ’s love.

Every spring semester, this 16-member team participates in competitions designed to simulate international negotiation. In early February, the team competes in the Dayton Model UN Competition (DAYMUNC) with students representing different member states of the United Nations in an assigned committee. In mid-March, the team engages in a scrimmage with the Model UN team of Wright State University. Finally, the team participates in the National Model UN (NMUN) competition in New York. All team members at NMUN compete as the same member state, with team members split into pairs that are then assigned to one of eight different UN committees.

Selection of the team is limited, and membership on the team is generally reserved for sophomores, juniors, and seniors. While history and government students are well-suited for this team, students from all majors are welcome to express a desire to join the team.

Please reach out to Dr. Glen Duerr for more information.

Cedarville Model United Nations Students

The Lyceum

The Lyceum at �۶�app brings distinguished thinkers, writers, and artists to campus to speak on compelling topics that connect culture, the arts, and ideas with a Christ-centered perspective.

Students in history and government may be chosen to be a Lyceum Fellow based on academic excellence and love of the arts. Lyceum Fellows join reading groups, engage thought leaders, and experience the arts.

A group of students poses in front of a red brick mural that reads “Historic New Castle” with painted images of a small house and the state of Kentucky.

Student Organizations

In addition to the co-curricular opportunities above, history and government students are invited to join student organizations, including those overseen by the department.

AHS is a student organization that aims to help students explore issues of foreign policy, national security, and international affairs through group discussions, speaker events with distinguished scholars, and conversations with local faculty. Through our rigorous, refreshing, and engaging dialogue, we help prepare students for the field of international affairs.

Contact: ahs@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: All Students

Alpha Delta Nu provides criminal justice students with the opportunity to enhance their professional development. Members believe that a career in criminal justice is a ministry in a God-ordained institution, which is government.

Contact: alphadeltanu@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: Criminal Justice Majors

The Federalist Society is a national organization for students, lawyers, academics, and other legal professionals that provides a forum for networking, hosting speakers, and publishing. With over ten thousand law student and sixty-five thousand professional members, the Federalist Society seeks to preserve limited, constitutional government, federalism, and individual liberty.

Contact: fedsociety@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: All students

The mission of the History and Government Organization is to provide an avenue for history and government students to get involved within the department and engage with H&G faculty and fellow students with similar interests and career goals. Additionally, with the help of faculty, the org aims to develop and train H&G students to excel in their respective fields while living out the Gospel.

Contact: handgstuorg@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: Students with majors in the History and Government Department.

The Cedarville Legal Society is an organization for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in the law, seeking to attend law school in the future, or simply with an interest in American Jurisprudence. Through events, meetings, and guest lecturers, the organization seeks to educate students on the technicalities of a career in law and to equip students for future success in their legal education.

Contact: legalsociety@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: All students

Turning Point USA at �۶�app is a student movement for freedom that advocates for personal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.

Contact: turningpoint@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: All students

Mission Statement: Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is a conservative youth activism organization committed to promoting and preserving conservative principles. At �۶�app, our Chapter integrates a Christian worldview with conservative political ideology, emphasizing the importance of political engagement within the Christian community.

Key Focus Areas:

Advocating Biblical Principles and Values: Our YAF chapter is dedicated to promoting the gospel and embodying Christian values in the political arena. We aim to demonstrate the application of biblical principles in public policy and political discourse, fostering a community that loves God and others through political engagement.
Promoting Conservative Principles: YAF champions the principles of limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, strong national defense, and traditional American values. We seek to educate and inspire students to uphold these ideals in their personal and public lives.
Critiquing Liberal Principles: The organization provides critical analysis of liberal ideologies, including government regulation, social welfare programs, critical race theory, and contemporary social movements often referred to as “wokeness.” We encourage informed debate and discussion on these topics to promote a well-rounded understanding of political issues.

Contact: YAF_org@cedarville.edu
Website:
Open to: All students

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