The William H. Bates Center for Public Affairs
The William H. Bates Center for Public Affairs at Salem State University, established in 1969 in memory of the late Congressman William H. Bates, is housed in the Department of Political Science. The mission of the Bates Center includes:
- fostering academic excellence in the fields of government and politics;
- sponsoring speakers, field trips, internships, and experiential learning activities;
- forging links between the SSU community and leaders in the field of public service;
- enhancing social science research and scholarship; and
- providing the SSU and the larger North Shore community with access to resources and information related to politics and policy in Massachusetts.
The Bates Center sponsors roundtable discussions, speakers, and conferences on a variety of current political issues. Topics last year included Middle East Politics; The First 50 Days of the Obama Administration; Economic Crisis; Obama, McCain and Domestic Policy; and McCain, Obama and Foreign Policy. A panel on the Climate Change: Ethics, Policy and Politics will launch the Fall Roundtable Series on September 28 at 11am in MH346.
With a commitment to expanding experiential learning opportunities for undergraduates, the Bates Center assists students with internship placements in government agencies and non-profit organizations through a variety of programs.
Future plans for the Bates Center include faculty social science research seminars, development of an online gateway to resources on state and local government in Massachusetts, and a visiting scholars program.
Please contact Professor Kanishkan Sathasivam, Chair, Department of Political Science if you are interested in the activities of the Bates Center.
