Leading in Lean Times: Assuring Accountability and Assessing American Priorities in an Age of Austerity

1. Contact Information Executive Secretary Major Jim golby 607 Cullum Road Room LHB123, 845-938-2748 james.golby@usma.edu Conference Coordinator Mr. Carlton Smith 845-938-6401 Carlton.smith@usma.edu The 64th Annual Student conference on us affairs West Point, New York 7 - 10 November 2012 Frequently asked questions What Others say About SCUSA “My participation in SCUSA as a cadet was one of the most informative experiences of my life and led directly to my decision to join the United Nations and later the Department of State where for a total of 15 years I worked relief, development, conflict response and pol-mil policy issues from a variety of perspectives in over 75 countries..” - Richard G. Kidd IV Dep. Assistant Secretary of the Army “SCUSA is the single most important civil-military relations event at west point each year; thinking about u.s. foreign policy with my peers from other schools has helped me grow immensely as both a leader and a scholar.” - Cadet Rob Delaney ‘13 Q: How do I attend SCUSA? A: Contact your academic advisor at your college or university to discuss your interest in SCUSA. Q: How do I get to West Point? A: The SCUSA cadet staff will arrange transportation for delegates arriving at Newark International Airport and Penn Station, New York. Delegates may drive to West Point from their college or university if they choose. Q: Where will I stay? A: Delegates will be housed in the cadet barracks on the West Point campus. Q: How much does SCUSA cost? A: The registration fee is $150. Delegates should contact their academic advisor regarding scholarship and transportation grants that their school may provide. Q: How do I prepare for SCUSA? A: After registering for the conference, delegates will be informed of their roundtable assignments. Delegates should read the roundtable paper provided and come prepared to discuss the key issues in their policy or regional area. Q: What is the dress code? A: Delegates should bringbusiness casual wear for daytime use and casual dinners. They should also bring formal attire for the banquet and reception. Weather in New York is breezy and cool in mid-fall; a warm winter coat is highly recommended. Q: Will there be an opportunity to tour West Point while I am attending SCUSA? A: Yes; time is set aside in the SCUSA schedule for tours of the Academy. There is also an interactive display of weapons and military equipment. Leading in Lean Times: Assuring Accountability and Assessing American Priorities in an Age of Austerity Sponsored by: The George and Carol Olmsted Foundation The USMA Class of ’71 http://www.westpoint.edu/sosh/SitePages/SCUSA.aspx

2. How does SCUSA work? What is SCUSA? SCUSA 64 Roundtable Topics • The United States Military Academy at West Point hosts SCUSA every fall. It is the largest, oldest, and most prestigious conference of its type in the world. Approximately 200 undergraduate students from over 100 colleges and universities worldwide attend SCUSA. Many delegates use their passion and experiences honed at SCUSA to pursue a career in public service. SCUSA is more than a four-day conference, however; it is a year-long leader development experience – the West Point Leader Development System in action! • A forum for new ideas • Throughout the conference, the student delegates will discuss and debate the impact of past and recent events on the national political strategy of the United States and attempt to formulate policy recommendations for the future. • A unique interaction with America’s military • While attending SCUSA, delegates will get a unique glimpse into the daily life of the United States Corps of Cadets – the Army’s future officers. Delegates interact with cadets at their roundtables and with staff and faculty throughout the conference. They will be hosted by cadets in the barracks and dine in the cadet mess hall. • Mentorship beyond the classroom • SCUSA draws policy experts from academia and government to facilitate roundtable discussions and guide delegates in developing a series of policy recommendations for their policy area. • Dynamic guest speakers have included: • Dr. Rajiv Shah • Admiral James G. Stavridis • Dr. Leslie H. Gelb • Ambassador ZalmayKhalilzad • The SCUSA 64 roundtables are a unique blend of regional and general foreign policy problems. • The Dollars and Sense of American Grand Strategy • Costless Wars? Drones, the All-Volunteer Force, and Challenges to Political Accountability • Long Live COIN? Dealing with Internationalized Conflicts on a Budget • Foreign Policy Challenges in 3D: Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development • Trade, Globalization, and the Intl. Economy • Responsibility to Protect? Norms, Interests, and Humanitarian Intervention • Consumption without Consequence? Energy, Climate Change, and National Security • American Security in a Networked World: Emerging Challenges in Cyberspace • Can’t Stop da Bomb? Arms Control & Proliferation • Tis the Season? US Democracy Promotion After the Arab Spring • Beyond 2014? US Priorities in South & Cent. Asia • Pivot or Pirouette? Challenges and Opportunities in Sino-American Relations • A Fate Worse than Debt? Accountability, Austerity, and the future of the Euro • The View from Alaska? Accountability in Russia • Latin America: Drugs, Crime, and State Fracture • Africa: Failed States, Terrorism, and Security • Disorder at the Border? Federalism and the Challenge of Homeland Security • Key conference events • November 7th – • Registration, welcome, and opening senior panel discussion of the conference theme. • November 8rd – • Roundtable sessions, a tour of West Point, an evening reception, banquet, and keynote address. • November 9th – • Roundtable sessions, weapons and equipment interactive display, policy address, and delegate social. • November 10th – • Closing report session and presentation of policy recommendations to the conference. • Delegates should prepare themselves to discuss their roundtable topic in light of the conference theme • Austerity offers an opportunity for US leadership as much as a challenge to it. Delegates of SCUSA 64 are charged to consider what form US leadership, however austere it may be, can and should take across a range of policy areas including grand strategy, ways and means, global challenges to accountability, regional issues, and domestic sources of US foreign policy. Lean times demand and enable leadership.