Newsletter Issue #130, September 2010
Email version of the current newsletter (includes contact emails for chapter advisors.)
CA-ALPHA(0501) [University of the Pacific; advisor, Ty Raterman] NEW ADVISOR
CA-IOTA(0509) [Westmont College; advisor, Jim Taylor] After we inducted ten new members on April 19th, our chapter elected officers for 2010-11. They are President: Allissa Klein; Vice-president: Danielle Willard; Secretary: Zachary Spangler; and Public Relations: Brad Pearson. We expect to hold a summer meeting to discuss plans and events for the new school year.
FL-ETA(1007) [Florida International University; advisor, Sean Allen- Hermanson] NEW ADVISOR
FL-IOTA(1009) [Jacksonville University; advisor, Matthew Groe] At the April meeting, one new member was inducted, and new officers were elected. They are President: Kasey Sousa, Vice-president and Secretary: David Gibbons.
GA-BETA(1102) [Emory University; advisor, Frederick Marcus] The Emory University Georgia Beta chapter has continued to build momentum from the generous donation by Ronald and Patricia Nicholson. The past year, Phi Sigma Tau has continued sponsoring a monthly Philosophy Circle, open to all undergraduates, during which time a senior faculty member addresses a small group of students about a topic close to his or her heart. This year, the topics included the Ontological Argument by Anselm, Plato’s Form of the Good, and excerpts from The Gay Science by Nietzsche, as well as from Process and Reality by Alfred North Whitehead. Each unique session has fostered lively philosophical discussion and promoted quality interaction between philosophy department professors and students.
In addition, the chapter introduced a new program designed to aid qualifying philosophy majors considering, or in the process of writing, honors theses. Each session has corresponded with a particular phase of writing in which different thesis advisors offered useful tips and guidance. The sessions succeeded in providing practical and useful information to students to improve their writing and successfully complete their honors theses.
At the fourth annual induction dinner, Professor Charles Scott of Vanderbilt gave the keynote address on ‘‘Ethics in Uncertain Times.’’ Also, the Emory chapter implemented a website to be accessible to those seeking more information about Phi Sigma Tau and upcoming events.
GA-IOTA(1109) [University of West Georgia; advisor, Robert Lane] On April 13, our chapter held its annual initiation ceremony, and two new members were inducted. Our officers for 2009-2010 presided over the ceremony; they are President: Danny Smith, Vice-president: Eduardo "Ace" Mendez, and Secretary-Treasurer: Philip Brewer. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Philosophy Program’s annual awards ceremony during which new member Tony Garcia was awarded the Burdett and Shirley Wantland Philosophy Scholarship. (Congratulations, Tony! Ed.)
MA-ETA(2207) [Bridgewater State College; advisor, Aeon Skoble] In our March meeting, we discussed recruiting new members by making announcements in the philosophy courses and also considered arranging a student-run colloquium later in the term. During the remainder of the meeting, we discussed Stoicism and the possibility of its application to life.
MO-TAU(2619) [Northwest Missouri State University; advisor, Richard Field] Our chapter planned an initiation to be held at the Nodaway County Historical Society; Matt Johnson will be giving a talk on the new Comprehensive Crisis Response minor.
MT-BETA(2702) [Montana State University; advisor, James W. Allard] Since most of our members have either graduated or transferred, our chapter is presently very small. Our current membership problem is because of a lack of qualified students, and we hope to find suitable candidates for the chapter during the next school year. However, the chapter is a part of our local Philosophy Society, a very active group. Zack Rogala, our President, has organized a series of weekly forums on controversial topics, included imperialism, the health bill, a local right wing hate group, foreign aid, and fascism. Attendance has ranged between ten and thirty, and discussion is often spirited.
NE-BETA(2802) [Creighton University; advisor, Anne C. Ozar] NEW ADVISOR
NJ-ZETA(3106) [Richard Stockton College; advisor, A. Edward Siecienski] NEW ADVISOR. On February 23, our chapter met to explore the question, ‘‘Why Study Philosophy?’’ Suggested readings were Dewey’s ‘‘Why Study Philosophy’’ and ‘‘The Future of Philosophy.’’ Additional readings were Ortega y Gasset’s ‘‘On Studying,’’ Royce’s ‘‘The Student of Philosophy,’’ Camus’ ‘‘The Wind at Djemila’’ and ‘‘Melusina’s Book,’’ and Nietzche’s ‘‘Philosophy in Hard Times.’’ During the discussion, we considered the desire for truth as well as the pursuit of truth as an end in itself, whether the student of philosophy should have as a goal the elimination of the subjective in favor of what Royce called the ‘‘impersonal,’’ and Nietzche’s thoughts on the harmlessness of philosophy in his time. We concluded with a discussion of the state of education and how haste may be ruining education. This provided an entry into the topic of our next meeting.
Students and faculty met on March 24 to discuss ‘‘On the Teaching of Philosophy.’’ Suggested readings were Republic, Book VII, ‘‘Philosophy and Teachers,’’ by Theodor Adorno, Roland Barthes’ ‘‘Writers, Intellectuals, Teachers,’’ excerpts from Feyerabend’s Conquest of Abundance, and selections from Michel Serres’ Conversations on Science, Culture, and Time and The Troubador of Knowledge. During the conversation, we discussed the questions that philosophy addresses, specifically Why questions as opposed to the What and How questions addressed by science.
NM-ALPHA(3201) [University of New Mexico; advisor, Paul Livingston] NEW ADVISOR
NY-ALPHA(3301) [St. Lawrence University; advisor, Laura Rediehs] NEW ADVISOR. New officers are President: Gregory Berlin, Vice- president: Jack Knych, Secretary: Mandy Lafond.
NY-LAMBDA(3311) [Potsdam College, SUNY; advisor, Judith A. Little] The official initiation ceremony for the New York Lambda chapter was held on April 8, with faculty advisor Dr. Judith A. Little opening the meeting and welcoming members, initiates, and guests. Dr. Little explained the history of the society and its eligibility requirements. Afterwards, three new members were added to the chapter.
NY-NU(3313) [Fordham University; advisor, Joseph Koterski, S.J.] Professor Samir Haddad, one of Fordham’s newer faculty members, delivered the address on the occasion of the annual initiation ceremony.
NY-RHO(3317) [St. John’s University; advisor, Paul Gaffney] A number of activities were planned for the end of the academic year, and the chapter expects to have a larger and more active presence during the next year. Dr. Gaffney is pushing to have students participate in undergraduate conferences as much as possible and to submit work to Dialogue.
NY-UPSILON(3320) [Hunter College, CUNY; advisor, Laura Keating] Nine new members were inducted this year, and on February 24, the chapter met to elect officers. Officers are President: Elvira Basevich, Vice-president: Bartosz Patalita, Secretary: Khrystyna Misyuk, and Treasurer: Benyade Valencia.
NY-CHI(3322) [Lehman College, CUNY; advisor, Anthony K. Jensen] On May 11th, 2010, Phi Sigma Tau New York Chi chapter held a well-attended meeting in which current members elected officers for the next school year. Officers are President: Sean-Paul Wade, and Vice- president: Paulette Monforte. Both were elected unanimously. Additionally members discussed recruitment efforts, society activities, and plans for the 2011 initiation ceremony.
NC-ALPHA(3401) [East Carolina University; advisor, John Collins] Dr. Collins and Secretary, Jenna McQuade, met to discuss plans for the new year. Discussions included the topics of recruitment, participation, and plans for inviting new members in early August.
NC-ETA(3407) [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; advisor, John Roberts] Co-Presidents: Maegan Fairchild and Leah Townsend, Secretary: Diana Hofler, Treasurer: Doruk Ouvural, and Public Relations Representative: Emily Gotwals. Fairchild opened our January 29th meeting with a discussion of optimal meeting times; we will continue to meet at 2:00 on every other Friday. We proposed using Google Wave to keep members in touch and active between meetings, and Townsend will create a tutorial for members unfamiliar with the program. Ouvural raised the question of being recognized as an official student organization and petitioning the school for funding, and Russell Martin provided guidance for this. A five year plan and bylaws will be put on Google Wave for group approval before submitting the request to the necessary authorities.
During planning for the April 17-18 Undergraduate Conference, Fairchild called for readers, and several volunteered, some of whom were not Phi Sigma Tau members. Papers were due on February 14 with invitations to the conference to go out by the first week of March. Intensive reading sessions were proposed for judging the papers. Dr. Roberts has reserved all classrooms in Caldwell for the conference, and there will be approximately nine time slots for papers as well as one time slot for the keynote speaker, Martha Nussbaum. The Philosophy Department will fund coffee and baked goods for the conference, and nearby restaurants will be approached about a lunch discount for participants. Fairchild proposed approaching the Johnston Center in Graham Memorial for an April 17 dinner. Gotwals is in charge of advertising and generating interest both in and outside the philosophy department. Hotel accomodations for speakers remained to be arranged.
(ADVISOR’S NOTE: Under the leadership of Maegan Fairchild the Chapel Hill Undergraduate Philosophy Conference was a smashing success. Martha Nussbaum was the keynote speaker, and there were seven student speakers from seven different colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Utah Valley State University, and many schools in between.)
Other business included a proposal to approach the Daily Tar Heel about a regular essay on a popular topic. Because of potentially limited space, a weekly philosophical question was suggested. Townsend proposed peer editing on paper by members, and Gotwals suggested workshops that are open to any interested people who are writing philosophical papers.
OR-ALPHA(3801) [Linfield College; advisor, Kaarina Beam] The Oregon Alpha chapter at Linfield College conducted several PhilosophyDiscussion Forums and assisted with the Annual Philosophy Powell Lecture. New officers are: Mackenzie Herrick, President, and Paul Nishizaki, Vice-president.
PA-NU(3913) [St. Joseph’s University; advisor, Paul St. Amour] President: Alexandria Karls, Vice-president: John Burke, Secretary and advisor: Paul St. Amour.
PA-SIGMA(3918) [Lycoming College; advisor, Douglas Young] NEW ADVISOR
TX-IOTA(4409) [Texas A&M University; advisor, Richard W. Stadelmann] NEW ADVISOR
VA-ALPHA(4701) [Christopher Newport University; advisor, Dawn Hutchinson] Our Christopher Newport chapter conducted an undergraduate philosophy conference with great success. Unfortunately, most of our members graduated this year.
VA-GAMMA(4703) [James Madison University; advisor, Anne M. Wiles] We conducted our initiation ceremony in conjunction with the local chapter of Theta Alpha Kappa, the religious studies honor society. Dr. William Hawk was the speaker for the event, giving a talk entitled ‘‘Moral Skepticism, Religious Fanaticism and Just War.’’ The initiation ceremony was followed by a banquet for honors students and faculty. At our last meeting of the year, we elected new officers. Co-presidents: Eric Darling and Julie Lukeman, Vice-president: Jeff Smith, Co-secretaries: Dora Duvisac and Elizabeth Comitz, Treasurer: Blake Wehman, and Night Counselor: Vincent Castellano. At this last meeting, we discussed possible events for next year. Our colloquium programs seemed to be a popular idea since they had been successful this year. We also considered developing a lecture program to propose to the SGA for possible funding as well as discussions relating philosophical issues to current events.
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From the Executive Secretary
The Executive Council of Phi SigmaTau has approved the expansion of our journal, Dialogue. We had printed the journal in a stapled binding, and that limited each issue to 72 pages; with a perfect binding, we will be able to print larger issues. We will continue to print a single issue in October of each year and a ‘double’ issue in April. Though our October issue may not exceed the old 72 page limit, we expect that the April 2011 issue will. The increase in available space will be an opportunity for more students to see their work in print, but we will only be able to sustain the larger issues if our membership assists us. We need to encourage submissions! We especially encourage Phi Sigma Tau members to submit their best work to our editor, Dr. Steve Barbone (email—barbone@rohan.sdsu.edu) for consideration for possible publication. Additionally, we ask advisors and faculty members who see outstanding papers by their students to recommend that those students submit their work to Dr. Barbone. Only with your assistance, that of students and faculty advisors, will we be able to publish these larger issues while maintaining the quality of the previous issues.
On behalf of the Executive Council of Phi Sigma Tau, I wish all of you the very best for a successful new school year. Also, thanks are due to all of you for your interest in, and support of, Phi Sigma Tau.
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PHI SIGMA TAU
International Honor Society in Philosophy
Dr. David E. Gibson, Humanities Division
Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263-4225
david.gibson@pepperdine.edu
A listing of email addresses for chapter advisors is available in the email version of the current newsletter.
