Phi Alpha Theta

Every school year, the Boise State University chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honors society, hosts events ranging from "Reel to Real" film evenings to social gatherings. The highlight of the year comes with the Phi Alpha Theta regional conference, held at a different university in the Pacific Northwest every year, where students present their research and receive comment (firm but friendly) from faculty and students from other institutions.

Megan Jamison is the president of PAT this year. She's scouting for other officers (VP, secretary, treasurer). She can be reached at 426-1255 and at meganjamison@u.boisestate.edu. Get in touch with her! PAT is a great way to meet up with other history students and to get started as a scholar.

Fulbright Applications Due Soon

It's getting late, but not too late: Fulbright student program applications are due on October 20. If you are interested, get in touch with Nick Miller in the history department (426-3902, or nmiller@boisestate.edu).

If you are a freshman, sophomore, or junior who would like to talk about this fabulous program (which sends great students abroad every year after they earn their Bachelors degree), set aside some time to talk with that same Nick Miller, in Library 193 or at the above number and email.

The Museum Came to Life!

At the "Museum Come to Life" event at Julia Davis last Saturday, September 27, 2008, Dr. Barton Barbour was there as a fur trapper displaying his artifacts.

Idaho Council for History Education, Oct. 2-3

On Thursday and Friday of next week, the Idaho Council for History Education meets at Boise High School for its annual conference. Among BSU historians, Shelton Woods, Michael Zirinsky, Bart Barbour, and Bob Sims will speak on Thursday, while Lisa Brady and Jill Gill will be there on Friday. The keynote speaker on Friday is award-winning historian of the Great Plains, Elliott West. This conference is always a huge draw with informative and entertaining lectures -- make your way over to Boise High if you can!

Late Add: Elliott West will be speaking at the Fettuccine Forum the evening of Thursday, Oct. 2 for those who won't get to see him Friday, or who can't get enough. His talk will be at 6 p.m., doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the Rose Room. For more information, call 426-1255.

Focus on: Brian Lawatch

Once in a while, we’ll be talking to people we know and reporting what we hear, in only slightly edited fashion. Today’s victim: Brian Lawatch, history undergrad.

Why Did You Decide to Major in History?

I'm a history major because history is the one subject that I'm most passionate about. I feel that in order to understand the present, I need to have knowledge about our past. When I first started classes at BSU I was not sure what I was going to major in. I thought I would get a degree in business or some "practical" profession that could bring in a steady income. However, after my first year, I realized I was not going to be happy pursuing a degree I didn't enjoy learning about. I took a leap of faith deciding on history.

And why attend Boise State University?

Right out of high school I thought I did not want to be in Boise any longer so I joined the Army. It turned out that I missed this town and decided I wanted to return here for college and to be near family and friends.

You are a McNair Scholar – which means that you are the first member of your family to attend college – what has that meant to you?

Being a McNair Scholar means having a stellar opportunity to become an extremely competitive candidate for graduate studies toward a Ph.D. The program has given me the tools and knowledge required to develop the scholarly disposition that graduate institutions look for. The seminars make available time and resources toward hunting for schools, studying for the GRE, and developing healthy mentor-student relationships. Most importantly, the McNair program provided me with a $2,800 grant this summer to write a quality research paper for publication, presentation at a national conference, and submission to graduate schools. This program has helped me in countless ways and I encourage every undergraduate history major at BSU that fits the criteria to apply to the McNair Scholars Program.

How did you spend your summer?

This summer, as stated above, I used my $2,800 grant from the McNair Program to fund my undergraduate thesis paper: "Legitimizing Torture: How Similar Ideologies of the French in Algeria and the United States in the War on Terror Led to Torture." That took up most of my summer.

Didn’t you have any fun this summer?

For fun this summer I rode my mountain bike up in the foothills. I went to a cabin in Crouch, Idaho with about 20 friends and went rafting and enjoyed some home-made beer. I spent some time with new friends, old friends and family. Other than that, my summer was uneventful. I'm saving all my traveling for next summer after I graduate.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing?

My favorite piece of clothing... I would have to say is my "Members Only" jacket, which I do not actually have but wish I did.

What was your most memorable “Holy Cow” moment in a history class?

My "holy cow" moment in class was in David Walker's Western Europe after WWII class when we were learning about decolonization, specifically the French decolonization in North Africa. Learning about the frustration of the French soldiers, the people of France and Algeria, and all the politics reminded me very much of my own experiences in the Army. The superior French fighting force had a world of trouble against a rag-tag militia because the rules of warfare and clashes with Frances own humanitarian values dictated the direction of the war and the eventual outcome. This piqued my interest greatly and has been part of the focus of my research.

Whose shoes...

whose feet?

The Queen of Homecoming!

Megan Jamison (top), one of the History Department's intrepid student employees, has singlehandedly raised the department (close) to the pinnacle of homecoming hysteria, bringing home the second-place prize for best homecoming decoration on campus.

Edit: Actually, we won the prize for best thematic tie-in (click on the Bronco version of the Gettysburg Address, above).

Jill Gill Speaks at the City Club

Today, Professor Jill Gill discussed the role of evangelical Christians in American politics to a full house at the City Club in downtown Boise.