New Courses This Fall!

The history department made several revisions to its major this year; those revisions will go into affect next fall (2009). In general, we suggest that history majors to meet with an advisor to discuss the implications of these changes! Specifically, though, there are a few new courses that students need to know about:

History 100: This is an introductory course designed as a core option for non-majors. If you are a history major and do wish to take it, it will count for elective credit only.

History 199: This was until this semester History 291. We have changed the content slightly and now urge students to take it during their first year.

History 498: This is now the only history seminar we will offer, and is designed solely for senior history majors. This new seminar will not be a traditional "lectures and books" class. Instead, it will be entirely devoted to the writing, sharing, presenting, and critiquing of a historical research paper. The professor of record in the course will determine the fields covered by the seminar. Thus, in the fall of 2009 we will offer two of these seminars, one by Michael Zirinsky and the other by Shelton Woods. You can assume that in Zirinsky's seminar, you will be writing a paper on Middle Eastern and Islamic history, including US policy in the region. You can also assume that in Woods' seminar you will be writing a paper on East Asian history.

If you are a history major, please spread the word about these changes! There will probably be some confusion at first, but that's what advisors are for.

Night Stalkers

On March 13, 2009, Phi Alpha Theta volunteered at "Night Stalkers," a flashlight tour of the Old Penitentiary. Students helped by taking tickets, handing out brochures and programs, and helping keep the guests safe from the ghosts of...

Masters Defenses Coming Up

There are a number of masters defenses coming up in the next couple of weeks. They are open to the public:

Alissa Peterson, "Traditions in Transition: Basques in America" (Schackel) March 18, 2009, Wednesday, 3:30 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Karen Wadley, "The King and His Council" (Odahl) March 20, Friday, 1:30 - 3:00 pm, Library 194, History Conference Room

Josh Bernard, "History and Beauty: The History of the Idaho State Parks" (Shallat) March 30, Monday, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Kelly Orgill, "Bequeathment: How the Hardships of Idaho's Settlers Have Shaped Idahoan Identity" (Brady) March 31, Tuesday, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Library 170, Sociology Conference Room

Olivia Umphrey, "From Screen to Page: Japanese Film as a Historical Document, 1931-1959" (Woods) April 3, Friday, 12:30- 2:00 pm, Library 194, History Conference Room

Students: The Library Wants You

The library has created a new committee called the Student Library Advisory Committee. That committee will help the library administration learn what students think about library operations and how they could be improved. The first meeting will take place March 18, at 4:20 pm in Library 201C. If you are interested, please RSVP to Kim Leeder at 426-1621 or KimLeeder@boisestate.edu.

Lubamersky and Miller Lecture at UC Berkeley

This week Professors Lynn Lubamersky and Nick Miller will be delivering lectures at the University of California, Berkeley. Lubamersky will discuss commemorations and national identity in Lithuania since independence, and Miller will give the annual "Peter Kujachich Lecture in Serbian and Montenegrin Studies." His talk will be titled "Serbia in 1989: Where Was the Serbian Havel?"

Carissa Black Wins Photo Contest

Graduate student Carissa Black, who will soon defend her Masters project, recently won a photo contest hosted by the Idaho State Historical Society in honor of 2009's Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month. We've asked Carissa if we can post the photo, and await word on that front. More on the award at the Idaho State Historical Society.