Cults and secret sects are topic of anthropology museum event

 Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology’s “Saturdays at the Museum” series continues with guest lecturers addressing the subject “Cults, Sects and Secret Societies.” Activities are Saturday, May 9, at the museum.
                “With this program, we hope to inform the public by discussing the meaning of the terms ‘cult’ and ‘sects,'” said museum staff member Bonnie Jean Knighton. “Today, there are a lot of myths regarding these terms. We want people to discover what these terms mean, especially when talking about secret societies.”
                Knighton said the museum will feature scholars who will discuss several of the better known secret societies, including the KGB and fundamentalist groups. A criminologist will discuss gang related groups.
                USU students and members of the public are invited to the museum any time during the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours. The first presentation at 10 a.m. features guest lecturer and criminologist Stephen Van Geem who will discuss criminal secret societies. Next, at noon, graduate Christopher Blythe will discuss Mormon Fundamentalist factions. At 2 p.m., Dr. Taira Koybaeva will discuss her personal experiences with the KGB and her life in Soviet Russia.
                The May 9 event is funded by the Office of Museum Services.
                The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252. Free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building. For more information, call museum staff at (435) 797-7545 or visit the museum Web site (www.usu.edu/anthro/museum/).