History honor society offers activities for honor students
These historians are looking toward the future for a fun-filled semester.
Phi Alpha Theta, the history department’s honor society that focuses on history, has about 820 active chapters in 50 states. The Delta Xi chapter on Utah State University’s campus is just one of those.
“I love the fact that we try to get people interested,” said Delta Xi president Jonathan Barney, a senior majoring in history. “We make history come alive.”
The society’s mission is to promote the study of history through research, good teaching and publications, according to USU’s Delta Xi Web site, www.usu.edu/history/undergraduateprogra/phialphatheta/pat.htm. It also promotes the exchange of learning and ideas among historians.
“It’s exciting to see the students become interested,” Sue Shapiro, history professor and the society’s advisor, said. Shapiro has been the advisor for two years.
Phi Alpha Theta was organized at the University of Arkansas on March 17, 1921, according to the Web site. Since that time it has grown to have more chapters than any of the other accredited honor societies holding membership in the Association of College Honors Societies. The total number of initiates since its inception is more than 200,000, the site said.
Barney said the society at USU has a lot of activities. They watch historical films, such as “Gladiator,” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” he said.
Barney said there is also the traditional Fright Night, at which time the society reviews the history of Halloween in the United States and in other cultures and places as well.
And, to the delight of history and political science students, the Delta Xi holds the Knowledge Bowl.
The Knowledge Bowl is a battle of wits and brains between the history honor society and the political science honors society.
Although the society lost last year by one question, they have high hopes for this year.
“This is the year to take the incredibly hideous trophy,” said Barney. “We’ll walk in with our heads hung but come out with them high.”
Being in the society benefits history majors.
“It will help when applying for scholarships for grad school,” said Scott Davis, a sophomore in history and English.
In order to qualify for a membership, a student must have had 12 or more credit hours in history with a 3.1 minimum GPA, and a least a 3.0 overall GPA, according to the aforementioned Web site. It is not necessary to be a history major.
For more information about joining, contact Jonathan Barney at jfbarney@cc.usu.edu or visit the society Web site.
-vramirez@cc.usu.edu