Phi Beta Kappa: Symposium Sans Socrates
Mary Tetzlaff
Issue date: 10/25/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Any UD student looking to catch a good lecture, he doesn't have to look long or hard. A quick survey of the banners in Haggar offer a several occasions to see a number of diverse lectures, from Dinner and Discourse to Last Chance Lecture. This last Saturday, October 21, presented students with a different sort of opportunity to see some lectures. At the annual Phi Beta Kappa Symposium, a composite of professors and students gave a series of lectures, original poetry readings, and musical recitals.
The Symposium was a particularly unique prospect for students seeking to expand their intellectual horizons. Professors, usually fixed lecturing within their chosen discipline, showed the breadth of their interests and passions with lectures ranging into curious but interesting subjects. Dr. Waterman, for example, a professor of music gave a stimulating lecture on whether God did indeed play dice with the universe. Working from the famous Einstein quote, Dr. Waterman's lecture drew from sources such as Newton and Leibnez to contemplate the question of arbitrary choice in creation. Also, the Drs. Eidt, professors of German, explored the influence of angels in German culture. Their lecture, entitled "Do Angels Dream of BMWs?" extended into the disciplines of poetry, painting, and film.
Perhaps the most interesting and novel aspect of the Symposium was student involvement. Several students participated in the Symposium to the delight and edification of the audience. Keegan McCabe Hense presented three original works of poetry in the Symposium. After a short introduction on the relationship of the harp to Irish culture past and present, Catherine Hicks performed a number of traditional tunes on the Celtic Lever Harp. The Symposium concluded with a number of students giving a musical recital with instrumentation including trumpet, flute, and piano.
One student participant, Scott Laverick, whose lecture on the role of prophecy in Oedipus Rex opened the Symposium, was an adamant supporter of student involvement. He especially recommended it to those who are considering entering the education field. He thought it was important that students be "willing to be part of [a] scholastic debate" and be able to say with confidence that their "opinion has some merit." The Phi Beta Kappa symposium allowed for intellectual stimulation and participation from both students and faculty.
The Symposium was a particularly unique prospect for students seeking to expand their intellectual horizons. Professors, usually fixed lecturing within their chosen discipline, showed the breadth of their interests and passions with lectures ranging into curious but interesting subjects. Dr. Waterman, for example, a professor of music gave a stimulating lecture on whether God did indeed play dice with the universe. Working from the famous Einstein quote, Dr. Waterman's lecture drew from sources such as Newton and Leibnez to contemplate the question of arbitrary choice in creation. Also, the Drs. Eidt, professors of German, explored the influence of angels in German culture. Their lecture, entitled "Do Angels Dream of BMWs?" extended into the disciplines of poetry, painting, and film.
Perhaps the most interesting and novel aspect of the Symposium was student involvement. Several students participated in the Symposium to the delight and edification of the audience. Keegan McCabe Hense presented three original works of poetry in the Symposium. After a short introduction on the relationship of the harp to Irish culture past and present, Catherine Hicks performed a number of traditional tunes on the Celtic Lever Harp. The Symposium concluded with a number of students giving a musical recital with instrumentation including trumpet, flute, and piano.
One student participant, Scott Laverick, whose lecture on the role of prophecy in Oedipus Rex opened the Symposium, was an adamant supporter of student involvement. He especially recommended it to those who are considering entering the education field. He thought it was important that students be "willing to be part of [a] scholastic debate" and be able to say with confidence that their "opinion has some merit." The Phi Beta Kappa symposium allowed for intellectual stimulation and participation from both students and faculty.
Be the first to comment on this story