News & Events

Dear Philosophy Major, Minor, and Friend of the Department,

Spring break is over and we are headed for the home stretch of this academic year. Before we get too caught up in the end-of-the-semester busyness, I want to take this opportunity to share some news. First, we would like to extend our congratulations to senior philosophy major, Laura Johnson, for having her paper, "Sexual Ethics in Light of the Lived Body" accepted for presentation at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in California, and also at the recent Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters Conference at Ferris State University. Laura already presented her paper for the Michigan Academy and will present at the NCUR conference later this month.

Another one of our senior philosophy majors, Meghan Florian, has just had a paper accepted for presentation at the first annual GLCA Undergraduate Philosophy Conference at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana on Saturday, April 7. Congratulations, Meghan! This conference centers around "Philosophy and Tragedy" but papers on all subjects will be featured. Meghan is wondering if anyone out there is interested in going to Richmond, Indiana with her next Saturday, especially since she doesn't drive! The Philosophy Department will reimburse you for conference registration and travel expenses. Let me or Meghan know if you are interested.

On Tuesday, April 10 at 4:30 p.m., the Philosophy Department will host its last speaker of the year. Mac Gimse, Professor Emeritus of Sculpture and Art History at St. Olaf College will give a talk on "Art in Tibet" in the Maas Conference Room. Professor Gimse is not only an expert on the ways Indian and Tibetan philosophical and religious ideas are expressed in works of art, but he is also an internationally recognized sculptor in his own right. His sculpture has been exhibited in more than 70 colleges, galleries, and churches in the USA, and his work is included in collections in 11 countries around the world. Since 1989, the St. Olaf Nobel Peace Prize Forum commissioned him to create four different sculpture/poetry presentations for six Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, the most recent in 2004, called ROOTS AND WINGS, presented to Jimmy Carter, Nobel Laureate for 2002. Professor Gimse will also present some of his sculptures and read his poetry on Thursday, April 12 at 11:00 in the Herrick Room of DeWitt Hall.

Mac Gimse's visit is a special treat and you will not want to miss his presentations.

Finally, those of you will be on campus next fall will be registering for courses soon. Descriptions of our courses for the fall will soon be on our website. Please check them out.

Stay strong and focused as we head for home. See you in Lubbers.

Andrew Dell'Olio
for the Philosophy Department