History Honor Society to Host Regional Conference and Undergraduate History Forum, April 11

Westminster College's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, will host over 60 student-presenters from Pennsylvania and West Virginia colleges and universities at the all-day PA-West Regional Phi Alpha Conference and Undergraduate History Forum, 7:45 a.m. – 4 p.m., April 11. The student presentations, keynote address, and awards ceremony are open to the public.

From 8:45 – 10 a.m. in Patterson Hall, the first panel session will include research on the American Civil War, Discrimination, Language & Literature, Local History, Postwar Europe, Religion, and Women’s History.

The second session will follow from 10:15 – 11:30 a.m., with topics including America in the Early 20th Century, Feminism, History and Art, Policy & Politics, Popular Culture, Presidential Action, and World War I.

From 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., the third and final session will feature papers on American Response to Subversion, 18th & 19th Century America, French History, Genocide, Indigenous Americans, 20th and 21st Century Politics, and World War II.

Mr. Jason Wilson, historian for the Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee, will give the keynote address, "Perspectives on Public History and Historic Preservation” at 2 p.m. in the Witherspoon Rooms on the third floor of McKelvey Campus Center. An awards ceremony will follow.

Westminster College students presenting their research include Alec Fisanick, Andrew Henley, Jimmy Newman, and Alexandria Quigley.

Fisanick, a junior history major, is a son of Christian and Annette Fisanick and a graduate of Northern Cambria High School. He will present his research, "The Beginning of the End:  Mikhail Gorbachev's 1988 Address to the United Nations and the 1989 Eastern European Revolutions"

Henley, a sophomore history major, is a son of Mary Ann and John Henley and a graduate of Mohawk High School. He will present his research, "Bricks, Bottles, and Brawls:  Urban Unrest in New Castle, Pennsylvania"

Newman, a junior political science major, is a son of William and Jill Newman and a graduate of Council Rock High School. He will present his research, "Gorbachev's Eastern European Policy Comes Full Circle:  The Collapse of the Soviet Union"

Quigley, a sophomore history major, is a daughter of Timothy and Joan Quigley and a graduate of Bethel Park High School. She will present her research, "Un-American:  Arthur Miller's Influence on the House on Un-American Activities Committee During the Second Red Scare"

Westminster’s local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, Alpha Xi, was founded in 1946 to enhance the knowledge of and participation in the scholarly pursuit of history.  Members are required to have 16 semester hours in the subject and maintain set grade levels in history and all-college averages.

Contact Dr. Patricia Clark, associate professor of religion, history, philosophy, and classics and Phi Alpha Theta advisor, at 724-946-7248 or clarkpg@westminster.edu for additional information.

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