History Club News

From the History Club:

The History Club will be holding our final meeting of the academic year on Friday at 1 p.m. We will be having a potluck afterwards, around 1:30 p.m. in room F304 (across from the Boardroom)

Students in 4th-year seminars: Remember the History Dinner which is on April 8. The dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $25.00. Matthew Laur, Samantha Pym, Jordan O’Brien and I (David T. Anderson) have tickets. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday April 1, though I don't have to submit final numbers until Friday (so a few days grace).

A final announcement is the last History Pub of the year, which will be held Thursday April 2 at the Bull and Quench starting at 9 p.m.

Reminder: Wenghofer speaks on racism and civic identity in ancient Athens -- Wed., Mar. 25, 10:30

A note on spring and summer courses

Dr. Mark Crane reminds us:

Courses with insufficient enrollment will be canceled in early April -- thus students who wait until the last minute to register may find that their course was canceled in April. Registering promptly (by April 3) is the surest way to ensure the course will run.

On Campus Courses:

HIST 1405: History of Canada (6 credits, May-June) Greg Stott
HIST 2155: Early Modern Europe (6 credits, May-June) Mark Crane
HIST 3716: Russian History to 1917(3 credits, May) Steve Connor
HIST 3717: Russian History, 1917-1991 (3 credits, June) Steve Connor

Distance Education:

HIST 2105: History of Medieval Europe (6 credits, May-July) Mark Crane
HIST 3426: England 1460-1560 (3 credits, May-July) Derek Neal

Wenghofer speaks on Racism in Athens --- Wednesday, Mar 25, 10:30 am, F307

From Dr. James Murton:

The final History Department Seminar Series of this year will feature Richard Wenghofer of the Classics program, speaking on "The Racialization of Civic Identity in Classical Athens."

Richard's paper will argue, contrary to received wisdom, that racism did exist in ancient Athens, and it emerged in lockstep with, and as an indirect consequence of, the evolution of democratic political structures and their concomitant social and political ideologies (full abstract below).

Wednesday, Mar 25, 10:30 am, F307

Refreshments will be served.

See you there!

Abstract:

Until quite recently there has been a general consensus among ancient historians that the concept of race and the dysfunction of racism did not exist in antiquity. More recently, however, some historians of ancient Greece and Rome have identified the existence of concepts that are broadly analogous to modern notions of race and have uncovered modes of behavior that can rightly be defined as racist. This paper seeks to identify the origins and evolution of racist ideas in Classical Athens. The main argument to be presented is that racist thought emerged in Classical Athens in lockstep with, and as an indirect consequence of, the evolution of democratic political structures and their concomitant social and political ideologies.

Spring term and Summer term courses, 2009

Students might want to keep an eye open for these course offerings during registration:

Hist 1405 Canadian History
Hist 2105 Medieval History
Hist 2155 Early Modern European History
Hist 3426 England from 1460-1550
Hist 3416 Russia from Kievan Rus to 1917
Hist 3417 Russian and Soviet History from 1917 to 1991

Nipissing University’s Second Annual Undergraduate Research Conference -- March 27th & 28th

From Genevieve de Bruyn:

Nipissing University’s Second Annual Undergraduate Research Conference is fast approaching and this is one opportunity you will not want to miss. On March 27th & 28th, students, faculty, staff and all Nipissing community members are invited to share in a celebration of undergraduate research. Students from across our campus will showcase their unique and diverse research through posters, papers and panels. This is a great opportunity for faculty and staff to expand their knowledge of what Nipissing University has to offer, and to show our encouragement for the hard work of student researchers.

Guests will have the opportunity to hear and discuss research on topics ranging from ‘Education’ and ‘Global Development’ to ‘War & Society’ and ‘Integrative Biology’; among others. The research topics are excitingly diverse, representing the truly unique nature of the research culture here at Nipissing University. Needless to say there is something for everyone in this two day showcase so we strongly encourage you to come, celebrate undergraduate research with us!

If you would like to register as a guest of the Second Annual UGRC, please reply to this email, providing your full name, your title or affiliation with the university (staff, faculty, student, alumni, guest, etc.), as well as an email address where you can be provided information updates as the Conference approaches. In addition please indicate whether you will attend the Friday March 27th evening events, the Saturday March 28th day of events, or both.

Space is limited so please register today!

Kindest regards,

Genevieve de Bruyn
Coordinator

Earl and Neal in dialogue -- "Cruelty in History: A Conversation," Friday, Mar 13, 2:30 pm, Rm A224--

From James Murton:

I am very pleased to announce a special session of the History Department Seminar Series, "Cruelty in History: A Conversation," with Derek Neal and Hilary Earl.

Derek and Hilary will consider the problems of understanding, studying, and teaching about cruelty, focusing on a range of settings, from premodern times to the present, with particular focus on Dr. Earl's research into twentieth-century war and genocide (abstract below).

Friday, Mar 13, 2:30 pm, Rm A224.

Refreshments will be served.

Abstract:
How pertinent is "cruelty" as a term of historical analysis? Is the historian who refers to a given custom, episode or individual "cruel" making a useful judgment, or one that obscures historical knowledge? In dwelling on "cruelty" in history do we sometimes run the risk of buying into the investments of particular audiences or interests? And how do we teach about cruelty in history without becoming sensationalistic or exploitative?