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346 Bancroft Hall, Rock Hill, SC 29733 • 803/323-2209 • 803/323-2568 (Fax) |
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Pi Sigma Alpha is the National Political Science Honor Society. Winthrop University has a chapter of this organization called Mu Pi. Students are invited to join after they have achieved Junior or Senior status, have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher, completed at least 15 hours of courses in political science (3.0 hrs must be numbered >299) and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in those classes. We have one induction ceremony a year in the Spring semester complete with guest speaker followed by a light reception. The Mu Pi chapter holds office elections each Spring after induction.
Spring 2007 Member Induction, The Shack at Winthrop University Officers
for 2008-2009: Pi
Sigma Alpha Awards: In July of 2008, the Mu Pi Chapter was notified that they had received the Best Chapter Award from the PSA National Office for the fifth time. In August 2007, the chapter was approached by the African American Studies Minor about helping to sponsor an upcoming event with Dr. Robert Bullard, one of the leading experts on environmental justice and race and the environment. The University secured him as the guest speaker for the Annual Dorothy Perry Thompson Colloquium to be held in late March 2007. Pi Sigma Alpha agreed to donate $250 to help offset the costs of his visit. A copy of the event poster is enclosed. The chapter members agreed that this was the best way to put the Best Chapter Award money to use. Due to the overwhelmingly positive reception from the students as well as the University Administration, Pi Sigma Alpha members continue to offer Undergraduate Peer Advising each semester. Members participate in a brief training session to make sure they understand the general guidelines of the political science program and sign confidentiality statements. The chapter will continue to offer this special service each semester. In October, the chapter sponsored a Graduate School Workshop lead by Dr. Michael Lipscomb. Dr. Lipscomb serves as the Department of Political Science’s dedicated advisor for students considering graduate school. PSA purchased refreshments for both sessions and they were both well attended by not only political science majors, but a variety of students thinking about the graduate school option. Pi Sigma Alpha was also asked to co-sponsor a debate with Living Liberty, a new student organization, striving to educate college students about political issues. Student representatives from each of the political student organizations spoke on a variety of topics including the Iraq War, social welfare and taxes. The debate was also well attended and received very positive feedback. In November, a member of Mu Pi decided to offer an event to focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Mayra Gonzalez recruited other chapter members to help coordinate an evening discussion and brief film with Professor Harold Manasa from the Winthrop University College of Business. “Hamas & Hezbollah: The Faces Behind the Terrotorial War With Israel” was a great success. PSA received Cultural Event Credit for the event and turnout was great. The chapter also served Arabic coffee and humus as snacks after the movie. In January 2007, the chapter completed its community service project by devoting a Saturday to painting, general cleanup, and completion of some small projects for the Interfaith Hospitality Network of York County and the Rock Hill Girls’ Home. The two agencies provide services and sleeping quarters to the homeless and a shelter for abused females respectfully. The chapter purchased some painting supplies to re-paint a day room at Interfaith Hospitality offices and utilized a chapter member’s truck to haul off trash from the buildings. In February, PSA co-sponsored an event with The Freedom Center in downtown Rock Hill, “Analyzing Our Past, Examining the Present, Thinking About Our Future: African Americans and Politics in South Carolina.” The event featured some great panelists who led a thought-provoking forum on how African Americans have participated in South Carolina politics and how they can continue to do so with an even greater impact. This event, even though it was held off campus, also received Cultural Event Credit for Winthrop students and was well attended by members of the Rock Hill community as well. The spring induction ceremony took place on Sunday, March 25, 2007. The chapter inducted 11 new members. The Political Science Department uses the induction ceremony as a forum for the presentation of department awards as well. Mr. Doug Echols, Mayor of Rock Hill, South Carolina (and an alumnus of Winthrop University) served as the keynote address for the awards and induction ceremony. Every March the chapter provides decorations and set-up for the annual Model United Nations conference held at Winthrop University. PSA served as sponsors for the conference “Shack Party” that is part of the conference activities involving over 400 high school students from across three states. Members managed the snack table, were outside patrolpersons, and helped clean up the facility afterwards. For the end of the semester, PSA teamed up with Dacus Library to help sponsor two speakers at an event to highlight a former professor’s new book. Dr. Howard Federspiel, recently retired from The Ohio State University, Newark Campus, is a former professor of Political Science at Winthrop. He and Dr. Mary Schweitzer talked about “Islam in Central and Southeast Asia” as they are both experts on the topic. This event also received Cultural Event approval and was well attended by students, faculty, staff and Rock Hill community members. April was the month when the chapter hosted its grant funded activity on “Getting Into College Alone”. In fact, the event was held on Good Friday afternoon, a holiday weekend for some and a class-free Friday for students. Despite these factors, Plowden Auditorium seats 220 people and it was standing room only in the back for the panel discussion. The reception for the panel participants and attendees was held afterwards and thankfully there was plenty of food. We have received great feedback from the event and plan on continuing to work with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology to continue similar programs in the future. The chapter was also approached by the Global Aids Alliance organization to sponsor Ms. Monalisa Ngqisha to speak about her experiences as a long-time activist with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). This event was also given Cultural Event status and was well attended.
Stay tuned for more exciting events from Mu Pi Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha at Winthrop University!
Best Undergraduate Class Paper
Nominee for Mu Pi Chapter: Katie Farkas,
Best Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Nominee for Mu Pi Chapter: N/A |
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