First, the football field is being watered like crazy and the grass has never looked so green. Second, the summer construction projects are winding down and the crews are packing up for other jobs. Finally, the "Ides of August" program is less than two weeks away.
I know very little about the history of the Ides of August, but I’m told that for as long as anyone can remember, the faculty has gathered on the last Friday before students return to campus to share their scholarship in a day-long event.
I attended my first Ides probably 16 or 17 years ago. For some reason, I seem to recall that it was held in old Waugh Hall and probably 10 or 12 faculty sped through 20-minute talks about their summer research, book projects, and intellectual curiosities. Most of it went way over my head back then, but what stood out even then was how excited the faculty got during the Ides presentations.
The Ides of August program is part celebration of intellectual life and part fellowship; it signals the end of summer and the start of another new school year. It’s an especially exciting program at Wabash, a teaching-first liberal arts college, because for that one day faculty can revel in their specific discipline.
And the magic of this liberal arts college is that all faculty can share the pride and joy a professor has for his or her very specific discipline or area of interest.
For example, we’ve been hearing from psychology professor Preston Bost for the last few years about his ongoing efforts to teach psychology differently, and his presentation — "Teaching Introductory Psychology with Modules" — will give us the opportunity to see what he’s learned over the last few years while tinkering with one of the College’s most popular courses.
Joyce Burnette, who received tenure in economics a year ago, spent last year doing research in her area of specialty. We’ll hear what she’s learned when she presents "The Wages and Employment of Female Agricultural Laborers in England, 1740-1850." Joyce spent months scouring old farm financial records across rural England, and it will be fascinating to find out what she’s discovered.
Latin American historian Rick Warner has adopted Chiapas, Mexico as a focus for his scholarship. His presentation, "(Hi)stories from Chiapas," will give us a first hand look at the people and culture of southern Mexico.
Some of the talks will focus on the art of teaching. Richard Lynch will present on the College’s Cultures and Traditions Course that has been adapted so that Wabash staff members can take part, the amazing discoveries coming from those classes.
Todd McDormand will speak on undergraduate research in the humanities, while Michele Pittard has been conducting researching on student teaching and whether it’s a good or bad thing for budding teachers.
By title alone, some of the presentations are a bit intellectually daunting: physics guru Dennis Krause will answer the question, "Quantum Mechanics Meets Archimedes: Is There a Vacuum Buoyant Force?"
Beats me.
There are 14 talks scheduled for the day. Scientists Eric Wetzel, Scott Feller, Richard Nelson, and David Polley will present, as will psychologist Bobby Horton, and mathematician J.D. Phillips.
And, John Zimmerman will end the day in what has become a traditional end to the Ides of August when he presents a multimedia extravaganza, this year entitled, "Digital Stops Along the Western Highway."
The Ides of August is a remarkable Wabash tradition that both celebrates serious academic, discipline-specific scholarship and a liberal arts appreciation for a life of the mind.
So, if you like to stretch your mind and can give up the time on Friday, August 22, join us in Detchon Center from 9 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. for the Ides of August.
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