President's Column
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GAMMA THETA UPSILON Quarterly News September 2013 President’s Column freshman geography majors. Bob had retired from by Thomas A. Wikle teaching at OSU when I met him in 1989. If you’ve been involved in Although we interacted socially, I didn’t know professional conferences, much about his contributions to the department chances are you’ve seen or until I was involved in our department’s annual perhaps talked with some newsletter (Bob died in 2008 and Lucy in 2013). giants (legends) in our Each year we ask our alums to tell us about their discipline. John Fraser Hart lives since they left Oklahoma State. In helping to remains active in attending compile this information I was struck by the AAG meetings -- look for the number of students who sent stories about Bob distinguished and well-dressed (and the stories continue to be received five years gentleman wearing glasses and a bowtie. Over the after his death). Some described what they learned years I’ve been fortunate to meet a few others such from him but most offered examples of his passion as the University of Arizona’s Janice Monk while for teaching, enthusiasm for geography, but most on a field trip to Chile (organized by GTU Omega important, his impact on their professional and Omega Chair Richard Earl). Another was Penn personal lives. The story of Bob’s remarkable life State Geographer Wilbur Zelinsky, who flew into has emerged from those letters. I’m grateful to the Oklahoma City Airport to review my GTU’s chapter sponsors and their unselfish service department many years ago. I also have fond in hosting events, promoting high scholarly memories of conversations with Orland Maxfield standards and, most of all, serving as colleagues who served as GTU’s Executive Secretary from and role models for student leaders. 1973 until 1992 (nearly 20 years!). New AAG/GTU Travel Award Every department has a few faculty The Association of American Geographers (AAG) members whose work and Gamma Theta Upsilon are pleased to with students has announce a new travel award for students attending been especially the AAG meeting in Tampa, Florida and future influential. David meetings. Students who submit an application will Lanegran is a legend be eligible for a $200 award. Preference will be at Macalester College given to students who are making a paper or poster and in GTU circles. presentation. Note that a limited number of travel Dr. Lanegran has awards are available. Information will be posted served as a GTU on the GTU website www.gammathetaupsilon.org sponsor for 38 years! The Oklahoma State legend I knew best was Robert C. Fite, a charter 2012-2013 Chapter Annual member of GTU’s Chi chapter, founded at Reports and Honors Chapter Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) University Awards in 1947. Before joining our faculty, Bob flew by Michael Longan, 2nd Vice WWII reconnaissance missions with the U.S. Navy. President Bob and his wife Lucy felt strongly that students should begin their study of geography as early as Chapter reports for 2012-2013 possible. To support and encourage first year were recently posted on the students they established a scholarship for Gamma Theta Upsilon website. Gamma Theta Page 1 The International Geographic Honor Society GAMMA THETA UPSILON Quarterly News September 2013 Upsilon chapters have participated in a wide Lambda Zeta, Wayne State College variety of impressive activities this year. Service Lambda Upsilon, Grand Rapids Com. College is important to GTU chapters from volunteering Mu Alpha, DePaul University for roadside trash cleanups to local school visits and tutoring. Two notable activities include The awards committee also wishes to recognize raising awareness of genocide, on campus at the Delta Mu (University of Mary Washington), Mu University of Florida and raising funds for the Delta (University of Richmond), Eta Lambda education of girls and Women in Africa at Grand (Villanova University), and Gamma Lambda Rapids Community College. Several chapters (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville) as organized field trips including Emory and Henry chapters that did not fully satisfy the criteria for College’s trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto and receiving an Honors Chapter Award, but Northern Michigan University’s trip to visit the nonetheless, had an exemplary year. farm of a GTU member to learn about sustainable agriculture. Many chapters traveled to regional and The criteria for the Honors Chapter Award and the national geography conferences. Numerous Presidential Honors Chapter Award are available chapters sponsored speakers on their campus on a on the Gamma Theta Upsilon website. Share the wide variety of geographic topics including career criteria with your chapter and use them to set goals and graduate school panels. Earth Day, Geography for activities in 2013-2014. Awareness Week, and student activity fairs are among the many opportunities that chapters take to raise awareness of geography on campus and in the community. A number of chapters sponsored Geography Bowl events or trivia contests. Many chapters report holding two initiation ceremonies, one in the fall and one in the spring. Many chapters also plan activities in partnership with a campus geographical society. I welcome reports of several newly established or reactivated chapters, who Historian’s Column may not have had an opportunity to do much yet by Dawn Drake but are eager to start planning activities. At the heart of it all Gamma Theta Upsilon Chapters Every once in a while, I take helped to recognize the superior scholarship of some time to dig through the geography students by initiating new members. I archival material that GTU hope that these chapter reports help to inspire your has acquired over the years. own chapter as it seeks to plan activities for 2013- One can learn much by 2014. looking at the past. From time to time I will highlight This year eight chapters earned the Honors some of these moments from Chapter Award: geography and GTU’s past. I encourage all chapters to engage in such reflection. Epsilon, Missouri State University If you find a story in your past that you would like Gamma Psi, Kutztown University to share with other GTU chapters, please email me Iota Phi, University of Florida at [email protected]. There is much Kappa Upsilon, Texas State Univ.-San Marcos we can learn from one another. Epsilon Kappa, Macalester College Page 2 The International Geographic Honor Society GAMMA THETA UPSILON Quarterly News September 2013 This month’s look back at the past comes from a University of Chicago – in military uniform. So I letter that GTU member, Dr. Byron Middlekauf, learned the lesson of “helping others.” shared with former GTU President, Dr. Donald Zeigler. The letter was sent to Dr. Middlekauf in Of course when he speaks of “helping others” Dr. the late 1970s from GTU founder, Dr. Robert Buzzard is referring to his reasons for endowing “Guy” Buzzard in appreciation for a thank you the scholarships through GTU. Later in the letter note that Dr. Middlekauf sent to Dr. Buzzard he goes on to talk about his doctoral program regarding a scholarship he received from GTU. experience at Clark University: Before we look at some notable excerpts from the My dissertation at the Clark letter, let me provide a little background on Dr. Univ. Graduate School of Buzzard. While serving as a faculty member at the Geography in 1924-25, (I Illinois State Normal University, Dr. Buzzard had completed three years founded Gamma graduate study at Chicago), Theta Upsilon as had to be a “regional” or a “national “area” basis, so each phase professional of Geography (at that time) fraternity in could have a share in my Geography.” The “training.” Atwood in date was May 15, physical; Brooks in meteorology; Jones in 1928. In 1933, Dr. economic Geography; and Ellen Churchill Semple Buzzard was in historical Geography. After I refused to appointed consider the “Buzzard’s Bay area,” – Miss Semple President of chose “Cape Cod” for me, - and I had the most Eastern Illinois thrilling experience studying that peninsula. It is State Teachers quite a “tome.” If you are ever on the Clark College (now campus – take a look at an old fashioned Eastern Illinois dissertation in the library. It tells the story until University), 1925!!! where he remained until his retirement in 1956. It is due to his legacy at Eastern Illinois that GTU’s Dr. Buzzard’s description of life as a doctoral archives reside at the Booth Library today. The student at Clark in the 1920s might make us all Buzzard graduate and undergraduate scholarships think fondly (or not so fondly) back or forward to also bear Dr. Buzzard’s name today. Dr. Buzzard our own graduate school experiences. Through the passed away at his home in California less than a generosity of Dr. Buzzard and other GTU year after this letter to Dr. Middlekauf was written. benefactors, GTU continues to help students The letter contains some beautiful history of pursue academic interests in geography. For more geography as a discipline that I would like to share information on GTU scholarships or the people for with you. whom they have been named go to the Scholarships section of our webpage at Quoting from Dr. Buzzard’s words: www.gammathetaupsilon.org Long ago – back in those 1920s after World War I, I hope this look back into the history of GTU and - veterans had to “finance” themselves. I received our discipline has been as interesting to you as it my master’s degree in Geography from the was for me. I always welcome historical Page 3 The International Geographic Honor Society GAMMA THETA UPSILON Quarterly News September 2013 contributions of this type to be shared with the Newsletter or just the GTU Executive Committee.