College of Arts & SciencesAcademic DepartmentsHistory, Politics & JusticeHonorary SocietiesPhi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta
Nu Kappa Chapter at ONU
The Nu Kappa Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta was established at ONU in 1968. its members participate actively in professional meetings and sponsor campus events.
In March of the 2008-2009 school year, ten students from the Nu Kappa Chapter presented papers at the Phi Alpha Theta Ohio Regional Conference in Dayton.
ONU sent the largest delegation by far to this annual conference that offers students the chance to share their research with peers.
All of the presenters did a fine job of delivering their papers and garnered many favorable comments from the panel moderators. Events such as this one are valuable experiences for students, who have the chance to present before mixed audiences of students and professional historians.
Carol Wilson earned accolades for presenting one of the top papers at the conference. Professor John Lomax, who along with Professor Russ Crawford led the delegation, commented that, “It (Wilson’s paper) is one truly fine piece of scholarship, and the panel of external judges who chose it plainly saw its quality."
Papers presented: Andrew Adamus (SR History, Erie PA) presented his paper on “Andrew Jackson, Nicolas Biddle, and the Demise of the Second Bank of the United States,” Matthew Allen (SR History, Chicora PA) presented “The Death of a Dream: The Disappearance of the Campus Antiwar Movement in 1970,” Jason Bauer (JR History, Edon, OH) presented “The Irreconcilables and Senate Rejection of the Treaty of Versailles,” Ashlee Bell (SR Criminal Justice Clarence, NY) presented “The Path to Present Practice: The American Jury System,” Lydia Bottoni (JR Literature Maumee, OH) presented “Cool but Correct – and Covert: U.S. Destabilization of the Allende Regime,” Brian Hoefel (SR Social Studies Akron, OH) presented “A Divided House: The Lincoln Douglas Debates and the Election of 1860,” Samantha Lewis (SR History Berea, OH) presented “Perry vs. Elliot: The Battle over the Battle of Lake Erie,” Patti Stiger (SR Political Science Bradner, OH) presented “William Henry Harrison: Friend of Government,” Carol Wilson (JR Professional Writing Royal Oak, MI) presented The Lies of Aaron Burr and the demise of his Western Dreams,” and Benjamin Wollet (SR History Strongsville, OH) presented “Bias in German- and English Language Newspapers in Ohio, 1916-1917.”
The Organization
Founded in 1921, Phi Alpha Theta is the oldest and most prestigious history honor society. It’s mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. It seeks to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges and to promote and assist historical research and publication by our members.
Membership
To qualify for Phi Alpha Theta, undergraduate students must complete at least 12 semester hours in History (4 courses) with a GPA of at least 3.1 in History, have a GPA of 3.0 or better overall, and be in the top 35% of the class. Membership is not limited to History majors.
Brian Hoefel and Ben Wollet presented papers at the Clement S. Stacy Undergraduate Research Conference at Purdue University Calumet in March.
Hoefel presented The Illusion of Southern Nationalism and the Reality of the Civil War
Wollet presented "Disinterest in the Vaterland: German-American Newspapers’ Account of Bismarck and Foreign Affairs, 1877-82"
Both Hoefel and Wollet did a fine job as is the norm for ONU students on the road.
Faculty Advisor
Dr. John Lomax, Professor of History
