2
CAMPUS NEWS
Convocation series iciclced off
monday witli two lectures
CRYSTAL DAVIS
Staff Writer
Professor Edward James,
author and medieval schol
ar from Reading University,
visited Meredith's c^pus
on Monday, September 29.
For a 10:00 a.m. lecture
on Monday morning, Jones
auditorium had a pleasant
turn out. JMies’ visit was
the first of many activities
to come in the next year
concerning the convocation
series for the medieval
studies department.
His first lecture was
entitled A Queen on Trial:
Was Frede^ind Really a
Serial Assassin? Meredith's
Brent Pitts, professor of
Foreign Languages and
Literatures, introduced the
lecture with the help of
Jeannette Rogers, an
English major at Meredith
wi^ a medieval studies
mmor.
In her introduction,
Rogers said that though
James is a wonderful
historian, and he is also
known for his keen eye
for the future seen in hi
novels on science fic
tion. He has also been
associated with the
making of television
series Babylon Five and
he is a well-known sci
ence fiction author. Her
introduction ended with
Ae question of whether
or not James is a
Renaissance man?
James answered this
question with a simple,
To, Tm not a
Renaissance man” and
dove right into his lecture.
He stated that not very
much is known about-die
period durii^ Fredegund's
reign and he enlightened
Author Edward James
Photo courtesy of Meredith Cotlege website
his audience with an exten-
sive bacl^ound of the time
duough tbe eyes of
Gregory, her son, who
wrote an extensive history
of the in^imous
queen.
There were few
queens of the time
and Fredegund was
the most notorious
for her murder,
scandal and betray
al. Some even
thought of her as a
barbarian. She was
accused of the mur
der of her husband,
stepsons, other &m-
ily members, a
king, a bishop, and
even her nurse who
she thought caused
her newborn's
death. She even
tried to kill her own
dau^ter for politi
cal reasons.
While most accept
Gregory's portrayal of
Fredegund's rudiless rule,
there are few diat doubt his
credibility. Those few may
claim that Gregory actually
just documented flavorful,
though horrible, rumors of
the queen. Others may
claim that because Gregory
believed almost every per
son to be damned to hell,
includii^ many of the actu
al clergy people, that he
believ^ Ae ruthless
rumors to be true and so
documented.
James also gave a lec
ture in Jones Auditorium
entitled The Lord of the
Rings and the Middle Ages
at 7:30>pjn. on Septemt>er
29.
As part of the convoca
tion series, on February 16,
2004, Meredith College
will celebrate its Founders
Day with a performance by
Rondellus, a medieval
musical group from Tallin,
Estonia.
Mereditii gets a new lionor society
HEATHER
TAYLOR
Contributing Writer
The Department of
History and Politics insti
tuted a new chapter of Pi
Sigma Alpha-The National
Political Science Honor
Society. The Pi Sigma
Alpha charter has been
highly anticipated by those
majoring in political stud
ies. Pi Sigma Alpha was
founded in 1920 and is rec
ognized as a member of the
Association of College
Honor Societies. There are
over 600 chapters in col
leges and universities
nationwide.
An induction was held
on September 12 at the
alumnae house, where
Mayor Charles Meeker was
the guest speaker. Mayor
Meeker spoke of the impor
tance of civil engagement
and being involved within
local government.
This year’s inductees for Pi Sigma Alpha.
Photo courtesy of the Department of History and Parities.
The Meredith College
chapter (Alpha Beta Zeta)
was established on
September 12, 2003. The
charter was presented to
Dr. Michael Novak as head
of the department.
The memberships were
awarded to the following:
Tricia Johnson, Margaret
Ann Cooney, Carol
Johnson, Erin Elizabeth
Callis, Jacqueline Schaffer,
Lauren Strawbridge,
Meredith Tuck, Diane Hall,
Paige Rose King, Rebecca
Lee, Sejal Patel, Adrian
Lovelace, Sarah Hook, and
to the following professors:
Barbara True-Weber, Jim
Piazza, Clyde Frazier. An
honorary award was given
to Mayor Charles Meeker.
The recipients of this out
standing honor receive a
permanent membership in
the honor society.
The awards were given
to those who maintained an
overall GPA of 3.5 and also
had completed at least 10
hours of political studies
with a GPA of a 3.0. If you
are majoring in political
studies and are interested in
how you can join this
honor society, please con
tact Dr. Barbara Tnie-
Weber, the advisor for Pi
Sigma Alpha.