Potential student inductees of the Nu Pi Chapter at Portland State University (PSU) in Portland, Oregon gathered on October 8 to hear professors, graduate students, and undergraduate chapter leaders share 
stories, experience and advice.  The event, entitled “Surviving  Political Science," was organized by the newly-revived chapter and was sponsored by the Political Science Department.

The chapter first initiated members in 1982. It won chapter activity grants in 2000 and 2004, but shifting faculty advisors and a gap in student leadership left the chapter dormant after 2005. In 2008, with new PSU assistant professor Bruce Gilley as faculty advisor, student interest in the chapter revived. Three juniors - Andrew Bridge, Diana Biller, and Corey Watson - stepped forward to revive the society. The revival of Nu Pi reflects surging interest in political science at PSU. Enrolment in the undergraduate major has more than doubled in the last five years. It also reflects a more engaged student body of younger, full-time undergraduates as the university's traditional strengths in part-time, mature students shifts. "Surviving Political Science" was Nu Pi’s first event in years, and demonstrates from its turnout of more than twenty students that interest in Pi Sigma Alpha on campus is strong. With the newly selected Executive Board, the chapter has embarked upon a year packed with events in an attempt to unify the political science students of PSU.

“Surviving Political Science” kicked off after dark in a packed classroom.  After an introductory speech by the chapter chairs, Dr. Gilley spoke thoughtfully about the need to keep an open mind and stressed the need for students to leave preconceived political notions behind as they embark on their political science journey. “Despite all your previous political engagement, as you progress as a political science student you will have the ability to make factual based claims and arguments to support new and previous beliefs," he noted. Students in the room were excited to hear this straight talk from one of their professors: “Dr. Gilley certainly made an artful case for the study of political science,” commented Andrew Bridge, one of the Co-Chairs of Nu Pi.

The event continued with words from doctoral student Heidi Busche, who also received her Master's degree from Portland State.  Heidi spoke about the importance of time management, and she shared experiences with the audience from her time in the department and the discipline. Busche also discussed the deepest fear of all students majoring in “poli sci”: what to do with the degree after college. She advised students to “look beyond law and political operatives as you think about political science.  There are many fields in the workforce that are realizing the value of a political science degree”.

After the talks Nu Pi Chapter conducted its first initiation ceremony since reactivation of the chapter. Andrew Bridge, Diana Biller, Corey Watson and Dave Montgomery were initiated as members of Pi Sigma Alpha. “Being a member of Pi Sigma Alpha has already introduced me to people I would have never known and provides a forum for great discussions” said Watson. Students stayed late, chatting with each other, professors and  the graduate students on hand to give advice and share experiences. 

The now somewhat larger chapter plans to follow this successful event with more activities.  October, 2009 will see the first talk in a series of brown bag faculty lunches, which will be alternated every month with a 
similar series focusing on people in political science careers.  Some notable speakers will be Adam Davies, founder of Portland’s largest public opinion research firm, and Kevin Easton, Director of the 
nonprofit Equity Foundation. Also on Nu Pi’s calendar this academic year is a service project with Portland Parks and Recreation.  The chapter plans on giving back to its community by helping in the rehabilitation of a local park in an  economically disadvantaged neighborhood.

Capping this busy year, Nu Pi will host a conference in May on social responsibility and technology, which will focus on the ethical and social ramifications of the use of technology in the political arena. Topics will include social media, web security, online voting,  grassroots organization and e-government.

Nu Pi is excited to be an active member of Pi Sigma Alpha once more, and plans to use this status to bring a greater sense of community to the political science department of Portland State University and the study of political science as a whole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(photo left) Nu Pi Chapter Initiates for the reactivated chapter! From left to right,: Dave Montgomery, Diana Biller, Andrew Bridge, Corey Watson and Professor Bruce Gilley.