ISI and Liberal Learning

I've starting posting some thoughts on my blog about ISI's recently published reading list on liberal learning. Check it out if you're interested. I think Dr. Woods is going after this, too, from a slightly different angle.

F&A Conference a Great Success!

Our Faith and the Academy Conference last Friday came off very well, and kudos are due particularly to the MLA students who presented papers. I have not heard a single negative comment about any of the presentations or of the conference as a whole, but many Faulkner folks and off-campus guests (including our plenary speaker) have spoken very highly of the quality of the sessions.

Let's do what we can to keep our momentum going. Perhaps some of you (faculty or students) have gotten ideas for new reading or research projects from the conference. Don't let those wither on the vine! The rest of us will do whatever we can to support you.

Sobran on Abused Words

MLA students (and others), you should get a kick out of this article, and maybe it will make you think twice the next time you are considering using words like "reinvent" or "oxymoron" in your papers.

Upcoming Conference

The third annual Journal of Faith and the Academy Conference will take place next Friday, February 19, on the Faulkner campus. Our plenary speaker is Dr. Darryl Tippens, the provost of Pepperdine University. Dr. Tippens will give lectures on academics and the Christian life in both the morning and afternoon sessions. After his second presentation, a faculty panel will respond to the major issues raised in his two lectures.

This year will see the most conference participation yet from the MLA students. Six students are going to read papers. Their titles are as follows:

Emily Bradford: "Leisure: A Permanent Thing"
Brian Burnett: "Another Perspective on the East-West Schism"
Andi Jerles: "Liberal Arts Education: The Key to True Freedom"
Anthony Lamar: "The Portrayal of Sex in the Christian Society"
Joseph Rich: "Death and the Afterlife as Moral Motivation"
Preston Salisbury: "Christianity Against Grade Inflation"

All three of the MLA faculty will also be presenting papers.

The conference will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Lester Chapel.