From One of My Honor Societies

I have belonged to Phi Bet Kappa since College; don't agree with them on everything, but their latest newsletter has some interesting things in it:

State of the Arts & Sciences: April 2015  More Coverage Starts to Bloom  CNN host Fareed Zakaria’s new book, In Defense of a Liberal Education, has generated positive coverage of the liberal arts and sciences in the popular media this spring. Highlights include ABC’s “This Week,” the Washington Post’s “What the Liberal in Liberal Arts Actually Means,” The New York Times' “Starving for Wisdom,” and The Daily Beast’s “Does College Have a Future After All?” How does Zakaria’s case for the value of liberal education compare with our Arts & Sciences Are Key Toolkit? Share your thoughts here. The Art & Science of Freedom As lawmakers across the country debate the purpose of higher education, it is worth noting that Frederick Douglass (article by E. Thomas Finan) and Martin Luther King Jr. (article by Scott Newstok, ΦBK member and Past President of Rhodes College’s Gamma Chapter) had clear thoughts about the value of the liberal arts and sciences. Reflections by Douglass and King serve as powerful reminders for today’s educators, students, and policymakers about the continued importance of a well-rounded education. Image courtesy of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Make a Difference This Month: Poetry and Astronomy   April is National Poetry Month and Global Astronomy Month. Show your support for the arts and sciences by taking part in activities all month long. For example, tweet a poem to your legislators on April 30 using the hashtag #pocketpoem to call attention to the importance of humanities funding. Watch and share this video to help celebrate and promote astronomy. Key Notes Explore why the hashtag #IAmAScientistBecause rocketed to attention this month. Did you get the right answer to math’s version of “The Dress”? Is it of vital interest to have more anthropology majors? Business Insider says yes. What is the future of small liberal arts colleges? (National Arts & Science Initiative mentioned on The Diane Rehm Show) A new American Academy of Arts & Sciences Humanities Indicators report measures the health of the humanities in higher education. For children of all ages, Brain Pickings curates a list of picture books celebrating the lives of great artists, writers, and scientists. An Excellent Adventure On April 2, Phi Beta Kappa honored the University of Miami's Office of Civic & Community Engagement with our Key of Excellence Award in Coconut Grove, Florida. Check out key moments from the event here.