Southern Utah University’s Philosophy Club is in its nineteenth year. Traditionally the club meets once per week, though this has varied over time, and has slowed somewhat during Covid-19. In the past, we have had students select topics at the beginning of the semester, after which point we select speakers for the semester. Usually the presenters are SUU students and faculty, though sometimes we have speakers from other universities or from the university administration. Recently we had a discussion with a Biology professor about science fiction and its connection with philosophical topics. We’ve also had talks with professors about philosophical issues in, for example, art and economics. In addition to these talks, we hold social events like barbecues and bowling.
Our largest undertaking, however, is the annual SUU Undergraduate Philosophy Conference. This event is truly a team effort. Students help to referee paper submissions from undergraduates from around the world. They also prepare comments for the speakers and chair the conference sessions. This conference is a great opportunity for our students to encounter excellent work from undergraduates from other institutions and contemporary work in philosophy. It also gives them an insight into the work that goes into organizing academic conferences.
The club is student run, with oversight by philosophy faculty. The fact that students are able to work together with the professors rather than have the professors be in control of everything helps to build the relationship between the students and the professors. This enables a stronger philosophy program in which students and faculty all feel an investment in the club, and in the philosophy program more broadly.
We have involvement from students who are both philosophy majors and minors, as well as students who are from other majors, so sustaining the club throughout the years has never presented much of a problem for us. It is exciting to know that the club reaches beyond just the majors and minors and brings in other students who are interested in philosophy. Like many clubs and organizations, Covid-19 has presented some difficulties for the club. Transitioning to remote meetings has been difficult to get students to attend, but the club presidents have been coming up with creative ways to have meetings, including by starting a YouTube channel, where we’ve uploaded talks that we’ve had this year, and which we plan to continue using and even expanding in the future.
Our philosophy club plays a crucial role in our academic program. It gives students the opportunity to encounter philosophical issues in a casual, low-stakes environment in which they gain insight into issues that are not necessarily covered in their classes. This allows all of us to maintain a sense of curiosity about new philosophical issues. Through the conference, the club exposes students to a more professional philosophical environment. Finally, it enables students to build social and academic bonds with one another and with the faculty, which serves as the foundation of our program.
Gretchen Ellefson
Gretchen Ellefson is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Southern Utah University and specializes in philosophy of language. Gretchen co-advises the undergraduate philosophy club at SUU.
Savannah Robinson
Savannah Robinson is a senior majoring in philosophy and minoring in gender and women's studies at Southern Utah University. She is one of three co-presidents of the undergraduate philosophy club at SUU. She will be attending law school at Tulane University in the fall of 2021.
