News & Events 2007-2008

Society of Skeptics Series Turns 30
April Line-up Announced

Blair’s renowned Society of Skeptics series – now 30 years old – evolved from the International Society begun in 1977, according to former history teacher Dr. Elliott Trommald who served at Blair between 1962 and 1985. Today, under the direction of history teacher and former department chair Dr. Marty Miller, the Tuesday evening program thrives and is considered one of the finest of its kind in the country. Other history teachers, including the late David Miller and Paul White who taught in tandem with Elliott, were crucial to the Society’s sustenance as well. Elliott and Marty reflect on the success of this storied series in the Winter Blair Bulletin in a feature entitled, “Thirty Years of Skeptical Thinking.” The article may also be read on-line by clicking here.

Marty Miller has lined up yet another exciting roster of Skeptics speakers for the month of April, including two alumni (see schedule below.) We hope you will join us for this Tuesday evening lecture series held in Cowan Auditorium, Bogle Hall, from 7-8 p.m.

April 1
Sas Carey
Director, NOMADICARE for Mongolia
“Taiga Heart Song” (short film/discussion on reindeer herders in northern Mongolia)

April 8
Taki Theodoracopulos ’55
Columnist London Spectator
“On the Freedom of the Press”
“Taki” Theodoracopulos has been a columnist for the London Spectator for 25 years. He is the author of the memoir, Nothing to Declare. A contributing editor to New York Press, Taki has been a columnist for the Times of London, the New York Post, and The New York Observer, and has written frequently for National Review, The America Spectator and many other magazines.
Venue Changed to Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts

April 15
Dr. David A. Robinson
Chairman, Department of Geography
New Jersey State Climatologist
Rutgers University
“The Issue of Global Warming”

April 16
Hagit Ofran
Head of Peace Now’s Settlement Watch
“The Chances for Peace Between Palestinians and Israelis”
(Special day, time and place: Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts)

April 22
Jefferson Wiggins, educator/author
“Another Generation Almost Forgotten”
Wiggins is an author, educator, lecturer and community leader who has led a most interesting life. Born in Alabama, he is the son of sharecropper parents. As a six-year-old, he witnessed the Ku Klux Klan at his home in the middle of the night attempting to kill his father. Jefferson enlisted in the Army as a teenager and received a field commission during World War II. General Patton named him one of the few African-American officers. After the war, even though he had only a sixth-grade education, he attended college and graduated in three years. Eventually, he earned a doctorate in humane letters and retired as a professor at Upsala College. Recently this 82-year-old educator was honored by the Danbury, Conn., community for his contribution to multicultural and diversity education. He is the author of Another Generation Almost Forgotten.

April 29
Post Graduate Forum
(post graduates discuss their goals and experience at Blair)

A full listing of the Skeptics programs is available here.

Posted 3/4/08

> Read About More Skeptics Speakers

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