The two-day symposium “Democracy and the Humanities” commemorated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) on Friday, Sept. 25.
The first day included a panel discussion about Loyola and NEH, crediting NEH with their role in advancing Loyola’s humanities program.
The panel discussed NEH’s critical role in the development of key programs, such as the Center for the Humanities, the Honors Program, Messina and Phi Beta Kappa. NEH grants have allowed growth at Loyola by funding faculty research that adds to the intellectual community and humanities curriculum. Thomas Scheye, distinguished service professor of English, stated, “Loyola meets the needs of humanities, and the humanities meets the needs of Loyola.”
Amy R. Wolfson, vice president for academic affairs, said the best ideas emerge from the intersection of humanities with both the sciences and social sciences.
According to Douglas Harris, the Messina program was made possible with the NEH’s grants. This unique program bridges the living and learning aspects of students’ lives through different classes in themes, such as, “Stories We Tell,” “Self and Other,” and “Visionary.” The Messina program focuses on discernment, community, and learning, and this combination fosters the holistic approach of Jesuit education through themes and course pairings.
Other ongoing projects made possible by the NEH for the Center for the Humanities include bringing productions from The American Shakespeare Company to Loyola. In addition, NEH has supported the Modern Masters Reading Series coming to Loyola, which brings nationally and internationally known writers to campus. This exposes students to diverse backgrounds and different genres. These lectures and performances enhance the academic community and humanities curriculum.
The “Democracy and Humanties” symposium highlighted the importance of the humanties in a liberal arts education and was a time for some of Loyola’s most important leaders to reflect and collaborate.
