Political Honor Society to Hold Induction Ceremony

Last semester, initial meetings were held in the office of Dr. Zhu by several students who expressed interest in his invitation to create a new honor society for the development of political science awareness. Now our university’s chapter, Beta Pi Tau, has gained approval from Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. This is the only honor society for college students of political science and government in the United States, designated by the Association of College Honor Societies as a “Specialized, Upper-Division” society. Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to juniors and seniors who meet the following criteria: they must have completed at least ten semester-credits of work in political science including at least one upper-division course, with no grade lower than a B in those courses. They must have achieved an overall GPA placing them in the top one-third of their whole class (i.e., junior or senior class). They need NOT be political science majors to qualify for membership. A swearing in ceremony will be held in October, so interested parties should sign up immediately. Honor Societies exist for several reasons. They seek to foster the intellectual and personal growth of its members, and also to enrich the communities in which they exist. The creation of a political science society is particularly exciting for UB, where the potential for dialogue and interest in international affairs are above average. Honor Societies are typically comprised of members who have achieved a certain level of accomplishment in the designated field. They are an exclusive group whose members seek distinction, and enhanced experience in a certain field. There are honor societies for every field of academics. Membership will become open in the Fall of next year. Benefits of membership will include access to grants, awards, and the formal distinction of membership, all providing tangible advantages