by Joel Lehmann

What is history?  It is the story of the past, of what is told and what is written.  At some point one realizes that this is not exactly the same thing as what actually happened. We are told history is written by the victors, we see revisionist history, and we have all probably encountered dry as dust history.  This is your chance to contribute to a history that will then be alive, interesting and as actual as you remember it.

My sabbatical project for spring 2009 is to write a history of the department.  This will mean a lot of time in archives, reading old catalogs and yearbooks, putting together details of the changing faculty, changes in major requirements, leading to what could turn out to be the stereotypical dry as dust history of the ho hum variety.  To become alive it needs stories, something to make the people come alive and the events actually move.

This is where you come in:  Here's your opportunity to help make history: think about your days at Valpo, the classes and professors you had, the things that made that time significant, the characteristics of your professors that made it into your late night conversations, any thoughts about that time.  Think about those parts of your education that "took," that stayed with you (at least for a while).  Think about how your perspective on that education has changed from when you were in the midst of it until now when you are looking back on it.  I am looking for the good, the scandalous and the funny, anything that will help future readers get a sense of what the department was and how it was perceived.

All stories fit to print will be included, all those not fit for print will be privately enjoyed and circulated among a select circle of friends. Send your reminiscences to Joel.Lehmann@valpo.edu.