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Show Harrison: Can language be trusted at all? by Kris Johnson The last question may seem somewhat absurd, he continued. Surely words are our servants, not our 1984 is one of my favorite books and since it is 1984 we really ought to say something about 1984" masters. After all, speaking So said James W. Harrison, SUSC associate professor of German, during the Faculty Honor Lecture at the SUSC Convocation Thursday. Harrison titled his speech Orwell and Humpty Dumpty: Can Language Be Trusted At All? He focused primarily on the meanings of words and what are we doing when is a conscious act. We can will ourselves to use words and speak or to ignore them and remain silent. We use words not only to speak but also to think, and there it is not at all that clear that we are their masters, he said. Harrison discussed different principles referring to the philosophy of words and language. we use them. Professor James W. Harrison looks ' for meaning in our language. As an example he used the term doublethink from the George Orwell book 1984. Doublethink is a kind of reality control and is defined as the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in ones mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. Harrison also used Lewis Carrolls Through the Looking Glass in which Humpty Dumpty says When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean neither more nor He began with Platos theory of language, which is primarily determined by his theory of forms: Plato insists that the truth cannot exist without correct names, for truth cannot be appearance. It must be absolute. Therefore, names which purport to describe true things must be absolute. He also said a word must be like the object it refers to and nothing else to describe it. If the object is absolute, less. then so must the word be absolute, and if that word is Do words ever approach an absolute meaning, a changed to something else then that something else no meaning which exists extramentally or are they always the longer describes the object. creation of the moment? Harrison asked. If they or The lecture series has been established by the SUSC for do how do stand exist extramentally, they things they function? To what extent do they influence us? Do we Faculty Senate to recognize and honor faculty members for scholarly and noteworthy works. make them or do they make us? Internship positions are available, but student interest is low by Lisa Laird Internship positions in Washington, D.C., are available to SUSC students. However, interest in the program has not been as encouraging as it could be, said Craig Jones, adviser to the program. There are three internships available: one for U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch during winter quarter, one for U.S. Sen. Jake Garn spring quarter, and another for U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen during the summer sessions. Students may earn college credit for the internships and are given a $600 stripend each month of the three month internship. Even with these benefits, students are slow to take advantage of the program, said Ken Chamberlain, a participant in the program last year. Chamberlain noted that the University of Utah and Brigham Young University have no problem getting 30 or 40 applicants for their internship programs and those schools do not offer a $600 stripend. The SUSC program requires a minimum of eight applicants for each internship position. In the past, Jones and Chamberlain said opposition to the candidates had to be recruited just to have a minimum of eight. Chamberlain recalled last year he had to recruit his own opposition to get the minimum of eight applicants for his spring 1984 internship in Garns office. If students do not give attention to the internships this year, Jones is afraid that the program may be discontinued. Students here look at the short term involvement (with the program), but they should consider the long term. Chamberlain explained that the student is right in the middle of the job market and can easily make contacts for employment. The students participation in the internship will also look good on a resume, noted Chamberlain. Jones said he is looking for juniors and seniors with strong academic records and experience in politics and political science. Potential applicants should also be able to communicate well and present themselves in a professional manner. Should students show significant interest in the program, other internships may be available with Norman Bangerter and with the Utah State Legislature, said Chamberlain. Gov.-ele- The program is well worth the personal expense to the student and the internship is a great personal and work experience, said Chamberlain. If the student cannot afford the D.C experience there is the opportunity of a state internship. Interested students may learn about the internship and the responsibilities that go with the job at a meeting today at 3 p.m. in the Science Center, room 306. If students cannot attend the meeting they can get more information from Jones or Rod Decker, Dean of Arts and Letters. Rafting club chartered James Watt highlights Convo schedule but funding questioned Schriock by Ralph The ASSUSC Executive Council chartered a whitewater rafting club last week, but Academic Vice President Steve Wright cautioned members to watch for clubs that might just be after money. The council unanimously voted to give a charter to the Whitewater Club, advised by Jim Aton, after agreeing to let the student senate worry about whether or not to fund the group. The club plans to give members whitewater rafting skills, partly through practice in the swimming pool, and plans several excursions around the Colorado Plateau. In the meantime, the senate Wednesday delayed vote on a bill that would give $750 to the Soccer Club so members could get more information on the clubs planned expenditures. Wright, also senate president, told executive council members they should get more information on clubs asking for charters. Im worried about groups like this coming in and chartering just so they can come to the senate and ask for money, he said, before approval was given to the Whitewater Club. Financial Coordinator Jon Christy noted that some organizations have received money from the senate in the past but have not participated in events like the homecoming parade. Social Vice President Bruce Hiskey said, however, I think our goal is just to look at the clubs and approve them. Its up to the senate to finance them. ITie senate will consider the $750 appropriation to the Soccer Club at its Jan. 9 meeting. A former member of the Reagan Cabinet, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, a civil rights activist and a media presentation are among the scheduled highlights of SUSCs winter quarter Convocation series. The first program of the quarter, slated for Jan. 10, will be a media presentation by Borg Anderson, a renowned photographer. Andersons presentation will use about 20 projectors to present his topic and his photographs. Robert Maxon, newly appointed president of the University of Nevada-La- s Vegas, will speak Jan. 17. UNLV faces many of the same problems SUSC faces. Since Maxons appointment, his goal has been to see UNLV continue to reach new dimensions. Maxon would like to see UNLV become more competitive academically and begin improved programming for UNLV students. On Jan. 24, the editor of Network will speak on the issues that face men and women in their new roles. Karen Shepherd edits tht Salt Lake City-base- d paper which is distributed throughout the intermountain West. Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior James Watt will address students Jan. 31. When Time put his picture on their cover, the magazine said Watts technical mastery of his job is positively staggering. The Cedar City Chamber of Commerce will cosponsor Watts visit. Maxine McIntyre will give a motivational . lecture on Feb. 7, by the Utah State and Federal Parks Commission. McIntyre, of Los Angeles, will speak on her extensive work with law enforcement agencies and the FBI. Pulitzer Prize nominee Richard Shelton will speak Feb. 14. A professor of English at the Shelton was also University of Arizona-Tucsonominated for the National Book Award. Shelton has been described as the voice' of the American southwest, said SUSC professor David Lee. Shelton has produced several books, his latest being The Selected Poems. Legendary civil rights activist James Meredith will address students as part of Black History Week at SUSC on Feb. 21. In 1966, Meredith led the highly publicized March Against Fear in Mississippi. On the first day of the march he was shot by a white man and left for dead. Cedar City native Todd Woodbury will give the next presentation on Feb. 28. Woodbury is part of the JensenWoodbury Duo. Woodbury and partner, Milton Jensen, have studied with some of the worlds great' classical guitarists, both in the U.S. and Europe. The pair will present some of their musical selections for Convocation students. The last speaker in the winter series will be George Goldberger, member of President Reagans Grace Commission, on Feb. 28. The Grace Commission studied efficiency in federal operations to identify areas for goverment savings in revenue and effort. |