The Department
of Language Literature and the Arts (LLA) |
Departments of:
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"Ancient History has close ties to the Exhibit Museum. Dr. de la Portilla often lectures on behalf of the department, particularly concerning new acquisitions. Currently, Dr. Marcus deGruttola heads the department and is only a few years away of retirement. He is know both for his grasp of Roman history and his excessive fondness for young women, the latter prompting two scandals in three years. Young Dr. Fernand Ashley has been recently hired
as an Egyptologist." He is under the supervision of Dr. Matthew
Silvera, the head of the Egyptology Department of Archeology. "An
excellent teacher, at present he is reclassifying and cataloguing items
in the museum and in the stone library section of Special Collections under
Dr. de la Portilla of the Library Administration.
- H.P. Lovecraft, "The Shadow Out of Time"
Given only and object, with no information on the site found, a competent archaeologist can state the continent and likely culture of origin, and often whether it is from early or late in a culture's history. A specialist in a particular culture can usually date an object within a hundred or two hundred years by a visual inspection, but there are lots of exceptions. Objects from previously unknown cultures can oddly be described in the context of other clues from the dig site -- for example, artifacts of a later, known culture found at a lower or greater depth, the depth and condition of a the covering soil, and so on. "At Miskatonic, no one knows more about archaeology than department head Dr. Ernest McTavish. Although his interest is in indigenous North American and Central American cultures, he stays abreast of world-wide researched. Francis Morgan, a graduate student, avidly pursues Arabian, Assyrian, and Egyptian studies. He is adept at dating Egyptian relics, a and has traveled to many sites in Egypt." Usually the Egyptian expeditions are conducted by Dr. Matthew Silvera, the head Egyptologist. "The department is small but growing Assistant
professors and staff often choose to ho on sabbatical for private research
or to join University expeditions. Perhaps only one third of the department
is at Miskatonic during any given semester." Antunes Howard Carter
(1873-1939), an Egyptologist, discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen
in 1922. James Churchwood (1892-1936) wrote and promoted The Lost Continent
of Mu (1926). Department Staff
AnthropologyWhat, in substance, the Eskimo wizards and the Louisiana swamp-priests had chanted to their kindred idols was something very like this ... "Pn-nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fAtagn." H. P. Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu." Cultural anthropology attempts to classify different cultures and their belief systems, while physical anthropology deals with ideas of evolution and the physical evidence of man's characteristics. Field work supplies information from clues associated with skeletons and skulls of prehistoric peoples, and information concerning customs, arts, languages, and religions of primitive tribes. Connections to archaeology are very strong in both areas. The anthropologist focuses on present-day humans and their ways, while the archaeologist concerns himself with the physical remnants of past cultures. In the 1920's the field suffers from the bias that those of Northern European stock represent the pinnacle of evolution and are the necessary yardstick with which to measure the rest of humanity. Miskatonic's department is strong in both cultural and physical
studies. Field studies and long expeditions are expected of even senior
faculty. Access to the Caribbean during the earlier years of the University
was convenient, and much work compared whites and blacks. The current
chairman, Dr. Abram Bethnell, is noted for his rather odd views of "parallel
evolution", and will quote at length from Sir James Frazer's excellent
field research to support this. Bethnell's colleague and philosophical
rival, Dr. David Scottsdale, has in recent years moved away from field
work, and now churns out copious articles defending dubious anti-Semitic
viewpoints.
... Just before dawn Arcturus winks ruddily from above the cemetery on the low hillock and Coma Berenices shimmers weirdly afar off in the mysterious east; but still the Pole Star leers down from the same place in the black vault, winking hideously like an insane watching eye ... H. P. Lovecraft, "Polaris." Astronomy is unique among the sciences in that much of the work is done by amateurs and is then accepted by professionals. Observational astronomy simply requires time, patience, and good note keeping. Astronomy by the 1920's has a good idea of the distance and size of the sun, precise measurements of the year, and hosts of planetary data such as sizes and orbital years. Pluto (1930) had not yet been discovered. Earth had been known to pass through the tails of two comets so far (Tebbutt's Comet in 1861 and Halley's Comet in l9l0) without ill effect. Comets are thought to be largely gas around a meteor core. Meteors are bits of comets or long ago broken planets, and meteorites are simply meteors that hit the Earth; both are stone with some iron and may form odd alloys. Of the eight planets, the following is known: Mercury is hot and perhaps faces one side to the sun all the time; Venus is much like Earth but with more clouds and more water vapor, and might show one face to the sun at all times, thus being a mix of desert and tropics; Mars is a desert planet which may have canals and life; lupiter has dark clouds over its lighter surface and hence looks striped, and has nine moons; Saturn is big and has nine or ten moons; Uranus has four moons; Neptune has one moon. The Astronomy Department at M.U. consists of one full professor, Dr.
Stephen Fitzroy, yet has a great popularity with the students. Although
the social aspects of observing may seem to overwhelm the science, it
is significant that over three quarters of the student body takes at
least one astronomy class before graduating. A young undergraduate student,
Morris Billings, is very active, coordinating local amateurs and running
the Arkham Astronomical Society.
BiologyThey are more vegetable than animal, if these terms can be applied to the sort of matter composing them, and have a somewhat fungoid structure; though the presence of a chlorophyll like substance and a very singular nutritive system differentiate them altogether from true cormophytic Jiu~gi H. P. Lovecraft, "The Whisperer in Darkness." Biology is the study of living things, plants, and animals (including humans). There are two main divisions, Botany (plants) and Zoology (animals), and several fields of study within these areas including Taxonomy, Anatomy/Cytology, and Physiology/Embryology. The large Biology Department at M.U. has many connections with the study of medicine, and Biology classes are required for all medical students. The early 1900's promise much about genetics and evolution, as well. Ecology is a word coined only a few decades earlier; many of the tools and concepts needed to study the web of life are yet undiscovered. The Department also has ties to a small research post at Woods Hole, on the Massachusetts coast, for study of marshlands and sea biological systems. Originally a small Coast Guard post, the government has now closed the site, and has offered to sell it to any worthy buyer. M.U. would like to set up a marine laboratory there, but has been unable to budget for it. The demands on the Biology Department continue to grow, and staffing
is a problem. The head of the department is Dr. Conrad Miller. His focus
is largely on anatomy and the implications of biological discovery for
medicine. He updates the curriculum and arranges seminars, but rarely
has time for his own research. His promotion of teamwork and cross disciplinary
work has made the department strong, and made possible its ability to
analyze unconventional phenomena
BotanyThe forerunner of modern botany was naturalism. Botany is a major branch of biology dealing wholly with plants. Within it are morphologists (who study the form and structure of plants), physiologists (who study the behavior and functioning of plants), and geneticists (who breed and observe the characteristics of plants). Dr. Homer Winside is expert on tropical varieties of many poisonous or carnivorous plants. He personally maintains the greenhouse attached to the Science Annex, caring for the rare specimens gathered during his travels. Miskatonic excels in two botanical specialties: algology, the study of algee, and mycology, the study of fungi. Sadly, bryology (the study of mosses) is almost entirely neglected. Robert Angley, a graduate student in algology, is often found at the Woods Hole research post.
Business and EconomicsMake money, money, honestly if you can; if not, by any means at all, make money. Quintus Horatius Flaccus [Horace] (65-8 B.C.). Economics is the theoretical study of resources and their management; business is the application of economic principles for purposes of profit. Issues of trade and money can be complex, and frequently depend upon personal or political reactions. Currently the department is neoclassical, applying mathematical models systematically to the study of resources and production factors (land, labor and capital) as the best way to satisfy demand. The value of anything is purely a function of its utility, and there are no inherent values (as there would be, for instance, in a Marxist application). Economics can be used for analyzing local markets or international trade issues. The department is involved in the scanty federal government information gathering and statistical surveys, but is greatly overshadowed by neighboring Harvard's theoreticians. The current head of the department, Dr. Anthony Westgate, prefers the
tried-and-true principles of mercantilism, with a dash of the trendy
physiocratic school and a sprinkle of later classicism. This mix boils
down to a Yankee pragmatism that aids greatly in dealings with Arkham
business leaders, but amounts to nothing in the world beyond. The small
department struggles bravely to keep staff and classes amid rumors of
consolidation and cutbacks.
ChemistryModern chemistry evolved from the black art of alchemy. Chemistry, quite simply, is the study of the nature and the possible transformations of material substances. With the advent of modem atomic theory, chemistry is undergoing a radical evolution in ideas. Chemistry can be broken into two wide fields: organic chemistry, which involves carbon compounds (the basis of earthly life); and inorganic chemistry, which involves all the elements except carbon. Biochemistry examines organic chemistry within biological forms, while physical chemistry combines chemistry and physics to understand the properties of materials and devises further tools for investigation. By 1920, ninety-two elements are known, without clear understanding of the periodic table. Nonetheless, advances in physics are rapidly providing new insights for chemists. At Miskatonic the study of chemistry focuses on practical experimentation and study, frequently involving explosives and toxins. Chemicals likely to be available in labs include hydrogen gas (very flammable), lithium (reacts with water to produce hydrogen and heat, thus exploding), sodium (an element similar to lithium in its reaction to water), sulfur (a key substance in gunpowder), chlorine (a very poisonous gas), bromine (not only chemically reactive, but a toxic gas), phosphorous (bums in contact with air or water), mercury (toxic, and very toxic if mixed with chlorine), and perhaps radium (radioactive). There is alcohol aplenty, of the non drinkable but very flammable kind, and many acids, including the powerful acids nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric. Nitroglycerin, an unstable but powerful mix of glycerin with nitric and sulfuric acid, is of interest to investigators, at least to those daring enough to try to mix it themselves. Dynamite, which is nitroglycerin soaked into a material such as sawdust or wood pulp, is much more stable and usable: Dynamite merely bums if ignited, but will detonate if shocked by blast or impact. Making homemade explosives is a plausible undertaking only for a skilled chemist. But chemists of varying skill levels are uniformly popular at parties, since they are able to turn the punch different colors and have access to almost as much alcohol and ether as medical students. Harmless frivolity is condoned by the department head, Dr. Harold
Shear. A mischievous man himself, his leadership and dynamic teaching
style have rapidly molded the department into a tight and effective group
of educators and researchers. Wheneva a fire or thunderbolt or explosion
happens in Arkham, someone from Chemistry soon runs up, hoping to get
samples.
Studying the languages which have for millennia influenced the West is not a light undertaking. Classical languages include Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, Ancient (or Dynastic) Egyptian, Aramaic, and classical and medieval Latin. Often languages are broken into classes, such as Hamito-Semitic or Aryan languages. Hamitic languages, which include Ancient Egyptian and Coptic, are largely extinct except for some Cushitic dialects in Ethiopia and some Berber dialects; Semitic languages include Hebrew, Arabic, Maltese, and Aramaic. The first full alphabet was Semitic in origin, and later evolved into the Latin alphabet. The termA~an derives hom the Sanskrit for noble, and refers to the Indo-European family of languages. Sanskrit is the oldest of this family, dating from as early as c.1500 B.C.; it evolved into Hindi, Urdu, and the Celtic, Germanic, Romance, and Slavonic languages. Latin, the ancestor of the Romance languages of Europe, is an Indo-European language. There is evidence of a proto-Indo-European language from which all the other languages arose, which might be Sanskrit, Hittite, or the strange Linear A and Linear B language found in Crete on clay tablets. The Dravidian, FmnoUgric, Sino-T~betan, Austro-Asiatic, and Altaic families of languages further complicate our understanding of the issue. Miskatonic's Classical Language Department is one of the best in New
England, and was the original focus that led to the founding of the Archaeology
Department. Chairman Dr. Aaron Chase is a skilled Egyptologist, and has
good acquaintance with most Hamito-Semitic languages. His colleague,
Dr. Warren Rice, is similarly capable with the Aryan languages. The two
have a long running debate over the concept of a single initial language.
Dr. Chase believes the Tower of Babel story to be an allegorical description
of an actual linguistic event, while Dr. Rice takes the more practical
view of several regional languages rather than a single origin, and ignores
the Biblical implications entirely.
EngineeringEngineering is the epitome of applied science, employing mathematical
techniques and physical theories to create new technology and worthy
structures. Although fueled by research and academic ideas, engineering
involves real-world efforts which require practical results. Common branches
include structural engineering, chemical engineering, and civil engineering.
Ties to metallurgy and structural materials studies are strong. The department is often involved in design and construction of scientific equipment for other departments, and in properly equipping University expeditions. When not busy designing better batteries for Arctic expeditions
or better alloys for aircraft, the professors delight in solving long
standing problems. W'thin the Archeology Department, for instance, the
perennial debate concerning how the Egyptian pyramids were built was
resolved to the participants' satisfaction when current department chairman
Dr. Lawrence Abbott had his students in structural engineering build
their own pyramid. They spent most of a month creating a pyramid across
College Street and onto the campus proper. Using limestone that they
quarried from beneath the hospital, their gleaming white edifice soared
sixty feet high before it was dismantled after Homecoming, broken up,
and sold to the Boston and Maine as roadbed.
EnglishHe lies below, correct in cypress wood, And entertains the most exclusive worms. Dorothy Parker, "Epitaph for a Very Rich Man." The English language is a rich and flexible tool, often rendered difficult by a New England accent. Asking directions to Worcester or Narragansette always reveals the unique diversions possible between English orthography and Down East style pronunciations. The language belongs to the Aryan family, evolving from West Germanic. The expansion of Christianity from Europe and across the world carried English to many regions, and now it is second only to French as an international language. Classes focus on composition and the genteel expression of ideas, the practice of rhetorical technique, and the study of classic Greek, Latin, English, and American models and expression: (Decent spelling, grammar, and punctuation are important entrance requirements, not matters for remedial teaching within the department.) The essay and epistolatory essay are thought the natural literary forms for gentlemen. Rumors that English is the easiest major at M.U. are not exaggerated, for the department more applauds perception than it seems to foster it. Graduates most often take teaching positions. Chairman Dr. P. G. Eastman is often absentminded and indecisive, and the department as a whole lacks focus and purpose. Dr. Albert Walmarth teaches interesting courses on satire and on the
standards of literary expression, while graduate students and three instructors
are hired on a yearly basis to teach the fundamental classes required
for graduation in all majors. The weekly student newspaper, the Miskatonic
University Crier, is overseen for content and form by Dr. Swansom Ames,
who also manages the small Miskatonic University Press.
Fine ArtsThis department is diverse. One area of study is art history, which examines works not only for their aesthetic merit, but also in terms of their historical context and influence over time, for great art reflects people's perceptions of the world around them. A necessary component for a student is the creation of an aesthetic standard; here many find Ruskin and Pater increasingly old-fashioned. Among the media studied and thought important in this time are oil painting, fresco, printmaking, sculpture, and (thanks to William Morris) clothing and tapestry. Architecture is studied and taught, but the application of it is thought of as a profession, like Law or Medicine, and Miskatonic has no School of Architecture. The Representational Arts Department at Miskatonic is almost entirely supported from gifts and bequests by Arkham patrons of the arts. Only a few students major in Representational Arts, and most of those emphasize the history of art, typically graduating and going to work at New England galleries and museums. M.U. maintains an Artist-in-Residence, currently Michael Fisher, and the University commissions a limited number of original paintings and sculptures each year. The department shares in the choice of commissions. The current head of the department is Dr. Arthur Goddard, a Beaux Arts-era architect who lacks an atelier.
Geography
- H.P. Lovecraft "At the Mountains of Madness"
Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.) founded the concepts of latitude and longitude for delineating the globe. While latitude could be determined using the stars as references, longitude required accurate time fixes on the sun. The development of accurate watches furthered navigation but it wasn't until 1884 that a unified system was accepted, one which placed Greenwich, England as the Prime Meridian, the zero reference point for longitude. This aided geography in its navigational and industrial aspects, and geography is still a significant part of resource and settlement survey work. Several schools of thought exist within geography, breaking down loosely into nature's influence on man, man's influence on nature, differentialism of geographic features, and looking at original (visual) landscape and how time has affected it. Kant in 1781 stated that (paraphrased) geography is the same as history, save that it works with phenomena in space instead of time. Miskatonics's department is active in all aspects of geography, from its work in measuring rainfall and temperatures throughout New England to its groundbreaking cartography with remote expeditions to regions its diverse as the Amazon basin and Antarctica. Current department chair Dr. Earl Fairwright concentrates more on historical inquiry and handling student examinations, but generously gives the younger staff free reign (and some grant money) to join in the expeditions run by other departments.
MathematicsGilman came from Haverhill, but it was only after he entered college in Arkham that he began to connect his mathematics with the fantastic legends of elder magic. Something in the air of the hoary old town worked obscurely on his imagination. H.P. Lovecraft, "The Dreams in the Witch-House." Mathematics is fundamental to all sciences. It is a pity that people often perceive it as being boring. Nonetheless, its interdisciplinary nature allows Miskatonic's mathematicians to poke their noses into most university matters. Pure math includes arithmetic, algebra, geometry (Euclidian or not), and analysis (including calculus), while applied math considers probability and statistical analysis. Not to come for a decade and more are information theory and game theory. Miskatonic's department has always been strong in theoretical math,
especially topology, non-Euclidian geometry, and multi-dimensional geometry.
(Euclidian geometry deals with 3-dimensional space; non-Euclidian space involves
regions where parallel lines meet, and some lines such that there are no possible
parallels to them.) The current chairman, Dr. Hiram Upham, works hard to uphold
and expand the department. His is the only tenured position. Most teaching
duties are handled by several associate professors and by a phalanx of eager
graduate assistants, but several mathematical savants who live near Arkham
also sometimes teach graduate seminars in recondite mathematical topics.
MedicineThe course in Anatomy is also expanding its work and adding to its usefulness by the utilization of cross sections of the human body. Topographical Anatomy will by this means be stamped more indelibly on the minds of students from the Boston University Annual Report of the Dean of the School of Medicine, 1920. Medicine is one of the oldest arts of mankind, descending circuitously from the practices of tribal shamans, herbalists, village healers, and barbers into the twentieth century's well organized profession. The earliest evidence of formal medical practice was the Neolithic art of trepanning, or boring holes into the skull to release evil spirits. In all ages, treatment has been empirical (try it and see if it works) or magical (involving the evocation of mystic power, gods, and the realm of faith). Only since the 1870's have medical and public health procedures become well enough informed by science that the success of treatments could be predicted in advance. The Hippocratic Oath pledges that the doctor will do his best to heal, and do no harm. Miskatonic encourages personal attention to patients and an understanding of how they live and work. Much of modem medicine has begun to draw from biology and chemistry, and medical students are required to pass many of these courses. The School of Medicine teaches medical theory and its practical application, and provides a protective setting for learning the skills of diagnosis and preventive care. Surgical intervention is also taught, as are laboratory procedures in connection with pathology, the study of diseases, and basic forensic evidence. Miskatonic has a seven-year medical program that begins with a four-year Bachelor's degree in either Biology or Chemistry. Successful applicants then enter the three-year medical degree program. This culminates with the awarding of an M.D. and, following an internship, the right to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The medical school's faculty and students have great affection and respect for Dean Chester Armwright, who has taught doctors across New England. Day-to-day decisions fall to Dr. Aaron Thurber, a forensic specialist whose attention to student problems has earned him a reputation as a softy. Thurber has invited a Chinese colleague, Dr. Ezekiel Lee from the Methodist hospital in Wuhan, to deliver a seminar on the novel art of acupuncture. Lee claims that this strange discipline represents an empirical method of quieting the nervous system, and is one that is independent of superstition. Most of the faculty are implacably hostile to such alternative practices. Thurber has made Lee's presentation of acupuncture an unpublicized graduate seminar credited for only an hour, though the demonstrations and study materials are elaborate and extensive. In 1919, Miss Susan Hodges was the first female premed student allowed
to enroll at M.U. Now nearly four percent of premed students are females aiming
at an M.D.
Medieval MetaphysicsDepartment Staff
He may be found in the halls of Peaslee Psychological Clinic; Greenwood Home Annex in room 252 or in his office, DRSTR-3318, in the Sanitarium. Quote: "How are we feeling today? Better?" MetallurgyThe science and technology of metals includes refining methods, the analysis of metallic structures, and the techniques of alloying metals. A few metals such as gold and silver are non reactive and thus found as pure deposits, but most metals combine with other elements, and occur in nature as minerals. Alchemists and metallurgists have long sought better techniques for the extraction of ores and creation of alloys. Their successes define historical periods such as the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. Dr. Dewart Ellery is the current department chair. His latest interest
is the investigation of meteorites (meteors that survive passage to the ground).
A chance reading of an old text has suggested to him that rare ores might be
earned to Earth in this way, enabling production of mythically strong metals,
as claimed in stories of swords that were unbreakable. In the course of his
investigations he has come up with novel improvements in smelting and steel
welding; the University is content to fund his continued research and reap
the rich benefits of his commercial discoveries.
Modern HistoryThose who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. George Santayana (1863-1952) The writing of narrative history began in Greece. Although many events are corded before then in many cultures. Thucydides's Peloponnesian Wars represented an unprecedented objectivity and sensitivity to the cause and effect of events, and it set a standard toward which historians of every era since then have striven. At Miskatonic, departmental researchers attempt not only to establish the factual record and create a context for understanding, but in conjunction with the Library's excellent collection of Colonial letters and manuscripts the department conducts a variety of studies in folklore and local custom, including gramophone recordings of songs, stories, vocabulary, and pronunciations. To the current department head, Dr. Martin Fen, this sort of study is more,
since history is something that has happened in Europe since 1789. (To his
credit, he does teach a parallel course in U.S. diplomatic history.) Such U.S.
topics as the Westward migration, the role of immigrants, slavery and race
relations, and even the Civil War he relegates to colleagues, as areas remote
from sufficient intellectual rigor. He long carried on a voluminous correspondence
with Hans Delbruck.
Modern LanguagesAs a department, Modern Languages teaches verbal and literary comprehension of tongues other than English. In this era, this effectively means the most important modern European languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. French is noteworthy as the international language of diplomacy and commerce, often known where English is not. French and German together are the preeminent languages of science. All students are expected to take at least two semesters of one foreign language (up to the 200 level) to fulfill graduation requirements. The current department head, Dr. Allen Peabody, is an expert in the
Romance languages. In most years the department manages to sponsor at least
one guest instructor in more unusual languages. Presently, Russian is taught
by visiting Dr. Nicholai Stolpa (who is also circulating a small collection
of manuscripts penned by a Czech unknown, F. Kafka), and Dr. Moarnar Shalad
is a visiting professor of Arabic and Urdu. These are opportunities rarely
offered even in the most prestigious of American universities.
MusicThe playing grew fantastic, delirious, and hysterical, yet kept to the
qualities of supreme genius which I knew this strange old man possessed. Music as a career may involve performance, but the study of music also includes music theory and composition, music history, and bar-by-bar analysis of existing works. Westem music is driven by harmony, the pleasing interaction of tone and discord. Music in other parts of the world is often more rhythmically based and often establishes a complex melodic structure using only a single instrument or voice; Chinese music takes this to an extreme with works depending on only a single note (the huang chung), from which an entire pentatonic scale develops. Rhythm is the original form of and the universal element of music, traceable from the earliest forms of Sumerian temple ceremonies (c. 4000 B.C.) to the music for ancient Greek drama to the Gregorian chant. As presently used in the United States, the term classical refers to several periods (renaissance, baroque, romantic, modem) identifiable by certain orchestral forms, and distinguished by a predominantly serious or earnest emotional intent. Popular contemporary music, on the ocher hand, includes various dance tunes, sentimental and love ballads, marches, and novelty tunes. Genre music by rural whites (hillbilly or country), rural blacks (blues), and urban blacks (jazz) are usually looked down upon, but have become increasingly accepted with the rise of recorded popular music. None of these latter forms are explored at Miskatonic, though individual composers sometimes draw upon musical elements from them. While the Music Department is relatively small, a robust number of clubs and perfomance groups are related to the department. Beyond the large introductory classes, the department's upper division course load is mostly small seminars on specific topics relating to the guest performer or performers currency in residence. The only pendent faculty member is department coordinator Dr. Robert Dutresne. His secretary is Miss Alicia Thomas. Many private instructors work through the department, however, and they
often earn their livings from the small local performance groups. M.U. sponsors
at least one Performer-in-Residence, traditionally a second chair from the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. The university boasts a fine chamber ensemble of
about twenty members, and a lively informal jazz dance band. It is searching
for funds to construct a large concert hall, in preparation for a symphony
orchestra. There are also several loosely knit choruses, perhaps a dozen outstanding
soloists, and an annual Shubertian lieder contest well regarded throughout
New England. Local churches also represent a rich vein of quality musical performers.
NursingNursing is an old skill, but a recent profession. Ancient records from medieval China, India, Greece and Rome suggest nursing was practiced extensively. In later times nursing was primarily seen as a Christian duty and practiced largely by monastic orders. The field was revolutionized in 1860 when Florence Nightingale (at the request of the Secretary of War) organized and led a band of nurses for the British in the Crimean War. Upon her return to England she founded a training school with a system that required a trained matron with undisputed authority over all the nursing staff, a strong course of body theoretical and practical training, and a home attached to the hospital for moral and spiritual training. This system is largely in use today, and because of her efforts nursing has expanded and become professionally recognized. Nursing schools have only existed in the U.S. since 1870, and the Registered Nurse (RN) requirements were only established (on a state-by-state basis) starting in 1903. Specialties in nursing include general nursing, sick children, fevers and infectious diseases, and mental health. Nursing is a respectable job, and is seen as a good profession for women (there are currently no male students at M.U.). Nurses spend more time with patients than doctors, and do most of the routine health care required during a convalescence. Their training builds a methodical outlook with an attention to detail, and a good RN with a few years' experience is on par with a general practitioner for most matters. Although Dr. Lloyd Johnston is the official head of the department' he has
litHe contact with the student body, and most students prefer to see the head
nurse for any questions or problems. The department provides a baccalaureate
degree within four years, and has an RN extended program for those seeking
to continue in the field. The Nursing program provides training similar to
that received by pre-med students, but neglects most of the surgery and pharmacy
aspects that aspiring doctors receive. Students must take background courses
in chemistry, biology, and health during their first two years, in addition
to elective courses within the other Schools. The third year consists almost
entirely of Nursing courses, followed by a final year of clinical nursing experience
(similar to an internship) at St. Mary's. Nurses wishing to become RN's may
take the extended program for an additional year.
Philosophy"The study of human experience and its significance. It attempts to critically evaluate knowledge as a whole, including definitions of what philosophy itself is. There are four main areas of inquiry, beginning with logic (formal argument structure), extending with epistemology (the theory of knowledge), and axiology (the theory of value), and reaching metaphysics, the discussion of the ultimate nature of reality. Aesthetics and ethics are considered fields under axiology." Antunes. The unexamined life is not worth living to a human. attributed by Plato to Socrates. Philosophy is the study of human experience and its significance. It attempts to critically evaluate knowledge as a whole, including definitions of what philosophy itself is. There are four main areas of inquiry, beginning with logic (formal argument structure), extending with epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and axiology (the theory of value), and reaching metaphysics, the discussion of the ultimate nature of reality. Aesthetics and ethics are considered fields under axiology. Popular current trends include Kantianism, a theory which suggests that "that which cannot be experienced cannot be known" (a dangerous philosophy for investigators), and pragmatism, which requires that theories be testable and involve action to have any meaning. Phenomenology considers the subjective effect of the observer in describing reality. Logical positivism discards ethics, metaphysics, and religion in favor of logic, math, and science. It is thus a pity that Dr. George Kilbraith, the current department chair, decries philosophers more recent than Aquinas. Reluctantly teaching a rather confusing set of courses in formal logic, he relies on younger instructors to handle the higher level courses. Miskatonic traditionally attracts the more idealistic young philosophers. Their classes occasionally turn into lively spectacles with sessions on the Statue Lawn, reenactment of the death of Socrates, and other innovative teaching. ... For who could foretell the conditions pervading an adjacent but normally inaccessible dimension? H. P. Lovecraft, "The Dreams in the Witch-House. "Physics evolved from philosophy, blooming in the Renaissance with the growth of mathematics. The physics of the 1920's is strongly based on the ideas of Newton, but twentieth century developments such as relativity and quantum theory have shaken long held beliefs that all phenomena can be described and understood. Physicists are traditionally skeptics, disbelieving that which cannot be measured or replicated. But subtle and startling events around Arkham suggest astonishing conclusions: While most American universities neglect occult physics, Miskatonic soon will be at the forefront. The current chairman, Dr. Manly Hyde-Simmons, favors studies in meteorology instead of diversions into particle physics or quantum mechanics, and is supported in this by Dr. Donald Atwood. There will be no course in radioactivity until Hyde Simmons and Atwood retire. The department is also famous for keeping its graduate students for seven to ten years, almost as indentured servants, before grudgingly granting their doctorates. Consequently, older graduate students are dispirited and gloomy about their futures. But there are not many jobs for physicists anywhere in the world, and so they stay, disconsolate. The younger graduate students are vital and enthusiastic, and have witnessed for themselves some extraordinary recent events in the area. When Atwood retires, the department will suddenly blaze with activity, and become famous among its American peers.
Psychology & SociometricsMuch controversy surrounds these studies. Their methodology appeals to scientific rationality, but their postulates often cannot be proven by experimentation, even though experimental psychology is the leading academic branch of psychology in the United States. Clinical psychology is of very limited adoption and acceptance, and often the only clinical psychologists in a small state are at the state asylum for the insane. Both psychology and sociometrics are seen by most academicians as being descriptive and anecdotal, and not rigorous disciplines that is, much more like anthropology than like physics. Psychologists study individual behavior, especially abnormal behavior that clashes with society or social norms in some sense. They use a variety of verbal and scientific techniques. Department Staff
ReligionIt was painfully patent that Wilbur had come to believe intensely in certain facets of the ancient primitive credos, particularly that there were contemporary survivals of the hellish Ancient Ones and their worshippers and followers; and it was this, more than anything else, that he was trying to prove. H. P. Lovecraft and August Derleth, "The Gable Window." The study of religion covers a variety of subjects, from the subtle internal
exploration of personal faith to anthropological study of specific religious
groups. Spiritual traditions, the Higher Criticism, comparative religions,
epistemology, mysticism, zealotry, and the Great Awakenings in the United States
are all grist for this department. In the community, it often stages intellectual
events. Septic debates such as Creationism versus Evolution are popular, as
are reports on researches into the roots of modem occultism, and dramatic readings
from the King James Bible or the Book of Common Prayer. The Department of Religion
is one of the most vibrant on campus, and a sturdy reassurance to crusty Arkhamites
that Jazz Age youngsters have not totally lost their way.
ZoologyPhysiological experiment on animals is justifiable for real investigation, but not for mere damnable and detestable curiosity. Charles Darwin (1809-1882), private letter. An area of biology, zoology is the comparative study of animals. Zoologist
Dr. Percy Lake is well connected in Boston society, and is able to fund frequent
expeditions to various parts of the world. Graduate zoologists at Miskatonic
are thus able to get extensive field research, and they routinely co-author
important papers in international zoological journals. Over considerable faculty discussion and objection, this program was established
to allow cross-fertilization of ideas between departments. It makes possible
new majors, available to undergraduates and graduates alike.
Physical EducationViewed as important to the defense of the nation since the wars of the Greek city-states, physical education (particularly team sports) is also thought by most to impart valuable moral lessons that build the characters of young men and women. Miskatonic's Physical Education Department does not offer a major, but provides
a variety of enjoyable classes for one quarter or half a credit, to encourage
the physical fitness of the student body. Donald Kanum is the department head.
M.U. hires many instructors for one- or two- year periods to handle the classes,
which include programs in gymnastics, team sports, boxing, and a novel class
in yoga (the only one with academic standing in New England). The goal of yoga
is union, to free the mind from attachment to the senses and to bring the student
to a state of oneness or self harmony. Yoga courses are popular relievers of
stress, especially among philosophy and religion majors. The Board of Deans
consider the sport of wrestling to be inappropriate and unseemly for University
students.
WRESTLING TEAM
He came to the university from a middle class family of Boston's suburbs, his tuition being paid by an elderly aunt. The Alley Family is spread around the USA, primarily in Virginia and Kentucky. The family moved to Boston because of business interests. Mr. Alley is looking to better himself by improving his intellect, his body, and his ability to earn a living. (Rogers Alley, University of Alabama Birmingham.) Miskatonic runs an unusual field research semester, intended primarily for Biology majors interested in marine studies and for students interested in seafaring careers. Such work upholds the traditions of the Omes and Derbys, and reflects the great heritage of Miskatonic. The semester includes class work, four weeks of study at Woods Hole, and six weeks at sea on the halyards of the Orne or the Derby, two Arkham-based sail-rigged merchantmen (with auxiliary diesel engines) that ply the eastem seaboard. Instead of tests, the students conclude the maritime semester with two weeks in Halifax, Nova Scotia, observing port and cargo procedures. Physically demanding and mentally challenging, this program accepts five students each semester. Special seminars teach ocean studies (Biology Department), navigation and weather (Astronomy and Physics Departments) maritime history and culture (Modem History Department), and maritime law and customs procedures (School of Law). Graduates often enter the Merchant Marines and quickly brevet to officer status; this likewise provides a good background for students entering the import-export business. Basic StudiesBasic Studies is a two-year program at M.U. offered to students who do not meet the general qualifications required by the admissions board. Significantly, a high proportion of students in this program come from families of means. During the two years the students must take a fixed curriculum of English, history, Latin, and mathematics. After a successful first year, students in this department may also take one or two classes from other M.U. departments. At the conclusion of a successful second year, students in Basic Studies may transfer to any M.U. department that will accept them, to complete a regular degree. Every few years the Board of Trustees chooses a new department head from a pool of candidates which include prominent Arkham businessmen. The latest is Jonathan Harriman, an Arkham lawyer who has saved with distinction
for the past four years. There are no professors of Basic Studies. Instead,
teaching staff are hired to impart: the core curriculum. This provides a good
opportunity for recent graduates to gain experience and also gives them valuable
contacts toward an assistant professorship within the regular university departments.
Mr. Harriman is rarely on campus himself.
Classes at Miskatonic are organized as either as one hour and twenty minute
sessions on each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or as two hour sessions on
each Tuesday and Thursday. Both schemes result in four hours of instruction
per class per week. If a student can schedule every class on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
he has five unscheduled days per week, and this is thought by many Miskies
(members of the University community) to be a significant benefit. 01-99 LEVEL 100-LEVEL 200-LEVEL For students interested in the topic, or required in that major, for example Russian Folklore 220, Euclidian Geometry 202, or Basic Anatomy 203. Essentially sophomore level, so that although anyone is allowed to join, the workload is higher than for a 100-level class, and the topics are somewhat less general. Because these classes are more difficult, they are smaller in size and professors can begin to spend time with individual students. 300-LEVEL These and 400-level classes often require one or more prerequisite classes within the department, to establish the student's credentials as a scholar and to make sure that foolish freshmen do not consume valuable class space. More advanced topics might be Babylonian Literature 302, Non-Euclidian Geometry 304, or Human Dissection 359. 400-LEVEL At this rarified level, classes are typically small, attended by some mix of juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Topics are totally dependent on what a professor decides to teach, and can be very specific, such as Cuneiform Variations in Aleut Decorative Bordas (Anthro 429), Architectural Similes in the Later Speeches of Samuel Smiles (English 404), Modern Forensic Pathology (Mea 410), and so on. Since the class size is small (usually fewer than ten students), professors may choose to evaluate each student personally before allowing him to take the class, to make sure each student has enough background to be able to contribute to the class. 500- AND 600-LEVEL These are for graduate students, but intelligent seniors may petition to join, and are usually accepted on the basis of their G.P.A.'s in the department. Some of the 600-level classes are very small seminars, involving a specialty of the professor's, or perhaps amounting to cooperative research on a particular problem. Most 600-level classes are independent study, involving only one student and a guiding professor. Depending on the major, one or two papers may be required per semester, but reading, research, and conferences between student and teacher may be intense. AUDITORS By arrangement with the professor, intelligent outsiders may be able to sit in on a certain class without registering with the University. The professor may decide to require papers and class discussion from an auditor, but rarely mid-term or final exams. The University prefers that all such transactions be formalized, and officially charges half of the class's regular tuition for an audited class. Paid audited classes are shown on the scholar's transcript, but add no credit hours. Informal arrangements with a professor do not appear on the scholar's transcript. An auditor could later take the course for credit, but not from the same professor. Core Curriculum Every Miskatonic student must take certain classes. These are few, and talented
students can opt to get one or more of them waived by passing tests offered
at the beginning of each semester. The classes are English Composition, Survey
of Mathematics, and American History. In addition, all students must take either
History and Appreciation of Art or Introduction to Melody, Rhythm, and Orchestration,
or register for private instruction by a recognized art or music instructor. Courseload and Workload M.U. excerpts © 1995 by Sandy Antunes
and Chaosium. Inc. |