The Villanova History Society has returned to campus after a year of inactivity. The organization led, by a group of new leaders, is hoping to bring a new sense of passion and education to history lovers at Villanova.
Even though the club was founded on campus years ago, junior Madeline Nesbit noticed earlier this year that the organization was no longer active. With the advisement of the former President of the History Society and the Chair of the History Department Lynne Hartnett, Ph.D. Nesbit became the new president and began brainstorming plans to revive the club.
The organization began recruiting interested students three weeks ago and currently has approximately 70 members. It held its first general body meeting on Feb. 17.
“We are a group of students who love history,” sophomore and Vice President Natalie Murphy said. “Our club is open to anyone and everyone who is interested in studying history, likes learning fun facts or maybe just wants to meet new people. We are dedicated to learning more about the past and its different perspectives to build a better future.”
Prior to this semester, the club primarily offered trivia and movie nights for students to attend. The new History Society executive board is currently in the process of planning interactive and educational events for members to partake in. These opportunities include teach-ins, student-led debates and research presentations on historical topics. The club is also planning trips for students to visit historical locations in Philadelphia, participate in history-themed escape rooms and travel to Washington D.C. for a field trip.
“We want to make sure that the club is not just for history majors,” Nesbit said. “The goal is to connect with everyone, no matter their major.”
There are approximately 80 history majors at Villanova. The History Society is hoping to recruit prospective history majors to a community where they learn more about their field of interest outside of the classroom.
“During my freshman year, I wasn’t meeting any other history majors,” Nesbit said. “I began to wonder, ‘Am I the only history major on campus?’ We are hoping to attract more history majors and more freshmen who are contemplating being history majors, as well to give them a place.”
An additional goal of the organization is to increase the presence of female leadership within the organization.
“We are also interested in adding more women to the club and being more inclusive, in general, because it has been run by men the past three years,” Murphy said.
The History Society is also setting its sights on collaborating with fellow organizations on campus in order to increase awareness. Its goals include planning a debate with the Matthew J. Ryan Center for the Study of Free Institutions and the Public Good, hosting activities with student-run political organizations and introducing an alumni relations element to the club.
“I feel like high school breeds people to hate history,” Murphy said. “Therefore, Villanova as a university should be more committed to talking about history and educating people on these very serious issues given the political nature today.”
The Villanova History Society will host its first teach-in event on Wednesday, March 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mendel 101. The ACS-approved conversation will focus on “Anti -Fascism in Black America” and will be led by history professor, Dr. Anna Duensing.
To learn more about the VU History Society and the events it will be hosting throughout the semester, people can check out its Instagram, @villanovahistorysociety.
