SUPPORT THE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT ON BU GIVING DAY
We are raising funds for BU’s Department of Philosophy. These funds will be used to provide students with important learning experiences and community building opportunities. Some examples include student-led initiatives such as Arché, the Undergraduate Philosophy Association, Minorities And Philosophy, the Philosophy Seminar Series, and student-faculty research. Your support will keep these student-led projects alive and thriving and will support a greater number of opportunities for student-faculty interactions outside of the classroom.
As a collegiate journal, Arché strives to highlight exceptional student work, providing undergraduate and graduate students at BU and worldwide a platform to showcase their philosophical writing. For philosophers, a robust publication record is essential for securing academic positions, grants, and tenure, but there are extremely limited opportunities for students to gain experience with writing for journals and to publish their work. Arché seeks to change this by providing publication opportunities for students and budding philosophers, and on top of this we offer students at BU the opportunity to gain experience, as editors, with the peer review process. It’s one of our core beliefs that students have something valuable to add to the philosophical discourse.
The mission of Minorities and Philosophy (MAP) is to address structural injustices in academic philosophy and to remove barriers that impede participation in academic philosophy for members of marginalized groups. We aim to examine and dismantle mechanisms that prevent students from marginalized groups from participating in academic philosophy, as well as to promote philosophical work done from marginalized perspectives, and help improve working conditions for scholars from marginalized backgrounds. The Boston University Chapter of MAP brings together members of the BU community interested in philosophical discussion and dialogue, with a focus on underrepresented narratives and perspectives. We aim to offer guidance on thinking and teaching inclusively, and to create a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, staff, and members of the BU community regardless of their identities.
The Philosophy Seminar Series presents graduate students and faculty members of the Philosophy Department with a pretty informal setting to workshop and discuss works in progress or under review with other members of the graduate student and faculty body. PSS is open to any member of the BU community, and it’s a great, low-stakes opportunity not only for sharpening your own philosophical toolkit, but also for soliciting feedback from others in preparation for presenting at a conference or professional workshop, submitting a dissertation chapter or prospectus, or for submitting a paper for publication. Over the past academic year, we’ve held approximately 18 PSS events, all covering a broad range of areas from bioethics and Nietzsche’s views on war, to contemporary issues in epistemology and philosophy of mind.
Every Friday night, about forty undergraduate students crowd CDS B62 for the best kind of party: talking philosophy. Symposiums range from Fashion, to Food, to The Apocalypse -- and there is no prerequisite knowledge to join the discussion. The Undergraduate Philosophy Association welcomes every BU student, whether or not a philosophy major, and hears out every opinion. In addition to symposiums, the UPA holds resource meetings for underclassmen, semesterly trips to Walden Pond and Salem, movie nights, a yearly lectures on member-voted topics, and -- starting this year -- a cross-college philosophy mixer, at which students from Tufts, Northeastern, Emerson, UMass, and more will all get the chance to talk philosophy at BU. Through its weekly meetings and welcoming attitude, the UPA provides an accessible, intellectually diverse community for any Boston University student interested in philosophy.
We hope to continue to support the outstanding reputation that BU’s Department of Philosophy currently enjoys, and with your support, we will be able to maintain the important learning experiences and community building opportunities that are so important to students and that contribute to this reputation. Faculty members mentor student editors for Arché, providing valuable guidance and fostering deeper engagement with philosophical concepts.
Improvements to departmental spaces is an urgent need. We hope to create a dedicated study space with comfortable seating and resources to provide a more conducive learning environment for students to engage in philosophical inquiry, reflection, and collaboration. This goal is in alignment with the Department's commitment to providing a welcoming space that fosters intellectual growth and a sense of community.
This funding can support initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion. Faculty can better incorporate diverse philosophical voices from various cultures and backgrounds into their courses. Student organizations can host workshops on DEI topics. These efforts integrate the Department's core values with its mission of fostering critical thinkers and empowered learners, and building a diverse and welcoming community.
Celebrate how the Department of Philosophy makes you #ProudtoBU by making your gift on BU’s Giving Day!
Imagine a new generation of critical thinkers, empowered to question the world around them. Students in the Philosophy Department are on that very path. With your support, we can go even further. Your gift directly impacts the quality of students’ education and cultivates their analytical thinking skills. Your generosity helps to support vibrant shared spaces where students at BU study, debate, and build community. Consider the energy emanating from lively discussions in comfortable study areas, fostered by your contribution. By investing in our students, you are not just supporting their education, you are investing in a future of critical thinkers and engaged citizens. Donate today and be a part of something truly inspiring.
For 24 hours on Giving Day, your gift has an even bigger impact. Thanks to a group of generous donors, bonus funds are up for grabs! Even if you can only give a few dollars, you will make a big impact on the intellectual and professional development of students here at BU and around the world. We are so grateful for your support! Thank you!
TOGETHER, WE'RE UNSTOPPABLE
This year, Boston University celebrates 10 years of Giving Day. That’s 10 years of supporting students, championing our teams, fueling discoveries, inspiring artists, building community, and investing in tomorrow. Support the cause that makes you #ProudtoBU by making your gift on BU Giving Day!