Archived minutes can be found here.

18:09 – Since we've finalized a tshirt design, the big deal for everyone at the moment is getting your money ($10 a shirt) to Martin as soon as possible so we can get those ordered.

18:10 – We'll discuss the possible SPS trip at the next meeting. Also, our order for a Galileoscope has been submitted.

18:11 – The demo event for the Harrisonville kids has been canceled.

18:12 – The physics dept. is awesome; according to the student representatives to Jon Gering's student advisory committee, we have basically everything (such as GRE prep, etc.) that the science and math students in general would like to have. Yay us.

18:14 – A bar crawl has been suggested. Expect an email concerning plans for that.

18:17 – Dr. Goggin suggests we devote our creative energies to doing something with the downstairs display cases since we're done with tshirt design stuff for the semester.

18:18 – A general lack of anything specific to accomplish brings an end to the official meeting.

18:06 – Ian welcomes everyone back after an unusually long time between meetings. We had originally planned to vote on t shirts designs, but people have actually requested that we not vote yet as more designs are coming, so we'll hold off on voting for now.

18:08 – Ian says that Jon Gering has been trying to find out, through the Student Advisory Committee, what recruitment mechanisms have been most effective in bringing students to science and math at Truman. It seems that for pretty much all of us are here not because of any particular recruitment activity but simply because it's a good, cheap school.

18:10 – Isaac, our demo team captain, remarks on some upcoming demo events: one in particular at Ray Miller Elementary on Nov. 7. We'll need about four people for this, seven at the most. Friday, Dec. 4th Harrisonville HS(?) will be visiting campus and would like us to have a demo event for that. Chemistry is doing something for them in the morning, so this can be expected to be an afternoon event.

18:12 – Back to t shirts, the designs in so far are displayed (see the SPS website).

18:15 – Despite essentially universal skepticism, Ian maintains that we should be able to have a t shirt before the start of spring semester. This will probably require that we vote on designs at the next meeting.

18:16 – Dr. Edis announces next week's Physics Colloquium and passes around flyers for distribution around campus. This colloquium will span both physics and chemistry subject matter, so plastering the chemistry areas of Magruder with the flyers may be useful.

18:17 – Truman's Women in Physics invite us to hang out at the Corn Maze on Saturday evening (in order that they have a group large enough to reduce the fee, which will be $7 per person and $5 per person if they are able to get together 15 people). Expect an email with further and more certain details.

18:19 – The dates of Nov. 7 and Nov. 13 are suggested for the Move Night at Dr. Edis's house. We decided on Nov. 7, a Saturday (which is also the date of the physics GRE and a showcase event).

18:22 – The other science clubs are organizing a trivia night. Several of us seem to be interested in participating. Details are to come.

18:24 – Ian flies through a stack of random info from (the national) SPS. The only thing that seems to catch anyone's attention is the possibility of getting our chapter a free Galileoscope. Most of this should wind up in the computer lab at some point.

18:26 – Nick Wilsey mentions that SPS has a glass wallcase in Magruder with nothing but an old candy wrapper in it. We'll see about actually decorating this in the future.

Society of Physics Students
Meeting Minutes of September 17th, 2009

18:05 – Ian opens by reporting that the BBQ was awesome and thanking Dr. Goggin for hosting it. Also, a reminder to everyone that one Stephanie Bouse, of Missouri S&T, will be available to talk to students interested in engineering studies in the CyberCafe of Magruder on September 23 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Those interested can either stop by the table then or talk to Marsha Redmon (mredmon@truman.edu) to set up an appointment.
 

18:07 – Also, the University of Iowa now has a graduate program in engineering aimed specifically at physics majors. They have offered to buy us pizza in return for our attention through a presentation on the program, so that will be coming up.
 

18:09 – Beta Beta Beta, who brought us last year's allscience formal, want to do an allscience rave.
 

18:10 – Tom notes that the room for tutoring has been locked a number of times when tutoring was supposed to be going on. If you are supposed to tutor and encounter this problem, call DPS (and be adamant that the room is supposed to be open).
 

18:11 – [Ian passes around the roster for any updates.] Om still has a number of broad things to hammer out regarding the SPS trip for the year, such as whether to do it this semester or next, where might be a good destination, etc. This may come up next meeting.
 

18:12 – It has been suggested that we have an SPS canoe trip. It will be rather cold coming up, but strangely a number of people seem to like the idea anyway.
 

18:14 – Dr. Edis announces that we will have another colloquium next Wednesday and passes out flyers to be distributed around campus.
 

18:15 – A mention of tshirt ideas leads Brian to recall a comment of his (something to the effect of): 'When I do physics I feel like I'm flying a horsepowered spaceship.' So it is suggested that we have a tshirt with a rocket on it with horses flying out the back.
 

18:16 – Ian suggests that he's willing to do final votes on tshirts at the next meeting. Mind you, the only tshirt design on the website so far is the “Physics is Magical” shirt with the unicorn and the (absurdly expensive, 7 color) rainbow (though Brian has suggested that we replace the actual colors with wavelength labels). In other words: get on it, people.
 

18:21 – It is suggested that we need more insulting tshirts.
 

18:22 – As the horserocket shirt seems rather insulting to agricultural science majors, Brian draws a prototype on the board. It is also suggested that this is as insulting to us as to anyone else.
 

18:25 – Movie night ought to be coming up, probably at Dr. Edis's House, but details have yet to be worked out.

18:00 – Pizza is served.

18:07 – Ian sends around this year's roster for the organization, welcomes everyone, and remarks on our sources of revenue: dues and tutoring.

18:09 – Tom reminds those having passed 195/196 to sign up for at least one hour a week of tutoring (and again, to pay dues, as the alternative may involve an encounter with Mark's muscles – and beard).

18:11 – Nick, our faculty spy, reports on the last faculty meeting. The schedule for next semester is complete. Among the highlights: Dr. Gokhale will still be teaching Modern II next semester, E&M will be taught by Dr. Beaky, Advanced topics: Optics will be taught by Dr. Goggin, Dr. Rolnick will be teaching a JINS course on nuclear weaponry, and Dr. Velasco will be teaching Thermo.

18:13 – Nick also notes that Dr. Easley's course (MATH 488) on general relativity does not count as an advanced topic for the physics major, though it has been discussed – a heartwarming reminder that the faculty does actually listen to the students.

18:16 – Ian announces to those students interested in engineering that a Truman alumna from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla) will be on campus soon and open to questions. See Ian for details.

18:17 – Discussion of the plans for the beginning of the year barbecue begins.

18:23 – It is concluded that the barbecue will be held at Dr. Goggin's house on Sunday, September 13th beginning at 3:00 PM.

18:24 – Dr. Edis reminds us of the many upcoming physics colloquia in MG 1000. The first will be at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, September 9th .

18:26 – Ian mentions that we ought to be thinking about Tshirt designs. Isaac will soon be posting old designs on the website.