The Iota Xi chapter of Delta Phi Alpha, the national German academic honor society, recently held its annual initiation ceremony and public lecture.

The chapter was founded in 1983 and includes approximately 500 members, making it one of the most active chapters in the country.  Members must have a high overall GPA and high GPA in German, have completed at least one 3000 level or higher course in German, and have sophomore standing.

Matthew Handelman of Michigan State University was the featured speaker at the initiation event with a thought-provoking lecture on the connections between Critical Theory and Digital Humanities informed by the work of Jewish philosopher Gershom Scholem. Handelman's lecture was co-sponsored by the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures, the Jewish Studies program, the Jewish Federation of Arkansas, the Department of Mathematics, and the Honors College.

The chapter congratulates new student members Aidan Caig, Michelle Clark, Sean Fischer-Reagan, Michael Fredricks, Claire Gist, Holly Harper, Hannah Hughes, Dewayne Keirn, Michael McLaughlin, Tanner Martin, Zachary Morgan, Hailey Petit, Ryan Rau, Alexander Smith, Cy Starr, Mark Stuber, Chandler Trotter, Carter Wallace, and Michael Webster. The Delta Phi Alpha faculty adviser is assistant professor Brett Sterling.

The National German Honor Society, Delta Phi Alpha, seeks to recognize excellence in the study of German and to provide an incentive for higher scholarship. The Society aims to promote the study of the German language, literature and civilization and endeavors to emphasize those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value and which contribute to humanity's eternal search for peace and truth.