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From
Michigan Today (June 1996):
"Undergraduates
are not the only members of the U-M's academic community who
take advantage of small groups to bounce ideas off one another.
History Professor Emeritus John Shy created the Military Studies
Group [now, Michigan War Studies Group] in 1969 as an outlet for graduate
students studying military history to keep in touch with him
throughout the year. The
Department of History's U-M History Newsletter (1995)
called the Group 'probably the oldest floating (i.e. unfunded)
seminar' in the department.... After three decades of 'interdepartmental,
interuniversity, multicultural, irreverent, disorganized and
free-floating discussions,' ... the group has evolved into
an informal seminar every Friday afternoon for about twenty professors,
graduate and undergraduate students, and staff. Sessions often
begin with one of the members reading a research paper, book
chapter or dissertation on which [he or she is] working. Then
comes the feedback."
Today, the Michigan War Studies Group continues to provide, as
one longtime member puts it, "the seminar I never had" during
the Fall and Winter semesters. The sessions often feature
presentations by regulars, visiting associate members, and
graduate students, as well as others invited to speak because
of particular experiences and expertise. The present regular
membership is comprised mainly of current and emeritus faculty
at the University of Michigan, where the meetings take place,
Eastern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Washtenaw
Community College, Henry Ford Community College, and other
local institutions. Associate members work mostly in academic,
governmental, and military positions around the U.S. and
abroad.
The Group also publishes the
Michigan War Studies Review.
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