Student Organizations
Ethics Bowl
A regional and a national debate competition, organized by the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Ethics Bowl is open to all undergraduates with an interest in applied ethics and improving their debating skills.
Each year the APPE distributes 15 cases in applied ethics across issues such as healthcare (is there a right to healthcare?), environmental and animal concerns (do endangered species have rights?), and fair trade (should we avoid products from ”sweatshops?”) Our teams meet weekly in the fall work hard to prepare these cases for debates against other schools and a regional tournament.
Faculty Advisor: Michael Goldsby
Mock Trial
Coached by a local attorney, this dynamic group of highly motivated students works together to master the American Mock Trial Association’s annual case problem and compete against other colleges and universities from across the United States.
The case problem is a particular scenario running well over a hundred pages that lays out a particular factual event culminating in a court trial. The “problem” is to develop a case theory, build characters from the available witnesses, and put forth the best possible case and argument. Students must master specific roles as either witnesses or attorneys and the work is a combination of legal trial practice and theater.
Faculty Advisor: Lindsi Alcantar
Pre-Law Society
Promotes the personal and professional development of students; connects and engages with guest speakers from the legal field and law school admissions; facilitates internships; preparation resources for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
Faculty Advisor: Cornell Clayton
Philosophy Club
Open to all students of all backgrounds and majors, supported by philosophy professors. Activities include discussion of a variety of philosophical topics, such as the Philosophy of Friendship, as well as topics that arise in philosophy classes.
Faculty Advisor: Michael Goldsby
Political Science Club
A non-partisan organization open to all WSU undergraduate and graduate students. Our purpose is to encourage political efficacy and participation and to facilitate conversations among students of all different backgrounds.
Faculty Advisor: Richard Elgar
Political Science Honors Society
A national organization whose purpose is to recognize and promote high academic achievement in the field of political science. Political science majors with a 3.0 GPA or higher can be invited to join. Membership never expires and allows you to take advantage of chapter and national level funding, services, and activities.
PPPA GSA
The GSA is the graduate student organization for the School and addresses all issues or concerns from the graduate student body. These issues may include interaction between students and faculty, community and professional development, and mentoring. The GSA also provides for various social events throughout the academic year.”
2024-25 Officers
President: Ris Swank
Vice President: Alina Khamatdinova
Treasurer: Joseph Akowuah
Masters Representative: Benjamin Suhrstedt