Salisbury Philosophy Symposium A Huge Success

With standing room only the Salisbury Philosophy community paid tribute to Dr. Jerry Miller for 28 years of service. Dr. Miller founded the philosophy program at Salisbury and has brought major up to the forefront of the ranks of chosen majors by students. Thunderous roar like a summer storm welcomed him when he took the podium causing the modest professor to yell at everyone to quit being "jerks"!

Known for his quirkiness of throwing erasers, shoes, cups of pop (I'm a Midwest boy, we say pop, so soda for the rest of the Shore), and any other hosts of objects ready at hand while wearing a bright yellow NAACP jacket is one of the most profound intellectuals at the school. Dr. Miller's veracity for the commitment of searching for meaning through philosophy has developed a cult following with majors and non majors alike. Simply put Dr. Miller has taken the intimations of students of their current world and challenged them to develop those intimations into full mature insights. Once accepted, no one turns back, though often it is a struggle with him.

The Symposium centered around Dr. Miller's essay "The Way of Suffering: A Reasoning of the Heart" which addressed the ideas of a Lewis Hyde's' "Gift Economy", the opening up of the heart, and how to be when evil is done or has been done to you. I could give you a detailed explanation but to correctly elucidate his position I would be writing another 20 page paper for him.

Most astonishing was the outpouring support for the Philosophy Dept. from an auction of some of Dr. Miller's "artifacts" from the years. His NAACP Jacket fetched $305 dollars and was promptly donated back to Dr. Miller who was on his knees not wanting to give up his prized possession! His glasses brought in over $200 and overall his goods brought in $1200 plus for the Dept.

Dr. Miller will be a scheme of recurrence at Salisbury for ever. A man of his stature and love of his life, the commitment to philosophy and family, will be an enduring tradition which will be a beacon for undergrads to follow! Dr. Miller you will be missed!

http://www.salisbury.edu/philosophy/