Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honorary Society, is one of 614 nationwide chapters committed to the advancement of interest in Political Science among its members.  Through productive discussion, humanitarian-minded activities, and general inquiry into the roots of the discipline, members seek to recognize and accentuate the heightened awareness of the group.  Composed of the most motivated and dedicated students of Political Science at Eastern Illinois University, the group pursues to capitalize on these academic realities by offering the students a unique opportunity to connect their distinguished scholarly skill-set with an equally proficient organization. 

Pi Sigma Alpha has been highly active as an organization over the years of its existence.  In September of 2006, Pi Sigma Alpha partnered with two other student organizations in hosting a panel discussion in observance of Constitution Day.  Additionally, the organization has sponsored book sales, food and toy drives, as well as additional panel discussions and debates.  Also, its members collaborated to produce a newsletter circulated department-wide in an effort to foster a greater mindfulness of pertinent political issues of the time.  However, Pi Sigma Alpha is not limited to merely exclusively on-campus activities; in the recent past, members coordinated with Charleston High School and sponsoring a Political Science Essay Contest in an attempt to facilitate interest in the discipline among young people.  Moreover, in the fall of 2005, members participated in the Manhattanville's My Soldier (http://www.mysoldier.com/), which allows participants to "adopt" a particular soldier serving overseas with the larger goal in mind of raising military morale as well as giving participants a greater appreciation of individual sacrifice, politics aside.  Additionally, in the spring of 2005, members traveled to Chicago to take part in the activities surrounding the Midwest Political Science Association National Annual Conference.  This trip was beneficial to all involved because it allowed members to observe political scientists in action, interacting with each other at a level that only such field experience may provide.

While the primary objective of Pi Sigma Alpha is purely academic in nature, members often couple this with productive social events.  Social events such as bowling, pizza parties, and nights out on the town have effectively strengthened camaraderie among the members.  Too, the group has designed and had t-shirts screen-printed in the past to develop further familiarity among its members.  Group membership is open to students with a 3.0-or-better GPA in Political Science classes, as well as overall, and the completion of at least three political science courses, at least one of which must be at the 3000 level or higher.  Officers for the group include Mike Joyce (President), Courtney Cooper (Vice President), Danielle Rhodes (Treasurer), and Kayla Edwards (Secretary).  As of fall 2006, nearly one hundred students meet the requirements for membership.  For more information please contact either Dr. McNitt (admcnitt@eiu.edu) or Dr. Barria (labarria@eiu.edu).  Furthermore, students may consult the national Pi Sigma Alpha website at http://www.apsanet.org/~psa/.