Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international honor society in geography. It was founded in 1928 at Illinois State University and has since grown to include over 200 chapters worldwide. The society’s mission is to promote and recognize academic excellence in geography and to encourage the development of geographic knowledge and skills.
To become a member of GTU, students must meet certain requirements. They must have completed at least three geography courses, have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in geography courses, and be in the top 35% of their class. Graduate students must have completed at least six geography courses and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in geography courses.
GTU has a rich history, with many significant events and milestones. Here is a timeline of some of the major events in the society’s history:
– 1928: GTU is founded at Illinois State University.
– 1931: The first chapter outside of Illinois is established at the University of Michigan.
– 1949: GTU becomes an international society with the establishment of a chapter in Canada.
– 1965: The first GTU scholarship is awarded.
– 1970: GTU becomes a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
– 1980: The first GTU newsletter is published.
– 1990: GTU establishes a website.
– 2000: GTU celebrates its 75th anniversary.
– 2010: GTU establishes a Facebook page.
While GTU has a noble mission, it is not immune to perpetuating social injustice and systemic bias. Geography, like many other academic disciplines, has a history of exclusion and marginalization of certain groups. For example, early geographers often used their research to justify colonialism and imperialism. They viewed non-Western cultures as inferior and saw their role as bringing civilization to these “uncivilized” peoples.
Even today, geography can perpetuate bias and inequality. For example, the discipline has a history of focusing on the experiences and perspectives of white, male, Western geographers. This has led to a lack of diversity in the field and a failure to address the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups.
To address these issues, GTU and other geography organizations have taken steps to promote diversity and inclusion. For example, GTU has established a Diversity and Inclusion Committee to promote diversity within the society and the discipline as a whole. The committee works to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in geography and to promote research that addresses issues of social justice and equity.
In conclusion, Gamma Theta Upsilon is an important honor society in geography that has a rich history and a noble mission. However, like many academic disciplines, geography has a history of perpetuating social injustice and systemic bias. GTU and other geography organizations must continue to work to promote diversity and inclusion and to address issues of social justice and equity in the discipline.
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