Pilster Lectures include student panel and professor discussions

By: Chase Vialpando, Devin Fulton, Aubrie Lawrence 

Editor, Opinion Editor, News Editor 

 The Mari Sandoz Heritage Society recently organized the Pilster Great Plains Lecture Series, a string of lectures to educate students about the history of the High Plains area. Specifically, the seminars focused on the history of Populism in the region, while examining the influence of the literature of Mari Sandoz. 

The set began 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Student Center Ballroom with the lecture, “What Were the Populists Thinking?!”, by Dr. Charles Postel, a historian of American political ideas and social movements. Postel outlined the media’s past of misrepresenting the Populist political party as a primitive, brash group. He also gave an overview on the Populism movement’s effect on society. 

The next lectures began 10:10 a.m., Friday in the Mari Sandoz Center, where CSC English Professor Dr. Mary Clai Jones spoke alongside University of Nebraska Kearney Assistant History Professor Dr. Christopher Steinke about Sandoz’s novel, “Capital City.” Jones’ presentation, “The Use of Anger in Capital City”, focused on how Mari Sandoz conveyed the anger she faced in her life through the novel. She touched on the abuse Sandoz faced from her father, the criticism she faced from the press and public, and the outrage she felt during the Great Depression. 

Steinke focused on how water was used in the novel. He mentioned the floods that took place in Lincoln during the early 20th century and how they were used in Sandoz’s fictional world. He also spoke of the divide in the city and how the geography of the area represented it. After each presentation, the floor was opened up for questions or comments from the audience. 

The last event in the series was led by CSC Professor of Social Studies Dr. David Nesheim, who held a student-led discussion panel 3 p.m., Friday at the Mari Sandoz Atrium. During the discussion titled “Populism in the Panhandle: Something Less than a Movement”, CSC students Kaylee Peck, sophomore of Hot Springs, South Dakota, Chase Clasen, senior of Moses Lake, Washington and Jodell Schulte, senior of Kimball spoke about economic injustice, crimes and newspaper coverage about local politics in the panhandle during the early 1900’s. The students answered questions from audience members and discussed how certain political campaigns failed in the past. Peck’s discussion went over specific crime reports in Bridgeport and surrounding towns in the early 1900’s. She mentioned that crimes at that time were sneakier, but still violent. 

“I was surprised to find that there was less gun violence and instead, people were poisoning each other.” Peck said.