Volume 47 Issue 08 - [10/25/21] The Bengal Newspaper

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Inside this Issue

The Mind Behind Frankenstein - Page 3

Halloween Costumes - Page 4

Track Hires New Staff Member - Page 6

The Bengal.

isubengal.com 26 October 2021

Volume 47 Issue 8

The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910

Photo Courtesy of the Bengal Archive

Remembering the Late Bill McCurdy Jack Sherlock News Editor Anytime we lose a member of the Bengal family, it sends shockwaves far and wide throughout the community here at Idaho State University. The loss of Bill McCurdy, a longtime contributor to our university and to those that wander the grounds was no exception to these powerful feelings of loss. William James McCurdy, born October 4th, 1947, and known to most as just “Bill” passed on October 4 of 2021 on his 74th birthday. He was born and raised right here in Pocatello and began his journey at ISU at a young age, taking campus visits with his John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary school class. He pursued Philosophy during his undergraduate time here at ISU, and then went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Hawaii. Beyond his commitment to studying in his classrooms, he sought out real-world

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experience beyond the world he knew here in the states and traveled to Japan and Taiwan, where he taught English and Philosophy for some time. He returned back to ISU in the year 2000 and taught full-time as an associate lecturer for the Philosophy department. Despite retiring a few years back, McCurdy remained committed to his teaching craft and returned earlier this academic year to teach an Asian Philosophy course. Many at ISU were touched deeply by the impact that he left on our campus, and today, those of us here at the Bengal want to share the special experiences that some of our ISU faculty shared after hearing the news of his friend’s passing -- a time to reflect, mourn and reminisce on the presence that McCurdy carried throughout his time as a Bengal. James Skidmore, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Department Vice-Chair, and Director of Philosophy took his reflection of McCurdy with an emphasized focus on

his office or at the coffee shop.” Skidmore concluded his reflection with McCurdy’s strong connection to the area and the desire for strength through shared knowledge in his hometown. “I think his lifelong roots in the community are part of what made him such a good teacher. He really knew the students in a deep sense and knew how to connect with them. Students from the local community could sense that he was one of them” Skidmore says. Reflections of this great loss continued with comments from Russel Wahl, former ISU professor of Philosophy and longtime friend of McCurdy. An Idaho State Journal piece reads “Bill’s passing is both a tremendous loss for the school’s philosophy department as well as the Pocatello community”, and continues to address comments from Wahl. “I’ve known Bill since I came here in 1985,” Wahl said. “He was very interested in logic and studied the teachings of

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his teaching devotions and his commitment to helping others learn philosophy. Skidmore says “He was such a talented teacher, he clearly enjoyed teaching philosophy and working with students, and it showed. Philosophy is a difficult subject, and it’s often hard for students to see why they should care about the questions we investigate. But Bill had a way of connecting with students and getting them to see the urgency of these questions. His intellectual curiosity was extraordinary, and it was contagious with students.” McCurdy’s commitment to his students was something that was seemingly unmatched to the noticing eye around campus, and Skidmore continues to say that “Bill had a thorough command of philosophy, but he wore his knowledge lightly. He had such a positive and enthusiastic personality. Students could see he was the kind of professor--not just who they could talk to but who wanted to talk with them, whether it was outside of class in

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