ABINGTON, Pa. — Editors of an elite scholarly journal selected the work of two Penn State Abington students for inclusion in its 10th edition, along with pieces written by students from Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Virginia, among others. 

The Dialectics: Journal of Law, Leadership, and Society includes “Tobacco Control in the United States: Why the U.S. Should Consider Creating a Generation of Non-smokers" written by Abington student Nicholas Edward Griffin. Abington’s William Connor wrote “Administrative Failure or Blatant Transphobia: The Adverse Relationship Between Transgender Folks and the Criminal Justice System that Must be Addressed.”

The Abington-based electronic publication provides a forum for undergraduates to independently research and justify their opinions on issues while proposing forward-thinking solutions. The word "dialectics" means the art or practice of logical discussion to investigate the truth of a theory or opinion.

Salar Ghahramani, editor-in-chief of The Dialectics, is associate professor of business law and international law and policy at Abington and director of its Pre-Law Program.

"This volume reaffirms the belief that today's undergraduate students are our hope for building a better society and democracy through dialogue and engagement," he said.

Among the pieces are analyses on potential ways to address the mass-shooting epidemic; lobbying; and disciplinary power in the age of mass surveillance.

Students develop and submit manuscripts, and external expert reviewers or referees recommend which pieces merit publication. The competition is world-class — literally — since undergraduates from around the globe write submissions, but few make the cut. The latest edition includes 11 papers. 

Even if an Abington student's manuscript isn't selected for publication, they can gain valuable experience working with Ghahramani. There is an opportunity to be selected to serve on the editorial board. 

External advisers to The Dialectics include faculty from the University of Connecticut as well as George Washington, East Carolina, and George Mason universities.

About Penn State Abington

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With about 3,700 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 21 majors, undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more.