Philosophys waters run very deep, but West Virginia University students who are having trouble navigating the challenging discipline now have a safety rope.

WVUs Department of Philosophy recently opened its official Philosophy Tutoring Center, where students can go for academic life lines. The center is located in the Department of Philosophy Library at 6 Stansbury Hall on the downtown campus.

Students need not feel intimidated, Philosophy Chair Sharon Ryan says. The four tutors who are staffing the center are all seniors majoring in the subject.

The center provides students with additional help from peers who have recently jumped very successfully through the academic hoops,Ryan said.

Exchanges between the students and tutors should be mutually beneficial, she said.

As all teachers know, you learn the most by teaching,she said.A philosopher cannot rest with mere answers. Thewhys,howsandwhat-ifsare a vital part of our discipline.

The center is open Monday through Friday. Its philosophy senior tutors (and the times they will staff the center) are:

• Jason Thomas, of Fairmont (hours: 8-9:20 and 10:30-11:20 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays);

• John Morgan, of Gauley Bridge (hours: 12:30-1:20 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays);

• Emily Lilly, of Charleston (hours: 2:30-3:30 p.m., Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays) and

• Todd Molina, of Clarksburg (hours: noon-2 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays).

WVU currently has around 60 philosophy majors in its program, which is part of the Universitys Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.

The program, Ryan said, appeals to pre-law majors and other students majoring in journalism, business and medicine because it teaches critical-thinking skills.

WVU philosophy alumni in recent years have been accepted into graduate programs at Harvard, Yale and the University of California at Berkeley.