| Show requires core diversity class to new students Kathryn Jones Globe Weekly News The brand new diversity course being offered at began the summer of 2005 Those new to the school aswell as aswell aswell well as those who will be arriving in future semesters will now have the requirement requirement requirement require require- ment slash opportunity to take a course in diversity Currently 60 percent of the nations nation's colleges have the diversity requirement in place according to Judy Braun Assistant Professor and Program Director at The University of Utah for example has had the diversity requirement for 6 years running Braun who will be teaching teaching teaching teach teach- ing the class Opening Doors of Diversity in the fall said that the class though mandatory for new students will present opportunities opportunities opportunities to look and become aware of diversity issues inthe in inthe inthe the United States For those students who began their stint at before the requirement was put into place good news They can take the class now saving lots of money in the process or take the course later at a year four-year tion The course is offered for interdisciplinary as well as diversity credit So a student who takes the course can fulfill ful- ful fulfill fulfill ful ful- fill those two requirements atthe atthe at atthe the same timer time Braun said adding Its not a class like a boutique this boutique this is what its it's like to be a Japanese American That's not what this course is Braun said Braun explained that the class will cover topics raging from sexism to racism We will talk about the cost to employers and schools who are not open to diversity We will talk a lot about what it means to be an American The course will also discuss discuss discuss dis dis- cuss demographics How demographics How the United States has changed historically and how fast its it's changing now We have a lot of refugees alot a alot alot lot of people immigrating Especially when you look at atour atour atour our state were we're seeing a huge change in population Though many varying issues will be disc discussed Brauns Braun's focus is on the issues not on personal opinion Im planning on the first Diversity Continued on Page 12 1 I Diversity Continued from front couple of weeks really trying to build community in the classroom Brauni Braun i said I want people to get to know each other so they can trust that they can say something in class without feeling like they're being jumped on Mildred Sparks instructor of developmental developmental developmental develop develop- mental education and creator of the course will be working at the South Campus during the fall worked in hand-in-hand with the faculty of the university making sure the class would be easily transferable Braun said spent tremendous time researching and talking to people all over the nation So Im I'm just using mostly most her ideas Braun hopes that the faculty will take hold of the opportunity to teach a diversity diversi diversi- ty class Our department plans on offering offering offering offer offer- ing more and more sections she said But this means more and more faculty must get involved Along with time full-time instructors Braun is hoping to get some time part-time teachers to shadow the current classes in her department so that the college can offer more sections especially at night Opening Doors of Diversity is currently currently currently cur cur- offered during the day but Braun sees growth Im excited for open minds I think we believe we know a lot about these issues but we dont don't always know all the information that is out there You pick up the paper and eve every day you read some- some said thing Braun teach this class I know Im excited to people but II I hope that t we cant can't change I didn't dia diant did did- didn't those in the class will say Wow lf I there nt know that Im I'm glad was that is some concern Although there s some students will think Why do I have that these issues to be here Braun hopes will change as the student gets involved a n a in the classroom experience to be theres there's not going adds Right now all of the to cover sections enough class these students who are going to need d these classes And so it might be an advantage knowing this knew requirement to get it done now so that youre you're not in competition competition tion for it later |
