Thursday, May 3, 2007

Every student at Bellarmine University has to take an IDC (interdisplinary course). These courses are designed to have a classroom setting where there can be open conversations about tough subjects such as race, war, and also topics that are fun like pop culture or just life. The main purpose for the class at Bellarmine University is to advance the writing skills of the students. I have had Pat Carver for both my freshmen and sophomore IDC. The classes have been about social justice and multiculturalism. The students in my African American Experience sophomore IDC decided that we were going to use the final exam to try to make a real change on campus. Our efforts would take the place of taking a test or written exam. We decided to present a proposal to the board of dean's that a multiculturalism class be added to the core curriculum. This class would be taken during a student's first year at Bellarmine and would be a required course. Our class has spent the past two months doing surveys of students and staff, researching such courses at other universities and working on a letter and presentation for the board. We as a class believe that Bellarmine University students need this type of course, where there is open conversation about issues like race, sexism, sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, social injustices, etc. Our class feels passionately about bringing social justice to Bellarmine University. Our proposal was well accepted by the board of deans, and we have brought the issue to the attention of the people in power at Bellarmine University. They are willing to make this course not just a idea, but a course that will advance Bellarmine towards 20/20 vision.

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