First day of classes' teach-in offers conversations on Ferguson, tolerance, social revolution, masculinity

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (01/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New York, have been widely discussed among college and university students nationally and internationally. With that in mind, the events and reactions to them present an opportunity for the Elizabethtown College community to engage in free and open discussions about current issues.

Several E-town faculty members, saw relevance in these issues for their courses and have devoted time in the first class meeting of the spring semester (Monday, Jan. 12, and Tuesday, Jan. 13) for conversations, wherein students can share, discuss and debate their reactions to the recent happenings. The hope is that varied perspectives and outcomes of these classroom discussions prompt our students and faculty members to greater critical thinking, cultural understanding and engaged citizenship.

Class space is offered "as available," and student guests are given priority. *Please note there are a few classes which are not open to the public.

There are three dozen classes in which students and faculty and staff members can participate (a full list can be emailed to you at request). Though most are open to media, here are several that might be especially media worthy:

• Rachel Finley-Bowman

ED 365 and ED 366 (SS Methods)

1/12 -- 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; both in N104

"Closing Our Eyes and Listening": Teaching Tolerance

• Jean Pretz

PSY327 Intelligence and Creativity

1/12 -- 2 p.m.; Young Center Classroom

Race, Gender, and IQ

• Amy Milligan

WGS 105

1/12 – 2 p.m.; N228

Gender, Race, and Social Constructions of Black Masculinity

• Richard Newton

REL170: Signifying Religion: An African American Worldview

1/13 -- 8 a.m.; N 207

Beatdowns and Downbeats: America as a Hip Hop Nation

• Michael Long

REL103 Religion and Violence

1/13 -- 8 and 9:30 a.m.; E 370

The Spiral of Violence in Ferguson

• Colin Helb

COM120: Introduction to Communications

1/13 -- 9:30 a.m.; ST 114

Ferguson and the media

• Jesse Waters

"Behind the Books, Behind the Barricades: Poetry of Revolution"

1/13 -- 10 to 11:30 a.m.; Bowers Writers House

Poems that reflect select significant moments in American social revolution/ voices in struggle and crises.

• Dan Chen

PS 215: Political Communication

1/13 –11 a.m.; N203

Comparing News Coverage of Ferguson

For questions regarding the Teach-in, contact Jill Trostle in the Dean of Faculty's office at trostlej@etown.edu or 717-361-1555.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Harvey

Communications Manager

Marketing and Communications

Elizabethtown College

harveye@etown.edu

717-361-6412 (o)

717-371-2631 (c)

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