MU DIFFICULT DIALOGUES PROGRAM
Spring 2011 Course Offerings
Difficult Dialogues: Controversial Subjects in Higher Education
Difficult Dialogues are one of the many ways of grappling with challenging and sensitive issues in our various fields of study. This course hopes to bridge the gap, fostering a greater understanding of the cultural, religious and political complexity of our community, a greater willingness to engage in open discussion without attacking one another, and more meetings in the gray areas between absolute positions.
The overall goal of this course is to create safer places for the free exchange of ideas, and to become more inclusive of voices and ways of knowing that have been absent, unpopular, excluded, or oppressed. We believe that this outcome will enhance both the likelihood and the quality of thoughtful discussions, and allow for a respectful and responsible hearing of questions and issues within an academic and professional community dedicated to free inquiry.
This course is team taught by Roger Worthington, Eryca Neville and an advanced cohort of past Difficult Dialogues Initiative faculty fellows.
The following is a brief outline of the topics addressed this semester:
- Week 1—Introduction What is DDI?
- Week 2—The Law (David Mitchell)
- Week 3—Media Literacy (Laura Johnston and Liz Brixey)
- Week 4—Interactive Theater: Parts of Speech; Astronomy 101
- Week 5—Intellectual Diversity (Michael Sykuta)
- Week 6—Genetics and Medicine (Miriam Golomb)
- Week 7—Access: Healthcare and Immigration (Glen Heggie and Alejandra Gudino)
- Week 8—Sexual Identity: Coursework to Research (Carol Snively and Mark Milanick)
- Week 9—Interactive Theater: Homophobia; Identity Politics
- Week 10—Race and Family (April Langley and Catherine Rymph)
- Week 11—Women’s Empowerment (Enid Schatz)
- Seek 12—Food and Culture (LuAnne Roth)
- Week 13—Arts and Culture (Elizabeth Hornbeck)
- Week 14—Outreach and Community (Teresa VanDover and Sandy Hodge)
