Core requirements influence minds
Campus Times
March 20, 1998
Dr. Sharon Davis, professor of sociology and her teaching partner,
Professor of English Catherine Henley-Erickson, lead a discussion in the
new Popular Culture and the Human Condition course which deals with study
of modern culture and its icons. In the discussion featuring the cultural
aspects of "Batman and Robin" on Tuesday, Henley-Erickson and
Dr. Davis left the floor open to junior Dyane Galindo, freshman Manuel Escalante
and sophomore Jennifer Cuevas, who offered their opinions on the connotations
behind the story.
by Alicia Gibson
Assistant Managing Editor
Two core classes, in particular that are part of the new general education
requirement, have received much attention from the University of La Verne's
diverse student body.
The first is a one-unit core class known as International/ Intercultural
Experience. There are several sections of this class offered each semester.
International/Intercultural Experience is a course which focuses on
experiencing other cultures and evaluates what to expect in those different
cultures. Though the class meets only five times during the semester, the
work is done on an individual basis in the outside world.
Students enrolled are required to spend 15 hours with a culture other
than their own. Several different ways in which students spend time within
other cultures is at restaurants, films, books, plays, festivals, Indian
reservations, and any other way they choose.
Students are also asked to write journal entries about each event attended
throughout the semester.
A final project incorporates relevant concepts that the class deals
with, and students later apply those concepts to what was learned from their
own experiences of other cultures.
Many students have taken a liking to this course, primarily because
it is personally desig-ned for the student.
"It is a fun course. Everyone designs their own activities and
picks their own cultures," said Gerard Lavatori, associate professor
of French and a section teacher.
According to Lavatori, the International/Intercultural Experience is
also a fun class for a professor to teach.
"It is interesting to see people respond to the other cultures,"
Lavatori said.
The second core course is new to curriculum as of the current semester.
It was designed and is taught by a team of Kathy Henley-Erickson, professor
of English, and Dr. Sharon Davis, professor of sociology.
This three-unit course is called Popular Culture and the Human Condition,
and it covers many aspects of the human condition, housing, clothing, movies,
television and toys.
The course is designed to look at things that try to integrate images
which are around all the time, yet are just taken for granted. Students
deal with the obvious and subtle influences which occur in the world around
them.
The fulfillment of a number of text readings in which students apply
theory to their own lives, five formal writings, course assignments, field
trips, and a midterm and final are required to complete the course.
One field trips requires students to participate in a trip to the movie
theatre to watch "Primary Colors." Another requests that students
take the Metrolink, as a group, to downtown Los Angeles in order to tour
the city and eat lunch at a popular cafe. Included in the Los Angeles excursion
are a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.
Students of Popular Culture and the Human Condition course are also
divided into committees in order to do a media watch.
Each student is responsible of investigating a different facet of the
media; after reviewing that particular area, the student must then report
back to the class for discussion.
Thus far, the new CORE class has received great reviews from both its
professors and its students.
"I certainly enjoy the topic [Popular Culture and the Human Condition]
because it is around us," said Dr. Davis.
In regards to working with Dr. Davis in the classroom, Henley-Erickson
said, "I enjoy Sharon, and we are learning a lot from the students."
