WINTER 2005 HONORS SEMINARS
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Della
Davidson
MW
5:10-7:00 pm
University
Club Studio
Our culture is obsessed with
manipulating our bodies. This obsession runs the gamut from tattoos, piercing
and cutting to cosmetic surgery and obsessive dieting.
Current TV programming reflects this obsession: Extreme Makeover, Miami Slice, The Swan and NIP/TUCK to name a few. Why are we so obsessed with our image? Why do we desire to make permanent changes to our bodies?
We will look at the history of tattoos, piercing, cutting and cosmetic surgery in many cultures and examine the significance of these actions. We will pose such questions as: Why are tattoos so popular? What is the psychology of cutting? Why do people feel the need for such violent action against their bodies? What are the social, economic, and psychological impulses that are driving the cosmetic surgery industry? Are these actions a form of enhancement or mutilation? Where do we draw the line?
What do these practices tell us
about culture in America circa 2004?
This seminar will look at this
current phenomenon from the point of view of many disciplines including social,
psychological, cultural, economic and medical to understand the need to
manipulate the body.
M.E. Delany
MW 3:10-5:00 pm
154 Academic Center/The Colleges at La Rue
Executive Summary
"There is not a shred of scientific
evidence that smoked marijuana is useful or needed." -- U.S. Drug Czar,
Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Aug. 16, 1996
"Marijuana is the safest therapeutically
active substance known to man... safer than many foods we commonly consume."
-- DEA Judge Francis L. Young, Sept. 6, 1988
What is the truth? Is marijuana of medicinal
value to those experiencing chronic pain, dealing with daily ravage and incapacity
from cancer, AIDS, or grand mal seizures? Is the dare to our society too great
to allow for medicinal use of what is largely considered the "gateway"
drug down a slippery slope of drug abuse? Many segments of society are grappling
with this issue at a variety of levels: local (Davis City Council voted against
a local dispensary), state (California is one of many states that allow medical
marijuana use and seeks to prevent federal intervention), and federal (declared
illegal). The Supreme Court has a case on its docket involving California.
Many of us have an opinion, but what are the facts regarding medical use of
marijuana? Does it have medicinal value? What are the implications of its
use for the general health of our society? This seminar will explore this
highly controversial topic.
Jack
Goldberg & Jeffrey Granett
(NOTE: This
seminar will have 30-35 students with 2 instructors.)
HNR
94-003 (4 units) GE Credit: Writing
TR 4:10-6:00
pm
122 Briggs
Humans have put the world and its civilizations at risk. We can see trends of population growth; use and depletion fuels and other resources; technology; global warming; global air, water, and land pollution; food quality and production; habitat destruction and losses in biodiversity; economic globalization at the expense of local cultures; declines in qualities of life; political and religious authoritarianism; terrorism; moral decay; loss of religious ethics; and many other variables. Separately, each of these trends are ominous. Since they interact, the potential for catastrophe large enough to destabilize civilization as we know it is real. Although scientists can envision technological solutions for some of the problems, and politicians can imagine legal and social solutions for others, progress is dependent on human will, appreciation of the larger picture, altruism, citizenship, and the acceptability of short term losses for broader global gains.
The purposes of this seminar are to explore these trends, evaluate how they interact, find out how dangerous the outcomes might be, and then determine how the trends and interactions can be changed to save the world. Since the many human cultures and circumstances of peoples on our globe are not equal, imperatives on how to save the world will vary. The class will be divided into four regional workgroups to determine priorities and a course of action from the perspective of the rich first world countries (North America, Europe, Russia, Japan); second world countries (South America); rising third world countries (India, China, Southeast Asia); and declining third world countries (Africa). We might find it necessary to explore other perspectives as well (e.g. Oil producing countries). Each regional workgroup will send ambassadors to the discussions of the other workgroups so that we can foster discourse and prevent warfare.
The final product will be comprehensive plans by each regional workgroup presented as a written document and 15-30 min Convocation presentation. We will invite people playing the role of unbiased United Nations referees to evaluate and arbitrate the Convocation presentations. The referees will present critiques at the end of regional workgroup presentations and each regional workgroup will be given a short time to rebut. These presentations and rebuttals will require extra time at the Convocation.
Students choosing this seminar will agree to do readings prior to the beginning of the quarter.
Separation
of Church and State in the US?
James Harding
TR 12:10-2:00 pm
148 Environmental Horticulture
Executive
Summary
Although we profess to have a doctrine
of separation of church and state in the United States, some recent events
suggest otherwise. Arguments on many current policy issues have been considered
matters of "ethics," but if they have their roots in religious doctrine,
then separation between church and state may have become obscure. Most of
us have been introduced to religious thought and political preference by parents
and relatives. Organized religious activities may have supported these ideas,
and separation of church and state may not have existed in your family. However,
your education has taught you much more about various religious and political
perspectives. Furthermore, scientific discoveries continue to challenge our
religious and political views.
What is actually meant by separation of church and state if, in fact, our nation's values and ethics, as well as elements of our legal system, have their origins in religious belief? Should we attempt to strengthen and safeguard our traditional concepts of separation in order to protect our civil liberties, or should we embrace the interconnectedness between religious thought and comparative ethics, science, and politics, in order to find better ways to navigate through these difficult issues? Our goal in this seminar will be to evaluate the doctrine of separation of church and state, and examine the role that education should play in solving these problems. Recent debates regarding stem cell research and abortion will be used as examples of these problems.
Bioterrorism/Biological Warfare
Rance LeFebvre
HNR 94-005 (4 units) GE Credit: Writing
TR
1:10-3:00 pm
1132C Haring
Executive Summary
We live under the threat of nuclear holocaust. Countries are
trying to prepare for the possibility of an attack just as terrible and just as
deadly. However, this threat is biological in nature instead of atomic. No less
than 7 countries are now equipped with biological weapons. The reality of
mishaps at biological weapons factories in Russia, the sarin nerve gas attack
in Japan, and the unanswered question of the use of biologicals in the Gulf War
are sobering reminders of the potential for mass extermination by means other
than nuclear fission.
This class will discuss the tools of this trade in terms of
what agents could be used in a bioterrorist attack and how they might be
disseminated. We will also look at what steps are being taken at the local,
state, federal, and armed services levels to avert such an event. The
ramifications of dealing with an event of mass dispersal of a biological agent
will also be discussed.
What is the history of biological warfare? Who (and by what criteria) makes the
political and moral decisions of resorting to this type of weaponry? What is
the cost of protecting ourselves against such an attack? These and other
questions will be addressed by the class and invited guest speakers who are
experts in this field.
Who Made Your Shoes? Globalization and the 21st Century
Beatriz Pesquera
MW 10:00-11:50 am
2116 Hart Hall
Executive Summary
Take a look at the tags on the items you are wearing. Where were they made? How many (or how few) say "Made in the USA?" Today many consumer products and services are outsourced to developing countries around the world. There are those who propose that non-U.S. workers are "taking our jobs." Who makes the decision to outsource? Who benefits from the international division of labor? Many of the "new" workers in developing nations are women. What are their working conditions? With more women working, who is taking care of the family? How does globalization affect our daily lives, our families, and our communities? Who champions the benefits of the global world, and who mobilizes against the consequences of globalization. Does globalization contribute to the economic gap between the U.S. and developing nations, or does it assist in helping them "get a jump start?"
In this seminar we will examine economic, political, environmental, and cultural ramifications of globalization. We will explore the manner in which our lives are intertwined with people throughout the world in ways that are not apparent from looking at a label.
Susan Tucker
TR
1:10-3:00 pm
New Location: 159 Chemistry
Executive Summary
In his novel "1984", George Orwell states that the Ministry flashes a sign that says "War is Peace --this absurd statement --or is it not absurd? -- raises important questions about our purposes for engaging in war. In this seminar we will attempt to determine whether war is ever justified, and, if so, what criteria should be used to decide whether a given war is justified or not. Toward this end, we must examine the question raised by Orwell's statement, that is: Why do we engage in war? We will attempt to determine what purpose(s) -- political, economic, sociological, psychological -- war serves for the nation, for those in command, for those involved. Are the apparent and real purposes the same? Indeed, we must ask, "What are the benefits of war, and to whom do they accrue?" If there are no benefits, then why do we ever engage in it? Or, on the other hand, is war simply an addiction, one supported by myth? Of course, to evaluate justification, we must also ask: What are the costs of war? -- to the nation, the economy, the soldiers, the survivors, the citizens, the children, the world, the environment? Do we, as a society, collectively ignore or minimize the extremity of these costs? If so, why, and if not, how do we justify them, and are these justifications really valid? In our efforts to understand war, we will need to carefully research and critically examine these and many other multidisciplinary questions.
Optional - Prior to the start of this seminar, you may find it helpful to read one of the following books: Nonfiction option: War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges (Anchor Books, 2002). Fiction option: Keeping Watch by Laurie R. King (Bantam, 2004).