On the first day of the class, please bring your first short response A Recipe For Yourself, we’ll start the class with an icebreaker game and collectively write about the ground rules for this class.

It is crucial that we engage in a respectful culture of caring throughout our discussions, especially—but not only—because the material we cover in this course addresses important topics of race, class, gender, sexuality, and violence, it is crucial that we listen to each other respectfully and consider each other at all times. I hold the discussion section with the goal of creating a learning environment all students feel welcome, heard and whole. It is important for us to have discussion guidelines that help to create a safe environment that encourages the sharing of differing perspectives and opinions. If you ever feel like an inappropriate or troublesome remark was made, making the class surrounding an unsafe space, please address that in class or alternatively contact me personally to resolve this.

Discussion Guidelines (TBD)

1. Use I statements and avoid generalizations.
2. Ask clarifying questions if something is not clear.
3. Agree to disagree, but please do not disengage.
4. Agreement is not always the goal: multiple truths can stand at once.
5. Recognize everyone has different levels of comfort and different ways of speaking in groups and be mindful of creating respectful space for others to engage.
6. Note your emotional response and take care of yourself accordingly: If you need a moment, take a moment, but please keep me updated.

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