The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies

                  Johnston Curriculum Building Goes Off!                          

        Countless seeds of knowledge were embedded in the Johnston Center soil this past Tuesday during G.Y.S.T. week. One vital element, "Curriculum Building" was a session that enabled the students and faculty to come together and brainstorm concepts for classes in the upcoming spring semester and May Term. It was a truly eye opening experience that was very reflective of Johnston's progressive and experimental nature.

                                Professors from every department contributed inspirational ideas and course designs. From Julie Townsend's Theorizing the Dancing Body to Ralph Angel's course on surrealism, the entire spectrum of academic oppertunity was covered. Also during the session, economics professor Nicholas Shunda publicized his upcoming course on "Game Theory", an experience that will define what "games" are and evaluate how they are incorporated into our daily life. For those students interested in cinema, Kelly Hankin will be offering "Films That Make You Want To Watch Movies" which will likely be packed with cult classics and could potentially result in a drive in movie experience in the Bekins parking lot. Another one of Hankin's courses "Gender and Food" will examine the association between ethnic identity, culture, and eating.

                     Several Johnston students will also be teaching and facilitating their own courses this year. Senior Michelle Deyden will be leading a class titled "Music and Social Change". Resident comic book buffs Brendan Mead and Eric Wong will be sharing their graphic novel expertise in "Seduction of The Innocent." Not to mention Callie Spradley, who is going to be offering a study on hip-hop, a musical genre that is quite underrated in its effect on the American mainstream and underground. Community Director Matt Taylor will be teaming up with Professor Kathy Ogren to explore the literary world of American epics such as Moby Dick and Gone with the Wind. In addition the students could not help but take note of the trips being offered in the months to come, one will be headed to Swaziland during May term while another is geared towards Brazil.

                         The list of new courses goes on and on, but there is undoubtably sense of anticipation and camraderie among the Johnston students as the year begins. This event was a fine display of the hands on learning approach that is being practiced here at Johnston. As G.Y.S.T. week continues, we can expect a high degree of focus, work and celebration.