Orientation

What is a Living Learning Community?

Students who are accepted into a Living Learning Community will have the opportunity to integrate their residential and academic environments. Students in LLCs reside in Baldwin Hall with their FS 101 classmates, and they may also participate in select co-curricular activities during the fall semester. (Please note: All students participating in LLCs will be housed in Baldwin Hall. There are no other residence halls that currently host LLCs.)

The 2012-2013 Living Learning Communities and their associated instructors and section numbers for  FS 101 are listed below. Full descriptions of all FS 101 sections for the Fall 2012 semester can be found on the Registrar’s page.

You can learn more about LLCs by visiting the Office of Residence Life.

Section 5 : Of Gods and Monsters: Religion and the Problem of Evil 
Professor Eric Boynton

Most people do not go to church or temple or ashram in search of monsters.  Yet religion is never without its monsters when faced with one of the oldest conundrums of human thought: unde malum?  From where does evil come?  In this course, we investigate what religion has to do with monsters. We can learn something about a religious tradition by getting to know its monsters, and we can learn something about monsters by looking at their religious heritage. We enrich our exploration of the problem of evil by paying attention to both the representations of the monstrous in classic religious texts and in contemporary literature and cinema. This seminar emphasizes language, both written and oral, as a tool for exploration, description, and summary.

Section 8 : Is Jihad Holy War?
Professor Vika Gardner

An exploration of what makes war holy in a religious context and an examination of understandings of “jihād” in the Islamic world. We examine who has the authority to declare such a war and how modern-day rhetoric about “crusades” and “terrorists” affects both our foreign policy and self-understanding.  We look for ways to question these representations without stereotyping and examine scriptural (Bible/Qurʾān) discussions of war, comparing them to presentations from Bin Laden, U.S. presidential declarations, and on-going political debates. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 9 : Culture, Education, and Transformation
Professor Eleanor Weisman

An examination of how cultural assumptions impact the educational process. Students explore basic questions that underlie the human experience and the complex search for understanding life. We address questions concerning teaching and learning, such as cultural attitudes toward children, what comprises an educational experience, how instant access to information expands possibilities, and why service is an important aspect of learning. Our investigation embraces diverse approaches to learning and includes issues of power and justice. The class includes a Service-Learning component. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.

Section 16 : Fresh Water Around the World
Professor Rachel O’Brien

An examination and discussion of the quantity and quality of fresh water at the local and global scales. We explore the sources of fresh water, how it is used, and how much we actually need to survive. We also examine issues of water quality: the major types of fresh water contamination and resulting disease and/or health risks created by the contamination. Students participate in several off-campus field trips and a community outreach project. Coursework emphasizes the development of effective oral and written communication skills with a focus on description, summary, and critical thinking.