LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE SEMINAR (Fall 2001) 
Student Syllabus--(M-W)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Leadership for Social Justice is a three-credit seminar introducing students to the depth of thinking called for in a college environment and addressing the mission and values of Mount Mary College.  This interactive and reflective course focuses on issues of social justice as seen through the lens of gender.  Oral, written and small group communication skills are also emphasized.

OBJECTIVES OF COURSE

1. To introduce students to Mount Mary’s Mission and the Mount Mary Women’s Leadership Model.
2. To increase personal awareness and develop abilities to deal with conflict and controversy.
3. To explore gender issues, especially as they relate to race and class.
4. To expand knowledge of social justice issues and one’s ability to critique them.
5. To promote leadership and deepen awareness of organizations demonstrating justice in action.
6. To further develop reading, writing, and oral communication skills.

Texts:  The Haves and Have-Nots, ed. Barbara Solomon, New York: Penguin, 1999.
Written by Herself:  Autobiographies of American Women, ed. Jill Ker Conway, New York: Random House, 1992

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Leadership for Social Justice Seminar is a foundational course for Mount Mary College.   Your attendance and promptness at every class are important.  Because you are preparing for careers where promptness and preparedness are expected, it is important that you form good attendance habits from the beginning of your college career.
On the college level, if you must be absent from any class due to illness or emergency, it is expected that you will contact your instructor for the course and get necessary information from a classmate about missed work.  In accordance with the attendance policy of this course, if you are absent from three classes, you need to meet with the course coordinator.  Absence from three or more classes will be reflected in your final grade.  If you have perfect attendance in the course, your lowest grade on a reflection paper will be dropped.
If you have a learning or physical disability and wish to request special accommodations, please see your instructor within the first week of the course.  Requests will be kept confidential.

Mon., Aug. 27: Distribution of syllabus: objectives, attendance, journal guidelines, grading.
Assignment for next class: 1) Fill out questionnaire on leadership. 2) Journal Entry: In what ways am I already a leader?  What leadership potential do I have?  3) Bring student handbook to class on Wednesday.

Wed., Aug. 29: Mount Mary Mission; Mount Mary Leadership Model
Assignment for next class: Read “What is Christian Social Justice?” and “Parable of the Naked Lady,” and write Journal Entry: 1) What is “injustice”?  Give specific examples of injustice that you have experienced or have seen others experience.  2) What does the parable mean to you? 

Monday, Sept. 3: LABOR DAY.  NO CLASSES

Wed., Sept. 5: Discuss article “What is Christian Social Justice?”  Discuss “The Parable of the Naked Lady.” Project possibilities presented.
Assignment for next class: Read “A Life Remembered” (Dorothy Day) and excerpt from The Long Loneliness.   Highlight passages where you see leadership and/or social justice issues.  Prepare project decision form.

Mon., Sept. 10: Project decision form due. Women Leaders: Dorothy Day video (Entertaining Angels) and discussion.  
Assignment for next class: Write a one-page reflection of why Dorothy Day is considered a leader.

Wed., Sept. 12: Reflection paper on Dorothy Day due. Discussion of video and articles. Creating a personal Mission Statement.
Assignment for next class: Write your own personal mission statement as you begin college.

Mon., Sept. 17: First draft of personal mission statement due.  Paula Rothenberg;  “Rethinking Gender, Race, and Class (Video).
Assignment DUE September 24: Find 1 or 2 examples of videos, TV programs, articles, histories, flyers, etc., that are addressed for a general audience but that exclude certain groups of people.  Identify the group of people who have been excluded (physically challenged; people of different cultures, ethnic groups, religions; gay/lesbians; etc.) Imagine yourself as a member of the excluded group and write a one-page reflection on how you felt about this experience.

Wed., Sept. 19: Rothenberg video and discussion. 
Assignment for next class: Activity and one-page reflection detailed above.

Mon., Sept. 24: Reflection paper on ads due.  Sharing of Assignment.  Organizing and planning for Justice in Action project.
Assignment for next class: Read “My Lord What a Morning” (Marian Anderson) in anthology. Highlight passages where you see leadership and/or social justice issues.

Wed., Sept. 26:  Women Leaders: Marian Anderson. Video (58 min.) and discussion on Marian Anderson.
Assignment for next class: Write a one-page reflection on why we consider Marian Anderson a leader, and read excerpt on Sojourner Truth.

Mon., Oct. 1: One-page reflection on Marian Anderson due. Discussion of Anderson and Sojourner Truth.
Assignment for next class: Readings and Journal Entry: To be specified.

Wed., Oct. 3:  Discussion of readings. Assignment for Next Class:  Study for mid-term.

Mon., Oct. 8: Mid-term exam.

Wed., Oct. 10: Myers-Briggs or social identity exercise.

Quarter Break: October 11-12

*SECOND QUARTER DETAILED SYLLABUS TO BE DISTRIBUTED LATER

Mon., Oct. 15:  Mid-term oral participation and course evaluation.  Pre-activity for “White Privilege” article.  “True Colors” video.
Long-term Assignment:  Browse through Written by Herself, reading the one-page descriptions for each woman, which precedes her autobiography.  Choose two women, whose autobiographies you would like to read, and let your instructor know by October 29 your first and second choices. Students will then read the autobiographies outside of class, and on Nov. 14 meet with others who have read the same autobiography to plan a presentation, tie-ins with class focus, and large group discussion questions for the Nov. 19.
Assignment for next class:  Read “White Privilege” (handout).  Write a journal entry about “privilege.”

Wed., Oct. 17: Discuss “White Privilege” in class.
Assignment for next class:  Read “Hope Deferred,” 1-10 and “Over the Hill,” 416-427 in The Haves and Have-Nots.

Mon., Oct. 22: Quiz over the readings.  Discuss short stories.  Project Planning.
Assignment for next class: “Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds,” 386-400.

Wed., Oct. 24: Discuss “Mrs. Beazley’s Deads.” In class activity: Act like a Man/Act like a Woman.  Project planning.
Assignment for next class:  Read “Girl” and “Krik Krak”; decide on two choices for a woman autobiography to read.

Mon., Oct. 29: Hand in choices for women’s autobiography.  Discuss “Girl” and “Krik Krak.”
Assignment for next class: Journal entry: What influences have affected your gender identity?  What are the effects of this acculturation?

Wed., Oct. 31: Watch “Still Killing Us Softly.”  Discuss Video.
Assignment for next class: Review the portrayal of women and men in ads in various magazines.  Try to look at a variety of magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Newsweek, Esquire, your own subscriptions or favorites; Bring to next class at least three examples of ads that reflect contemporary images of women and men.

Mon., Nov. 5: Discuss ads.  See video on ‘Today” show and discuss.  See excerpt from video on Jane Addams. 
Assignment for next class: Read Jane Addams from Twenty Years at Hull-House, 504-525, anthology.

Wed., Nov. 7: Discuss Jane Addams.
Assignment for next class: Journal entry on Addams and the work of the women at Hull House in relation to other women leaders and ways of addressing social justice issues already explored in the course.

Mon., Nov. 12: Effective oral presentations: technology and oral communication.  Project planning.

Wed., Nov. 14: Long-range reading projects.  Small group planning for large group presentation and discussion.  If time permits, begin presentations and discussions of chosen women leaders from Written by Herself.

Mon., Nov. 19 : Presentations and discussions of women leaders chosen from Written by Herself.

Wed., Nov. 21: NO CLASS; THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

Mon., Nov. 26:  Guest Speaker: S. Jan Gregorcich.  Women in Guatemala.  Come to Room NDH 450.
Assignment for Wed.: Work on project paper and presentations.

Wed., 11/28: Video:  “Beyond Killing Us Softly: The Strength to Resist.”  Discussion and preparation for projects presentations.

Mon., 12/3: Project Presentations and discussion.

Wed., 12/5: Project Presentations and discussion.  Project Paper Due.

**THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6: 12:00 Helfaer Hall.  Distribution of certificates for Leadership Seminar for Social Justice.  President O’Donoghue and pizza.

Mon., 12/10:  Final exam period:  Loose ends, course evaluation, revisiting of personal mission statements, in-class journal entry on effects of course on the individual.

Components of Grade:

Attendance at college-wide guest speaker presentation and one-page reflection:	5%
Class attendance and participation:	20%
Mid-term:	10%
Reflection papers:	20%
Project (oral and written):	25%
Journals, quizzes, and in-class writing:	20%