Briefly Noted
February 21-23, 2007

• At breakfast on Thursday morning, we discussed the generation gap between faculty and students. In particular, we discussed how we have to be more and more careful mentioning “historical” events as examples. By this, we are not talking about ancient history, but our own history that pre-dates our student’s lives. Kennedy’s assignation is one such example.

• In his welcome message on Thursday morning, Dr. David Terrill mentioned that when he was growing up, America was seen as a melting pot. Then it became described as a salad bowl. Now, he sees it as an English cottage garden. I knew the first two images, but had not heard the third. I don’t think it is just because I like to garden that I like the image of an English cottage garden.

• At lunch on Thursday, we continued the discussion of plagiarism and copyright law that had began in a morning session. We also talked about how teaching is the greatest job in the world.

• After the LGBT presentation, I talked with a colleague who says she sometimes feels that people marginalize her because she is a person of faith; that they assume that she will be bigoted. I have no doubt that this happens to her. As we discussion tolerance and save space, we need to make sure that we provide a safe space for all students.

• At the LAND conference, I make a point not to each with colleagues from Schoolcraft College. Instead, I try to sit with people from other colleges. Sometimes, as with my “date” with Dr. Paula Harris to Thursday night’s dinner, it is a time to catch up with colleagues whom I only see periodically. At other times, it is to get to know people better whom I have just met. Looking around the room, it is clear that my actions are not typical. Most people sit with people they know.

• I was surprised when one presenter apologized for the politics in a video clip she showed because she did not want to offend. The video clip did come from a strong political viewpoint, but it was clear that the presenter was not using it for a political purpose. I saw no need to apologize for showing the clip. It seems to me that if the clip were so inappropriate that she needed to apologize, she should not have shown it.

Steven L. Berg, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English and History
Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty
Livonia, MI 48152
734-462-4400
sberg@schoolcraft.edu

This page was last updated on 19 June 2007.