U Magazine, Winter 1986

issues curriculum, one that would "provide (students with) a basis for reflection and critical judgment on contemporary social and moral issues." After an enthusiastic response from the deans, Sr. Furay established a social issues committee in the fall of 1984. The committee includes at least one professor from each school and is chaired by faculty. Othe rs on the committee are student body president Shawn O'Hearn, Fr. Mike McKay, director of Campus Ministry, Skip Walsh, assistant dean/director of residence life, a nd Sr. Furay. So why a peace movem ent at USD? "Sr. Furay felt that students should be exposed to peace issues," says Dr. Joan Anderson, a business professor who ch airs the social issues committee this school year. "As a Catholic institution," Sr. Furay explains, "we have the obligation to pay attention to the plight of individuals who need assistance and to systemic injustices...There is no such thing as Gospel Christianity without orientation toward social justice." Before the committee began to formu late a curriculum, facu lty members Anderson, Dr. Dennis Briscoe and Dr. George Bryjack surveyed students and facu lty. They asked facu lty what social issues they were bringing up in class. if any, and to what extent. They asked students what issues they were interested in learning about. The student survey, which received 855 responses, revealed that th eir knowledge of world problems, such as poverty and foreign aid , was extremely low. When asked what social issues should be covered in the new courses, students indicated more interest in drug abuse, college funding and capital punishment than in the nuclear arms race, human rights and apartheid. "A lot of our students are caring people," Dr. Anderson points out, "but they come from sheltered backgrounds and are not aware of what's going on in the Third World." The faculty survey indicated that about one-fourth of the university 's professors have, in some form, incorporated peace issues in the classroom. This spring, all faculty are being asked to do so. T he main thrust of the peace effort, however, will come in the form of team– tau ght peace-theme courses: --"War: Myth and Reality," which will be team taught by Jim Rocha, assistant professor of art, who is also a Vietnam veteran, and Dr. Cynthia Caywood, assistant professor of English. The course explores the artistic and literary depiction of war.

The main thrust of the peace effort, however, will come in the form of team-taught peace– theme courses.

. . , .... -~.-··· ,_ ~ ' ...... Sr. Sally Furay

-Games, Weapons, Morals," to be taught by Dr. Lukasz Pruski, assistant professor of mathematics, and Dr. Dennis Rohatyn , professor of philosophy. The course examines the relationships of game and value theories in international conflict. - "International Politics," which will be taught by Dr. Lee Ann Otto, assistant professor of political science, and Steve Hartwell, associate professor of law. The course focuses on conflict resolution and negotiation strategies. - "Images of Peace." Dr. Pat Drinan , professor of political scien ce, and Fr. Ron Pachence, associate professor of religious studies, will teach the course. It explores images of discord, hope and reconciliation which emerge from various religious and political traditions. To deliver peace messages to the community-at-large, the social issues committee has scheduled five evening faculty forums t his spring that w ill be open to the public. All will be in the form of panel discussions and have their roots in the challenge for peace issued two years ago in a U.S. Bishops' Pastoral letter. The panelists for a ll five forums are Marine Major Walter A. Schartmann, an NROTC instructor here; Leland "Buzz" Featherman , a local attorney active in the Lawyers Alliance for Nuclear Arms Control; Dr. Gary Macy, associate professor of religious studies. Paul Wohlmuth , associate professor of law; and Dr. Anderson. Each will have a t urn at leading the discussion . The forums, in order of when they take place. are : - "When it Comes to Nuclear War, Can We be Moral and Survive?" (Dr. Macy) -"Is it Possible to have a Just War Today?" (Schartmann) - "Can We Achieve Peace Through

Dr. Joan Anderson

Fr. Michael McKay

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