Stu ent Gov't hig jinks in Fun City 1
THE
ETROPOLITAN •
Denver, Co1oraao
ine MSC student ne\\spaper r,erving the Auraria Campus. smce 1979
Volume 12
Issue 29
.which Is too large to be shown In Its entirety, wlll be on display In the Aurarla Library through May 4. The display Includes 11 qullts made for Denver AIDS victims. Story pg. 12. Photo by Jodie Skinner
IMetro eyes mandatory classes Timothy D. Robertson The Metropolitan
ffthe word "required" makes your stomach turn, especially near graduation, the General _ Studies Committee at Metro has a surprise for you. The committee is recommending the establishment of a required three-hour course which focuses on various ethnic and cultural groups. In hearings held April 9 and I 0, the • committee heard favorable opinions about the added course. Rep. Wayne Knox, DDenver, said he would like to see the multicultural course introduced into the general studies requirements at Metro. Suburban schools tend to reflect one ~ predominant ethnic group, leaving many students without much experience with other groups, Knox said. "I'm sure [students'] knowledge of the history and the problems of the social values of the variety of ethnic groups leaves much
to be desired. I feel, a5 an urban institution, if Metropolitan State College is to improve a pluralistic society and a multi-ethnic society, it involves some depth of understanding of it," Knox said. Although still in the preliminary stages, the multicultural course would need to meet several criteria before being established. The guidelines include: • Exploring the formation and evolution of cultural values. • Acquiring in-depth knowledge of at least one culture that differs from the mainstream American culture. • Studying the interrelationships of at least two cultural groups. • Analyzing the factors which lead to the formation and continuation of cultural groups within a society. • Investigating the role of bias, prejudice and discrimination in reinforcing and perpetuating multicultural distinctions within a society. • Developing a sensitivity to the cus-
toms, behavioral patterns and identities of diverse cultural groups. George Becker, a professor of biology at Metro, said he thinks the course would be beneficial because higher education is Jacking general education. "I strongly support this proposal," Becker said, "because I believe that the college education covers aspects of education, but probably centers on three factors: skills training ... general education ... and profes.5ional-education training, or how to make a living. "I believe that we are dealing with issues in general education here and that we are doing our students a disservice if we send them out into our pluralistic society without a formal education to the many definable groups within our society and how they see themselves. And, above all, how they interact within our American society." Tracy Phariss, a Metro graduate and a member of the Auraria Lesbian and Gay Alliance, said he believes that a multicultural
course that discusses homosexuality would reduce the high rate of homophobia.
"If this curriculum includes sexual orientation of gays and lesbians, it will focus on the needs of the people who come here," Phariss said. "Ten percent of this campus is gay or lesbian ... it would be extremely beneficial for the students, and eventually the general society, to include the section of sexual orientation of gay and lesbian individuals." Lyn Wickelgren, chair of the committee, said that the new requirement would not necessarily mean that three credits would be tacked onto the total hours needed for graduation. She said she would also like to see the whole process expedited. "Now we have the hearings, so things are starting to move along. Hopefully, there will be a closure in the matter by the end of this semester. If everything goes well, the course would most likely be implemented within a year, like the fall of 1991 ," Wickelgren D said.