Faith and Politics:
This spring semester class is for students interested in social change.
Although Spring semester registration has come and gone, many students are left looking for classes to fulfill credit needs or major/minor requirements as classes are often in flux semester to semester. One of the most exciting classes offering itself to students this upcoming term is POLI-415 Faith and Politics. This class will be offered this upcoming spring as both an elective or major requirement depending on the student’s field of study.
This class is based primarily in discussion, as it pulls apart the nuances of faith applied to political theory in the modern day. The interaction between faith and politics is a fascinating one, and a class worth taking not only for political science majors, but for any student interested in social change and faith. Many pre-law, sociology, economics and social work students are encouraged to take this class as an elective due to its nature of conversation and debate. POLI-415 helps hone the practical and vitally necessary skill of productive conversation and communication, especially from a faith perspective. Additionally, it helps students to look at politics through the lense of faith, instead of as separate issues.
Much of the dialogue in this class surrounds hot-button foreign and domestic policy issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, education policy, abortion, homosexuality, capital punishment and public policies of economic redistribution. Applying traditional Catholic and Protestant thinkers to these modern issues makes for a very interesting class and conversation. The goal of this class is to better understand the interest of wealth and power as it interacts with faith in the realm of politics.
If you’re looking for an additional class to add to your Spring semester schedule, perhaps this class is the one for you. Professor Alexios Alexander’s analysis of the interaction of faith and politics in POLI-415 is an exciting, discussion-based class great for students interested in social change!
by Kay O’ Keefe
Writing for Publication:
Inside the class being co-taught by Professor Gidjunis and Professor Todd.
This spring the English department will be offering the course Writing for Publication. Writing for Publication is a writing course that specializes in helping students learn the ins and outs of the publishing world—including the more non-traditional routes. Students will learn how to craft cover letters and how to deal with rejection in all areas of publishing. According to Professor Rebecca Gidjunis, this course was designed specifically because she found that while the advanced writing courses Eastern offers help students hone their skills and passion, they don’t exactly provide any paths to publication. Thus, she and Professor Katrina Hayes put their brains together to develop this course for students who want to go further with their creative writing. Both of these professors have experience in the literary world and wanted to share that experience with their students.
This spring, Gidjunis is excited to ‘team’ teach with Professor Sarah Todd who brings to the table experience in novel publication.
“With my experience as a poet and managing editor of a poetry press and Professor Todd’s experience as a former bookseller and current fiction writer, students will learn a variety of revising, editing, networking, workshopping, social media postings, and submission techniques in regard to publication,” Gidjunis said of her expectations for the class this spring.
Students who want to pursue their creative writing talents in more concrete ways are encouraged to take the class. The class will be offered this upcoming spring (2020) and the meeting times will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. Those interested in taking the class must have passed at least Creative Writing (or one of the other listed writing courses) before they can register for the class.
by Cait Wooten
Psychology of the Family:
Learn more about the class being co-taught by Dr. Turner and Dr. Stoppa.
Eastern offers a lot of diverse and interesting courses, but not many are co-taught by two professors. Fortunately, one class offered every spring is Psychology of the Family (PSYC 319), a course designed to introduce students to theories and practical approaches to working with families resolving issues affecting family systems. This course is taught by Drs.Turner and Stoppa, and one of their goals is to expand undergraduate students’ thinking about working with families.
“When people think about counseling, they typically think about the individual,” Dr.Turner said.
Many do not realize that when counseling a family, there are different approaches.. One of the main elements taught in the course is how to apply psychological theories to understanding and analyzing family issues. Students not only learn this through class discussions and reflective assignments, but through watching videotaped family therapy sessions and thinking about what they are learning within the contexts of families in real-life.
In the beginning of the course, there are several activities to help students break out of the traditional thinking of what a family is and look at concepts with fresh eyes.
Next semester, the class will be offered on Mondays and Wednesdays. The class requires a grade of “C” or higher in PSY 100 and PSY 205, 206, or 207. Although the class is full for the upcoming spring semester, the class is offered every spring, so if you could not register for it this upcoming year, keep it in mind for the future. It is a class that will not fail to open you to new perspectives.
by Nicole Markert
Interpersonal Communication:
Inside this class where students sit in a circle in order to learn about the topics in-depth in a more personal setting.
Communication, which seems simple, is something we all participate in every day. What if there was a class offered that is geared towards improving your relationships, improving your communication and understanding the way others communicate? Luckily, such a class exists. Dr. Julie Morgan, a professor in the communication department (who is also the Interim Department Chair this semester), teaches the wonderful course. COMM 201 (Interpersonal Communication) will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11 a.m.
Why should you take this class? Well, for starters, it is a requirement for communication majors with an interpersonal concentration. For other students with communication majors and minors, the class counts as a communication elective.
“It’s one of those classes that will have an immediate impact on your life,” Dr.Morgan said when asked why students should take the class.
When taking the class, students take turns presenting different topics that are discussed in the course textbook. Rather than being lectured by Dr. Morgan, students sit in a circle and discuss the topic in depth. While this class is one that actually requires you reading to understand the concepts, these readings will change your life, the way you look at your relationships and your communication style.
I took this class last spring, and I am happy to say it is a class that truly impacted my life. I find myself applying topics from this class on a daily basis. Due to the deep discussion-based style of the class, I have genuinely made some amazing and supportive friends in the class whom I would have never otherwise met. If you have some space in your schedule and want some positive change in your life, take interpersonal. I guarantee that you will love it.
by Lillie Allen
Shane Witzer 
Hannah Bonanducci