Professors fought to be heard over the sound of students and faculty entering the room and event organizers adding extra chairs. Twenty minutes into the presentation they were forced to stop to allow the organizers to remove the room divider, push the panel’s table back and add additional chairs for the steady stream of people entering late.
About 50 people attended the first teach-in Wednesday focused on the history of Afghanistan. The event covered Afghani culture and the political issues surrounding the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
Members of the University community present at the event expressed an interest in learning more about the events that have altered the nation and changed the way professors teach.
Teach-ins date back to the Vietnam War when students protested the government’s involvement. The University has used teach-ins in recent years to address students’ concerns over the Gulf War.
“It’s important to have these types of discussions,” said Kevin Estes, a junior sociology major.
The teach-in was the idea of Lisa Walker, assistant professor of English, and member of the Faculty Senate Multicultural Forum Planning Committee, which sponsored the event. The forum was designed to educate students and faculty and provide them with an opportunity to express their concerns over current events. Walker was motivated by reports of ongoing harassment against Americans of Middle Eastern decent.
“The University and community need to stand with people who have been targeted,” she said.
The teach-in began early Tuesday morning and lasted all day, giving students and faculty an opportunity to learn more about current events and express their concerns. A few professors preempted their planned lectures to take their students down to the panel discussion. This led to the high attendance, surpassing the expectations of the panel members.
One of the professors who attended with his class was Assistant Professor of English Benjamin Bertram. He took his college writing class to the first teach-in session. He said his class was interested in learning more about the current.
Bertram’s class has changed since the Sept. 11 attacks. He has tied the events into his lectures and assignments. Students in the class are given the chance to sort through their thoughts through writing assignments and class discussions.
“I think the conversations have been very productive,” Bertram said.
Lynn Kuzma, assistant professor of political science, has altered the way she teaches her classes after the terrorist attacks. Following those events she began her class by discussing the current news of the attacks and answering the questions of her students in a manner similar to the teach-in format. She said she has also changed her approach to teaching by taking a stance on an issue instead of playing devil’s advocate with her students. Kuzma has also become more involved in the criticism of United States policy.
Other professors, particularly in the humanities, have incorporated the events into their classroom discussions and assignments. Students in these courses note that classes that occasionally incorporate the terrorist attacks and current events facilitate a level of discussion similar to the teach-in.
“[We’ve been] talking about current events in class and tying it into class,” said Francesca Gilkey, a senior sociology and women studies major.
Students said there is a continuing need to talk about the current events and express their feelings and viewpoints. Many students said they feel the free exchange of ideas through both classes and the teach-in has been a good response to the events of Sept. 11 and the ensuing developments.
A second teach-in will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2 on the Portland and Gorham campuses for members of the USM community.
“[The attacks have] changed the context of education,” said James Lindensmidt, a senior philosophy major.
Staff Writer Jennifer Thomas can be contacted at [email protected]