In lieu of the 2003 humanities tour cancellations, a sophomore humanities section will be offered during this summer’s first term beginning on June 2 and continuing through July 1.
The announcement came to the student body April 2 though campus e-mail from Mark Matson, academic dean. He said the course will be taught with a minimum of seven students.
This year’s summer humanities semester came into existence because one-third of the humanities tour students cancelled, most due to war uncertainties. Because the tour replaces the second semester of sophomore humanities section, some did not take the course during the normal academic year.
Tim Dillon, associate professor of history and humanities, has taught summer humanities before and will teach this year. He said that some students benefit from concentrating on just one course.
“For people who actually put in the time and put in the work, this kind of course is their salvation,” said Dillon.
He said the negative side is that students have less time to think on the subject matter, and do not benefit from rotating lecturers.
Sophomore Lacy York pre-registered for the course April 8 after her father decided she should not go on the tour. York has taken summer classes at East Tennessee State University and is concerned with how the course will handle so much information. She said reading excerpts of books would be better than reading them in their entirety.
According to Jack Knowles, chair for the area of humane learning and professor of English, the first term was chosen because of its similarity to the tour’s time frame.
“Because we [Matson, Knowles and other humanities faculty] have taught humanities during the summer for many years,” said Knowles in an e-mail, “we knew that three hours of humanities could be taught in an educationally sound manner during a summer term.”
Class will be held weekdays 8 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Dillon said he plans to spend the first half of the class time on history and the second half on literature, philosophy, art and more.
Near the close of the first day of sophomore registration on April 8, two students had pre-registered for the course, including Lacy York., according to Carrie Shaw, registrar office manager.
Both students had cancelled from the humanities tour.
“I’d rather just take it in the summer and get it over with,” said York.
Knowles said considering the number of students who cancelled, he expects enough students will register.
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