Current Discussion Question

Contributors:

James A. Barry
Visiting Associate Professor
New Century College

Frank Blechman
Clinical Faculty
MS Program Coordinator
Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution

Joel Clark
Public and International Affairs

Joel Garreau
Senior Fellow & George Cook Distinguished Fellow
The School of Public Policy

Margaret R. Yocom
Associate Professor
Department of English

Teresa Michals
Director
The Mason Topics Program

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Discussion Question
for Spring 2001

Citizens Watch Presidential Debates

Citizenship was an important focus this semester for The Mason Topics Program. Formerly the Linked Courses Program, we continue to create learning communities by enrolling the same group of students in two classes. We now link this cohort of students, however, not only in their first semester at George Mason, but throughout their freshman and sophomore years, creating a coherent sequence of General Education classes that focus on one of four themes: The American Experience, The Information Society, The Global Village, and Ancient Studies / Modern Frames.

Working with faculty from different academic departments and with the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the Mason Topics Program used the Presidential debates to help students see themselves as informed voters, and to enjoy seeing themselves this way. This fun (and useful)l moment connected the classroom with out-of-the-classroom learning through the larger idea of citizenship. By working together, people involved in different aspects of these students' campus life were able to create a set of learning experiences about citizenship that we felt were more meaningful than any one assignment we could have constructed individually.

In the end, quite a number of us were involved: Erin Kennedy, the Academic Coordinator for Residence Life; Teresa Michals, the Director of the Mason Topics Program; Mel Nichols, Andy Fogle, Scott Berg, and Jackie Meeks of English; Peter Henriques of History, Scott Keeter and Joel Clark of Public and International Affairs; Brent Parrish, the President of the College Democrats; and Beckie Clemens, the Mason Topics administrative assistant.

Here's What We Did