Political, Social Sciences & Society   

Recent court cases regarding the Bill of Rights and the 17 amendments have resulted in some surprising decisions. The tensions between the lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court have at times caused some experts and scholars to question whether the rights set forth in the Bill of Rights and the 17 Amendments are even recognized and protected today. This class will take a detailed look at specific amendments, analyzing the policies and case laws surrounding each in order to draw conclusions about their relevance.

Racism has always impacted all aspects of life for Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, White, and other racialized groups in America and today is manifested in all U.S. institutions and systems. This course will focus on the newest edition of one of the best books ever written on this topic: Feagin and Ducey, Racist America: Roots, Current Realities, and Future Reparations, 5th ed., 2025. We will also learn from guest speakers, the instructor's writings, and other books and materials written in the last two years by racism experts.

Please Note: This course is hybrid, offering attendance both in the Homewood Community Engagement Center and online.

This course explores anthropological approaches to understanding cultural and social change, augmented by a number of ethnographic case studies from Navajo and Polynesian communities. Readings will include portions of a book manuscript and a number of articles, all of which will be made available by the instructor. The course will review basic principles of cultural evolutionism and cultural ecology, but members with some basic understanding of cultural anthropology are likely to get the most out of this course.

This course will explore the structure and function of state and federal courts within the United States Court System. Legal concepts such as standing, jurisdiction, venue, due process, remedies, and appeals will be explored. The course will analyze landmark court cases that have shaped the legal landscape together with contemporary legal issues and their implications for the courts. The impact of courtroom and courthouse technology will be discussed. Members will learn about alternative dispute resolution concepts and how they differ from traditional court cases.