A Collection of Campus Theme Ideas
The following Campus Theme ideas have not yet been formally proposed, but they may be under consideration in future years. If you are interested in becoming involved in the development or coordination of one of the following themes, or if you have another theme idea to suggest, please contact Professor Joe Chaney, Director of General Education, at jchaney@iusb.edu.
- The World Family
(Introduced by Professor Kathy Ritchie, Department of Psychology)
This theme would have application, most obviously, to psychological, sociological, anthropological, and women’s studies topics, and it would also apply to sustainability issues. In the realm of the humanities, the theme of family discord is central to literature; ethical issues and also the question of the universal and the particular might engage philosophy courses; and history and civilization courses might trace the significance of family in various regions over time. The theme would engage race and diversity issues. In the sciences, students could explore relevant topics in genetics and perhaps, in a somewhat more metaphorical vein, problems of classification.
- Who Am I? Questions of Identity
(Introduced by Vice Chancellor Pat Ames, Information Technology)
This theme may be addressed across many disciplines through questions such as these: How do our identities and belief systems develop? What are our roles in a highly interconnected world? What is the connection between spirituality and self?
We could investigate gender definitions/gender roles, immigration, civic responsibility, and environmental stewardship, just to name a few areas. Such a theme would also integrate well with previous campus themes dealing with citizenship and sustainability. From an IT point of view this subject has particular relevance with respect to identity theft, the illicit means used to obtain information and the difficulties encountered in getting one’s life back on track afterwards.
- The Seven Wonders of the World
(Introduced by Professor Matt Marmorino, Department of Chemistry)
It would be easy for each department to consider the Seven Wonders of their Discipline (e.g., literary works for English [7 wonders of the WORD?], materials for Chemistry, organisms for Biology, archeological finds for Anthropology). In some departments the natural and man-made wonders could be separated. Perhaps one way to combine them all for a unified Campus Theme program would be to work in reverse and start with the department wonders – each department showcasing its wonders in turn, and the students voting for the final seven wonders of the campus. Perhaps certain departments could group together, e.g. chemistry, biology, and physics group together and have the seven “natural science” wonders of the world to aid in the once-a-month or more-frequent presentation.
Every discipline has wonders and thus there is no way that a department can be left out of this campus theme. This theme is also simple enough that anyone can appreciate it.
- Food for Thought/ Thought for Food
(Introduced by Louise Collins)
Food-related topics easy link with sociology (Professor Lucal teaches a course in the sociology of food), psychology (eating disorders? food, desire, and happiness?), literature, WoSt, biology & ecology, nursing (nutrition), business (eat global/local, cost of meat production vs veggies, Corn & ethanol vs feedcorn issue etc), history (cool books on spice trade & colonization & potato famine...). One could imagine a multicultural film series. Options for the One Book/One Campus text would be numerous. For example, Michael Pollen's Omnivore's Dilemma.
- Creativity
(Introduced by Diane Persin)
This theme might require a snazzier and more specific title, but it is a theme that could be applied to a number of different disciplines--not only within the arts, but also in the fields of technology, education, etc. Possible books within this theme could be Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class or Howard Gardner's Creating Minds.
