HUM 107 Diversity in the Workplace
Summer I 2006
PREREQUISTES: ENG 2 & HIS 2
Professor Michael D. Theno
email: mtheno@menlo.edu
OFFICE: 462 Brawner
Mailbox: 469 Brawner
Phone/Voicemail: (650) 543-3816
FAX: (650) 543-4003
CLASS Date/time: 9am – noon as follows:
Wed-Fri May 10-12, Mon-Thurs May 15-18, Mon-Fri May 22-26, & Tues-Thurs
May 30-June 1
REQUIRED TEXTS AND INTERNET SOURCES:
E-MAIL ADDRESS: hum_107@yahoo.com
password: menlocollege
The syllabus, assignments, lecture notes, and projects are found at the yahoo email
address above using the above password.
www.breakingranks.net
Fuller, Robert (2004). Some bodies and nobodies: Overcoming the abuse of rank.
British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers.
www.Kenji.Yoshino.com
Yoshino, Kenji (2006). Covering: The hidden assault on our civil rights. NY: Random
House.
COURSE DESCRIPTION, OBJECTIVES, REQUIREMENTS, GRADING,
PURPOSE, AND OUTCOMES:
This is a discussion-based class designed to explore, identify and understand race,
class, and gender issues as they relate to the workplace. The historical and legal
perspectives on such topics as national origin, sexual preference, disabilities, age,
and culture/ethnicity in the United States employment arena will be examined.
There is some focus on personal experience with extensive student involvement and
participation expected.
Student outcomes include an understanding of how rank-ism is a contemporary
iteration for isms and phobias currently used to divide Americans, the legitimate
and illegitimate uses and purposes of rank-ism, the concept of covering as something
we all do/have done and how to move beyond covering, an understanding of the
argument to move from a group-based equality rights to a universal liberty-based
rights concept in America, and a look at ageism, racism, national origin-ism, sexism,
homophobia, and victimization as a covering mechanism for disabilities. Finally, a
discussion around the questions: “What is to be done?” “What can we do?” “What
should we do?”
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GRADES will be determined as follows:
Attendance/participation:
Response papers:
Group projects:
TOTAL:
30%
30%
40%
100%
A = 100-90%
B = 89-80%
C = 79-70%
D = 69-60%
F = 59% and below
GRADING CRITERIA:
A = Complete and containing demonstrated & substantial original thought,
interpretation, & analysis
B = Complete and containing some original thinking, interpretation or analysis
C = Complete with some elaboration of/on the assignment
D = Incomplete and/or absent any elaboration, original thinking, interpretation, &
analysis
F = Failure to complete the assignment in a timely manner.
Demonstrated: readily apparent understanding of material
Substantial: ample & considerable in the amount of
Elaboration: detailed explanation that is absent original thinking, interpretation &
analysis
SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:
May 10 – 12 Fuller: Note to reader + Chapters 1 & 2
Yoshino: Preface + An Uncovered Self
John Stewart on race
May 15 – 18 Fuller: Chapters 3 & 4
Yoshino: Part One: Gay conversion, passing, & covering
Film: In Good Company: response paper one of three
NO CLASS ON FRIDAY MAY 19th
May 22 – 26 Fuller: Chapters 5, 6, & 7
Yoshino: Part Two: Racial covering & sex-based covering
Film: Prozac Nation: response paper one of three
Film: Crash: response paper one of three
May 31
Fuller: Chapters 8 & 9
Yoshino: Part Three: The end of civil rights & a new civil rights
Film: North Country: response paper one of three
June 1
Fuller: Postscript, Epilogue, and Eulogy & Epitaph
Yoshino: Epilogue
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