Fall 2014 Honors Colloquia
Honors colloquia are available to honors sophomores, juniors, and seniors except where noted.
If a course is full, please contact the professor to inquire about force-add possibility!
The Musical Stage: From Opera to ‘American Idol’” ~ CRN 86377
Michael Saffle; Religion and Culture
Tuesdays; 7:00pm – 8:50pm ~ McBryde 204
Using music to illuminate stories -- tragedies of lost love and political manipulation, comedies of found love and
successful careerism -- has become ever more widespread since the early seventeenth century. Moving quickly from
"grand" and "light" opera to operetta and musical comedy, then to film and TV, this colloquium will provide students an
opportunity to learn more about how music itself actually works, and about how reality programming like "American
Idol" and animated series like "Phineas and Ferb" represent the latest waves in musical story-telling. No previous
musical experience necessary; just a willingness to try something new, whether it be Mozart, Verdi, "The Sound of
Music," or televised programming of many, many kinds.
Controversial Issues in Science and Society ~ CRN 86378
Jim Knight; Animal and Poultry Sciences
Tuesdays; 4:00pm – 5:55pm ~ Litton Reeves 1800
This class is designed to help students think critically about various controversial issues that are “in the news” virtually
every day but about which there is a general lack in depth if understanding amongst the general population. While all
issues discussed in this course have a specific basis, the focus of this Colloquium is on developing reasoned positions at
the juxtaposition of the scientific, moral, and ethical issues associated with each topic. Topics discussed in depth include
birth control, abortion, assisted reproductive technologies, stem cell research, cloning, genetic engineering of plants and
animals, sexual orientation, and several other topics selected by the students enrolled. Everything that we do both in
and out of class is intended to assist students in formulating reasoned judgments and positions on these topics and on
understanding the importance and interrelationship of these issues. The Colloquium attempts to draw upon the diverse
background of the students enrolled to examine all issues from various points of view.
Nutrition, Brain & Behavior ~ CRN 86379
Michael Denbow; Animal and Poultry Sciences
Tuesdays; 3:30pm – 5:30pm ~ Litton Reeves 200
The neurochemistry of the brain is not subject to influence by short-term perturbations in diet which had long boon an
accepted tenet. Research has now shown, however, that what is ingested day-to-day can influence brain
neurotransmitter levels. Because all bodily functions are ultimately controlled by the central nervous system, this has
important implications in health and disease. Dietary influences on brain neurotransmitters can affect numerous
homeostatic mechanics and bodily functions, including sleep, obesity, depression, and immunity. The role of brain
neurotransmitters in behavior and the influence of diet on these functions will be explored.
Biomedical Ethics ~ CRN 86380
Robert Benoit; Biological Sciences Emeritus
Mondays; 1:00pm – 3:00pm ~ Hillcrest 132
The American health care system is the best money can buy. Will rationing be necessary to meet financial limitations?
Will it be necessary to use a "God committee" to make the hard choices in research objectives and the management of
health care delivery? Ethical dilemmas regarding end of life decisions, reproductive choices, cloning, and genetic
manipulation will be discussed. Various professional codes will be used during the examination of ethical violations of
the following: applied and basic research, publication misconduct, animal rights, and human consent rules. Ethical
principles will be used to discuss obligations of research university community members in a complex world faced with
multiple ever-evolving challenges. Ethical differences inherent in various ethnic cultures will be considered.
This course uses the case history approach common in medical schools, hospital ethics committees, and law schools to
resolve ethical applications. Each student is required to participate in the discussion of each case. Failure to participate
in class discussion is a default ethical violation.
Create! ~ CRN 86372
Liesl Baum; Center for the Arts at VT
Tuesdays; 4:00pm – 6:00pm ~ MAC 253
This course is designed to lead students through the process of creative inquiry, design, and collaboration to explore the
boundaries of the arts, science, and design. Through activities and discussions students will build an understanding of
the ties between multiple disciplines. To identify these ties, students will engage in activities that build participation and
questioning strategies for workshops and lectures, problem finding, analogical and metaphorical thinking, and
collaboration in multiple formats. The collaboration of students, faculty, and visiting artists will encourage students to
explore their own interests as they are situated within the boundaries of disciplines and provide strategies to create and
innovate within and among disciplines.
The Whedonverse ~ CRN 86374
Heather Gumbert; History
Tuesdays; 3:30pm – 5:30pm ~ Hillcrest 132
What do Speed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dark Horse Comics, Firefly, and The Avengers have in common? Joss Whedon.
By the time his first feature film was released in 1992, Whedon had already established himself as a prolific television
writer. He moved into feature films and proved himself an able “script doctor” for movies as varied as Toy Story, Speed,
and Alien: Resurrection. He returned to television with Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1996-2003), followed up by Angel
(1999-2004, Firefly (2002-2003), and Dollhouse (2009-2010), creating rich, mythological, story worlds that drew the
attention of fans, critics, and scholars alike. This semester, we will immerse ourselves in the “Whedonverse” to explore
questions about the changing nature of the film and television industries, the role and practice of the writer, reception
and fandom, and the enduring power of narrative in contemporary American society. Come prepared with an
enthusiasm for watching, reading, and writing all things Whedon!
Charles Darwin: Myths and Reality ~ CRN 86376
Duncan Porter; Biological Sciences Emeritus
Peter Graham; English
Wednesdays; 4:00pm – 5:50pm ~ Hillcrest 132
To gain familiarity with the career, writings, and ideas of Charles Darwin, to understand some of the ways in which he
has become a cultural icon, and to see how his theories (understood or misunderstood), faithfully represented or
twisted affect our lives today.
Taxation and Culture ~ CRN 86371
Debra Salbador; Accounting & Information Systems
Wednessays; 9:00am – 11:00am ~ Hillcrest 132
This course will explore taxation in the United States from an historical, sociological and economic perspective. We will
examine the social and economic issues that have shaped our system of taxation as well as the effects that taxes have
on a wide range of societal issues such as wealth, gender, diversity, international relations, immigration, and ethics. The
objective of the course is to raise awareness of the interactions between taxes, our everyday lives and the social and
economic issues that we face over time. This course is definitely not your tax accountant’s tax class!
Addictions & Relationships ~ CRN 88218
Arthur Buikema; Biological Sciences
Tuesdays; 3:00pm – 5:00pm ~ Litton Reaves 1770
Addicts deal with three major types of relationships in their addiction and recovery. These relationships are: 1) the
relationship between the addiction and the addict; 2) the intrapersonal relationship the addict has with self; and 3) the
interpersonal relationships between the addict and other people. Topics will include the similarities between addiction
and religion, spirituality, moral development, denial, the cycle of self-destruction, different models of recovery,
acceptance of self and by others, friendships and family life before, during and after the addiction, etc. Students will be
given readings and participate in exercises to stimulate discussion and help understand the complex life of the addict.
Recovering addicts will be invited to the class to share their experiences. Students will be given writing assignments to
explore each of these major relationships.
Literature and Food ~ CRN 88807
Sue Saffle; English
Wednesdays; 5:30pm – 7:20pm ~ McBryde 218
Since Homer's day and the birth of the Bible, food has figured significantly in literature. Petronius gave us "Trimalchio's
Banquet," the starting place for all those Hollywood films about Romans reclining and reaching for peeled grapes.
Chaucer gave us a variety of edibles and Shakespeare more. Zola introduced us to "The Belly of Paris," about one of the
world’s first urban food transport and purchasing systems, and George Orwell shared the restaurant hardships he
suffered in "Down and Out in Paris and London." Recently, a host of "foodie" books, films, and TV shows have brought us
into closer contact with literary (or filmic) eating around the world. This course provides an opportunity for students to
learn more about literature through the history of food, with emphasis on recent developments in food knowledge and
writing.
Student Event Curation: Islamic Arts & Culture Festival ~ CRN 88602
Amber Smith; University Honors
***Times will vary for this class***
Join a student team of curators and planners to organize a festival that celebrates the arts and culture of the Islamic
world. The festival will run from April 7–12, 2015, and it will be presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. The
festival aims to build knowledge and understanding about Islam’s history and current practice; explore the Islamic world
in its numerous political, social, religious, and cultural contexts; and experience and celebrate the rich arts and cultural
traditions that are practiced in predominantly Islamic societies. Students on the planning team will research and
program specific artists and activities, plan and execute community engagement for the festival, and curate existing arts
and culture events in our region with visiting artists’ performances. The student team will receive a budget from the
Center for the Arts and collaborate with members of the arts presenter’s staff to design the entirety of the festival.
Initial planning has already begun, but honors students will begin attending bi-weekly meetings in the fall semester and
weekly meetings in the spring semester. The three credits for this course will be awarded at the completion of the spring
semester (with a temporary X grade given in the fall semester) to ensure student commitment through the hosting of
the event in April 2015. To learn more about this opportunity, contact Jon Catherwood-Ginn at rjginn@vt.edu. To earn
Honors credit for this opportunity, contact Amber Smith at azsmith@vt.edu.
Engagement with the Arts at Virginia Tech ~ CRN 88603
Amber Smith; University Honors & a variety of university faculty
Mondays; 3:15pm – 5:15pm ~ Hillcrest 132
This colloquium will foster critical engagement with artistic performances and exhibitions. Throughout the semester,
students will attend a variety of arts events presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, academic
departments, campus arts groups, and local arts organizations. In the days or weeks preceding each event, students will
study with university faculty to understand context for the artistic work, creators, or genre; explore complicating issues
and themes in the work; and discuss interdisciplinary connections between the events and students’ own lives and
courses of study. Some faculty or guests may address the creative process through the creation of art. Faculty will rotate
so that students can meet multiple outstanding professors with interests and expertise specific to each arts event.
Course work will include discussion of prepared readings, attendance of performances and engagement events,
reflective writing, and artistic creation. Student tickets will be paid for by University Honors. Required performances and
faculty roster will be determined once performance schedules are finalized, but tentatively, this semester’s events may
include (and may not be limited to) international dance and choral ensembles, classical music, comedy and spoken
word, and multimedia theatre. We intend that this course will become a regular part of the Honors curriculum with
content varying each semester based on performance schedules.
Urbanization and Social Change ~ CRN 89369
Paul Knox; Public & International Affairs
Tuesdays; 6:00pm – 9:00pm ~ Kent Square (3rd floor conference room)
This seminar will explore the relationships between the built environment and social change, using London as an
extended illustrative example. London is an important metropolis not just in terms of its history and its landmark
buildings. It has a unique internal geography that is expressed in a mosaic of districts, each with its own history and
distinctive character. The townscapes of London’s districts reflect changing ideals in architecture, urban design, and
planning, changing opportunities in real estate development, and the changing tastes and values of consumers.
London’s districts are thus both text and context: fossilized social history, layerings of economic, social, and architectural
history in in stock