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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 9/26/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
February 15, 2005 UWGB class studies sex orientation, law Hulse heads three-hour UWGB course By Cynthia Hodnett Last spring, Hulse, 23, asked university officials for permission to
teach Sexual Orientation and the Law, a three-hour course that meets every
Wednesday this semester.
Hulse is teaching the course through an opportunity that allows students
to teach on campus.
"It's exciting to step into the role of teacher, especially about something
that I'm passionate about," he said. "Last year, I sat in a desk. This
year, I'm at the desk teaching."
Hulse spent the first day of class introducing himself and getting to
know his 14 students. Most students are taking the upper-level course
as an elective course to meet their degree requirements, he said.
"I'm a gay man and I'm comfortable with it. I told them about me so
they weren't like, 'Who is this guy and why is he up there teaching?'"
he said. "I was interested in why they were taking the course. There were
people who said, 'I'm gay and this affects me and this interest me.' There
are also people who aren't gay but someone they know who is."
Hulse uses a law textbook and materials about various court cases involving
sexual orientation and the law to generate class discussion.
Social issues involving gay, lesbian and bisexual people such as employment
discrimination, same-sex marriages and same-sex couples who adopt children
also are discussed in class.
Much of a recent discussion centered around a case involving an Oshkosh
man, Greg Hirte, who said he killed another man because he was humiliated
after the two had a sexual encounter. After a five-day sanity trial, a
jury rejected Hirte's claim that he was mentally ill at the time of the
incident. He faces a mandatory life prison term with sentencing set for
March 17 in Winnebago County Court.
"A challenge for me is to be balanced," when teaching, he said. "I have
my own viewpoints which I do share. But I also try to present the other
side."
Students are required to write four research papers based on facts from
a court case involving sexual orientation. In the papers, students have
to discuss how they would decide the case by using various facts from
their research.
"I think the class will help me overall, on a personal level and with
educating other people," said Kiyoke Lopez, a 28-year-old senior.
"Everything I learn is going to affect me. The constitutional amendment
to ban gay marriages is a big topic right now. When I think about how
I want to marry my girlfriend, I want to be able to buy a house. We want
to be able to be parents. These are just simple decisions that a lot of
heterosexual couples take for granted but affect gay and lesbian people
legally."
Hulse found out about student-led courses after learning UWGB had offered
a course on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues several years
ago, but it focused more on psychology.
Last year, he joined a subcommittee that revised guidelines for student-led
courses, which were later approved by UWGB's Faculty Senate. The senate
also agreed to allow students to teach after this academic year.
As a part of the guidelines, Hulse was required to create a syllabus,
assignments and tests under the supervision of Francis Carleton, an associate
professor of Urban and Regional Studies.
"This isn't something that happens often, maybe every five years or
so," Carleton said. "One issue is does the student have the time and confidence
to carry out the task of teaching and Aaron does. He's very well positioned
to be a student instructor. With the amount work involved, it's a process
in which only the best student is going to want to do this."
Besides making sure he knows the material well enough to deliver it,
Hulse will issue grades on a pass/no credit basis.
"He was concerned about grading, that it was all subjective and how
can he make a judgment," Carleton said.
"I told him that you quickly learn that some students write extraordinary
papers and some students write lousy papers. With essay exams you do see
qualities that are hard to miss."
This is the only time that the course will be offered, Carleton said.
In order for it to be offered again, another student would have to take
the same steps as Hulse did in order to teach it.
While Hulse is teaching his peers, he's also taking classes for his
major.
Besides teaching and studying, Hulse also works full time as a restaurant
manager and spends the rest of his time preparing to teach.
"It's challenging. I didn't realize how much time it would take but
I enjoy it," he said. "I've never done this before, it's all new to me.
I told the students that this is a collective effort, that we're all in
this together. Just like them, I'm learning along the way."
Process for students interested in teaching a course on campus
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