We will approach the space with honesty and integrity in our actions.
We will comprehensively approach uncomfortable topics objectively and in a scholarly way, keeping an open mind without attacking or being hateful about the identities of fellow students or minority groups. We will respect one another’s identities and opinions. We will be mindful that we all have vastly different experiences and they are all valuable to creating a well rounded perspective to improve our outlook and writing.
We will foster a supportive and open-minded environment to encourage participation from our peers. We will make sure that everyone is comfortable sharing their opinions and is not stressed out. We will take turns sharing to the class to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard after small-group discussions. We will respect everyone’s opinions even if they are different and even when there is disagreement. We will do our best to demonstrate curiosity in note-taking, reading, and listening to classmates.
We will strive for a safe space where we can learn from various perspectives. We will actively, carefully, and respectfully listen when someone is sharing their ideas. We will listen to different perspectives and be open to change while paying attention to our personal wellbeing with the awareness that, for our mental health, we may need to take a step outside/a breathing break. We will foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing—and where tending to discomfort feels possible.
We will critique ideas and not the people behind them during peer review and discussion. We will remember to be respectful to each other when discussing the themes of the texts in this class, especially considering that they may contain sensitive topics.
We will only use electronics for educational purposes that contribute to the conversation or class (e.g., note-taking, noise-cancellation for reading). We will be respectful while using electronics by remaining conscientious of their potential to distract others.
We will be mindful of others when bringing food into the room and only eat finger foods. We will always clean up after ourselves (after bringing in food or drinks).
We will read Mary’s comments on our writing and one another’s feedback on our work. We will ask questions when we need clarification about criticism, and will do our best to incorporate feedback into our revisions.
We will not tolerate hate speech, including but not limited to homophobia, sexism, racism, transphobia, ableism, and religious intolerance. We will avoid slurs, insults, microaggressions, charged language, and inappropriate tone. We will assume good intention (even if the impact is harmful) and allow room for one another’s learning in instances when we accidentally cross a line.
We will avoid the temptation to use electronics during class time for reasons that fall outside the parameters of our class (responding to a text, reviewing notes for another class) and recognize that doing so may result in a non-participation day.