Leading the Charge for Social Justice in Elmira College Class

Elmira, NY (06/25/2021) — This is the final First-Year Friday article. To get a description of all of the courses, please visit us on the web at First-Year Seminar | Elmira College First-year students should submit their selection forms by July 1st.

If you want to help create a more just world but aren't sure how to go about it, you might be interested in the First-Year Seminar course called Toward a More Just World. Taught by Joel Stoker, lecturer in religious studies, the class will learn from educators, artists, religious leaders, and activists who have successfully shifted power structures and empowered minorities and the underprivileged.

"I'm excited to help students discover how people have changed the world in the past, but more importantly, how people are working to make the world a better place right now," said Stoker. "There are numerous organizations in our own backyard filled with volunteers who make enormous sacrifices to help others find enough to eat, discover a vocation, educate our youth, shelter those who need it, and provide opportunities for racial and social justice."

"Injustice represents a universal problem we face as a species and it can only be solved collectively. Recent racial, economic, gender and suffrage movements show that we need social change and that the fight against injustice is unending."

Before making a difference, students will learn about the historical policies that created institutional discrimination and the social disparities of a modern, pluralistic world. They will then explore the narratives of those who have moved the arc of justice forward and then put theory to practice. They'll observe and participate in a local social justice organization. They'll also collaborate with leaders from local organizations to explore and influence the community. The course concludes with students' reports and presentations on their research, observations, and participation in the course projects.

"Learning about past experiences through the discovery of narrative records is a necessary step in understanding the successes and failures of those who fought for justice," said Stoker. "Yet, the countless untold stories - especially on a local level - that exist are the ones that need the most attention.

"It is by working side by side with local community organizers and activists where young people can learn the functional aspects of community engagement. True leadership and inspiration comes from seeing the positive impact of such work on the ground-level, where anyone who has the will to make a difference can positively influence their own community. Then, the experiences that have been gained can be used to ignite a passion towards community organization, policy innovation, and global action."

Beyond the classroom, students enrolled in Toward a More Just World will also be a part of the Social Justice Living Learning Community, living together on the same floor of the residence hall and participating in programming on social justice facilitated by their resident assistant.

"By joining the Social Justice Living Learning Community, students are expressing an interest and engagement in social justice topics," said Rebecca Johnson, associate professor of education and director of the First-Year Seminar Program. "By its very nature, this allows students to find people with shared values from their very first day on campus."

The First-Year Friday series highlights some of the great courses offered to first-year students while helping to guide students as they pick the Living Learning Community that best aligns with their goals and aspirations. Learn more about the program, the classes and instructors in previous articles (see below links).

PREVIOUS FIRST-YEAR FRIDAY ARTICLES:

Elmira College Programs Focus on Leadership From The Start
Planting the Seeds of Equity in Sustainable Living and Environmental Justice Course
What Hikes and Darwin Can Teach You About People and Science
Exploring Our Humanity and the Equity of Care in Health and Medicine
Is it the Art of Justice or the Justice of Art?
The Ethics That Guide Us: From Conquering Our Inner Monsters To Mastering Our Finances

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