By REBECCA GOETZ
Staff Writer
 

The new social justice requirement was drafted by a group of fourteen faculty members as well as a number of students.

"I participated in the sit-in because I think the social justice requirement is the most important general education requirement you can have. I don't think you can be a well-rounded, well-educated person without learning about what goes on in society," Amy Keith '99 said.

"I think there's a misconception that you can learn about society by living in it, but some people don't know about the inequalities and injustices in society at all," continued Keith.

The new social justice requirement would require students to take three courses or units "which focus on agents, processes, practices, and/or mechanisms that 1) create social justice and/or 2) institute or alleviate social justice." One course would focus on the United States, and one would have to be in a discussion or seminar format.

After Associate Professor of Rhetoric Charles Nero introduced the new legislation, Professor of History Steve Hochstadt invited three students to add their comments in support of the social justice requirement. No students opposing the requirement spoke.

"My challenge to you today is to take the next logical step in making diversity and tolerance a priority at this school," Cali Mortenson '98 said. "Most importantly, when discussing whether the social justice requirement as it is should be passed, the focus should be on the prima facie question at hand, which is, `should Bates have a social justice requirement?' not `can Bates afford to hire faculty and pay for training to fulfill the needs of a social justice requirement?'"

Also speaking in support of a social justice requirement, Renee Leduc `98 cited 11 recent hate crimes on the campus. "There is a connection between residential life and academic life at Bates that needs to be considered. A social justice requirement is a more positive step towards a more inclusive curriculum."

The doors to Chase Lounge remained shut throughout the student speeches, but afterwards, Professor Robert Branham made a motion to open the doors to allow the students sitting in outside to hear what was going on. After a brief discussion, the faculty voted to open the doors.

Discussion of the social justice requirement centered first around the vagueness of the definition of social justice in the language of the requirement. Professor Carl Straub noted "vague and brittle language" in the requirement.

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Curtis Bohlen also mentioned that "the general education requirements proposal is still lacking in other areas as well. I am concerned by the fact that there is no environmental studies requirement."

The social justice requirement was successfully amended by the faculty to also include a one unit or course on countries or cultures outside the United States,

The social justice requirement has yet to be approved, and will be discussed, along with the entire general education requirements proposal, again at the next faculty meeting.

"I think when they vote it is important for the faculty to realize that without a social justice requirement Bates is graduating ignorant students," Amy Keith said.