A new course was born from last semester's racial turmoil. Entitled "Peer Education for Social Change," the class plans to live up to its name by drawing a correlation between diversity and learning.

Under the direction of Professor Erik Malewski, the Project Growth coordinator, African and African-American Studies 497C will offer students an extensive curriculum of social justice issues, diversity leadership and group facilitation skills as related to educational programming.

"This is a very good idea because the campus is composed of different students with different backgrounds and we need to learn about each other," said Clemente Abrokwaa, professor of African studies. "The world is getting smaller and smaller, and we need to learn about all cultures."

Divided into three parts, the first section of this course provides students with a solid foundation in readings dealing with the historical origins of injustices, sexual orientation, racial and ethnic viewpoints, stereotypes, prejudices and social change.

The middle section focuses on educational techniques, workshop exercises, logistical concerns and developmental facilitation skills.

The last third of the course will take what students learned in the previous two parts and apply it to out-of-the-classroom situations such as student-run programs in the residence halls and additional exposure to academic settings outside of the classroom.

"Toward the end of the semester, students will be going to different sights to implement what they have learned," Malewski said. "They will connect all of these different ideas of diversity and cultural awareness, and share what they have learned with others."

The idea for the class partly was sparked because of a death threat sent to former Black Caucus President Lakeisha Wolf last spring.

The class of 12 students meets Tuesday nights for about three hours.

"I hope that this course makes an impact," Malewski said. "All too often we preach to the choir. We want students who do not yet have knowledge of these ideas to learn them."

Malewski said that multiple goals for the year will be to help students develop not only an educational base but also concrete training techniques.

"I took this course because I liked its purpose," said Jennifer Storm (senior-rehabilitation services). "It will give us the tools to go out into campus and share. It is an outlet to reach others, to try and speak at their dorms, especially freshmen dorms, so that they can learn more about these issues."

Storm, who is the political co-director for Lambda Student Alliance and holds an executive position in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies, said education is important in the prevention of hate crimes.

"Those prejudice actions are based on phobias, which are fears, and education helps this," she said. "Still, there is no band aid cure for this issue."