Programs

Programs

Streaming Films for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Streaming Films for Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Sexual assault can be an uncomfortable topic for many to approach and talk about, even for those who haven’t experienced sexual assault first hand. Documentaries and films can be an informative and insightful way to explore the topic of sexual assault, but visual reenactments and first-person accounts of such experiences can be difficult for anyone, especially survivors. These films can be bleak; showcasing ingrained rape culture among various institutions and communities, the struggles of obtaining justice or evidence, and even the reality of facing backlash, retaliation, or bullying over reporting these instances. However, these films can also highlight the strength and resilience of survivors and provide helpful information on how to spot the signs of sexual harassment and assault, how … Continued
Sorting fact from fiction about sexual assault

Sorting fact from fiction about sexual assault

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, an uncomfortable subject for many of us to think about.  Yet it is very important to learn about sexual assault, especially since there are so many myths about it, myths that victimize people ever further after an attack.  Myth: Rape and sexual assault are crimes of passion and cannot be stopped. Truth:  According to the World Health Organization, rape and sexual assault are crimes of power and dominance, often used as a tool of control over the victim.  Sexual assault may occur under a number of different circumstances, usually involves an acquaintance of the victim and always involves lack of consent on the part of the victim. Myth:  Sexual assault isn’t that common, so … Continued
(Some of) the curious cultural history of women in chocolate

(Some of) the curious cultural history of women in chocolate

Chocolate is one of the most widely beloved foods in the world today, used in a variety of dishes from chocolate pasta to mole sauces to, of course, decadent brownies.  However, much of what we know about chocolate is fairly recent and limited in context.  Let’s open up a bit of that history and take a look at chocolate through the lens of women. For much of the 20th century, women have been closely associated with chocolate – mostly by craving it.  While this is a stereotype, it is rooted in a small bit of truth.  Chocolate is in fact the most desired food in the US, and while there is little consensus as to whether or not that desire … Continued
Crime games: Carrie Mier and her use of board games in Criminal Justice course

Crime games: Carrie Mier and her use of board games in Criminal Justice course

This Faculty Feature series highlights innovative teaching and educational engagement at IU East, and connects content to interesting library resources. Our first profile is about Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Dr. Carrie Mier. Her teaching and research areas include drug issues in criminal justice, violence and victimization, and criminal theory. Mier applies experiential and service learning in her courses. We interviewed her for information to highlight the use of board games in the Criminal Justice “Theories of Crime and Deviance” (CJUS P200) course. Why use board games in the classroom? Mier’s interest in board games began about seven years ago, with the Pathfinder series. Her collection steadily grew over time until now there are more than 50 games of all … Continued
There’s an OER For That: Looking at Affordable Learning Options

There’s an OER For That: Looking at Affordable Learning Options

With the success of our Scholar’s Book Fair last week, we received some feedback from faculty that the OER (Open Education Resources) and IU Pressbooks stations were two of the most valuable topics covered during the event. And with OER Week coming up in less than a month (March 2-6), it is a good time to discuss in more detail what an OER is and how can IU Pressbooks contribute to OER creation. What is an OER? Open Educational Resources (OER) are any teaching, learning, and research resources (textbooks, syllabi, courseware, assessments, lesson plans, test questions, etc.) that are freely available and shared under an intellectual property license that allow others to download, reuse, adapt, edit, retain, and redistribute the … Continued