Minutes of the Great Books Committee

Members: Debbie Anderson, David Conradt, Rand Evans, Charles Fantazzi, John Given, Robert Hammond, Elizabeth Layman, Kevin Moll, Frank Romer, David Smith, Assoc. Dean Scott Snyder, John Stevens, Anoush Terjanian, Edmund Wall, David Wilson-Okamura, Tricia Wilson-Okamura

Members Present: Debbie Anderson, John Given, Elizabeth Layman, Kevin Moll, Frank Romer, David Smith, Assoc. Dean Scott Snyder, John Stevens, Anoush Terjanian, Edmund Wall, David Wilson-Okamura, Tricia Wilson-Okamura

Meeting #1, September 21, 2005, 3-4 p.m. in Bate 3321.

Agenda Item 0. Welcome of new members

Prof. Stevens welcomed Prof. Frank Romer, Chair, Dept. of Foreign Langauges and Literatures, and Prof. David Smith, German, Dept. of Foreign Langauges and Literatures to the committee. He reported with regret the departure of Profs. James Reho and Gordon Hull from the university. Prof. Anderson reported that she had discussed continuing to represent the honors program with its director, Michael Bassman, and the two were agreed that she would continue as Honors liaison.

Agenda Item 1. Election of Officers

Prof. Stevens was elected as Chair of the committee and Prof. T. Wilson-Okamura as secretary.

Agenda Item 2. Majors and Minors

Prof. Stevens reported that four students are currently listed as minors with two more intended as minors. One freshman has indicated an intention to pursue a multidisciplinary major in Great Books.

Agenda Item 3. Current Class

Prof. Terjanian reported on GRBK 2000 "The Great Books of Love". The course is being well received by students, who are participating actively. Both students and faculty seem to appreciate the innovative format of having visiting faculty each week. Prof. Terjanian admitted that teaching styles do vary from week to week, but faculty praised Prof. Terjanian for organizing the course well and providing continuity.

Agenda Item 4. Fall Lecture

Prof. Moll will be delivering a lecture this October entitled "The Great Books of Music: Towards Establishing a Canon," which will offer a reassessment the role of the fine arts in the Great Books curriculum. The Great Books program will be sponsoring this lecture.

Agenda Item 5. Spring Class

Discussion was held on what the spring Great Books offering should be, and it was determined that GRBK 4000 would be offered, with various options for course subject left for a final decision at a later point.

The meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.