Stillman/UA Joint Course To Feature Presidents Sorensen And McNealey As Guest Speakers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama President Andrew Sorensen and Stillman College President Ernest McNealey will meet with a joint Stillman College/UA class to address issues of higher education and moral values on Tuesday, April 17 at Stillman College.

The two university presidents will meet with students enrolled in the course “Do the Right Thing: Moral Inquiry in Contemporary Society,” a joint offering taught by Dr. Linda Beito, a Stillman professor, and Dr. Catherine Roach, a UA professor.

During the session, each president will speak for approximately 15 minutes on the value of higher education, the overall values embodied in higher education, and possible differing moral and ethical values shared and expressed among the two campuses. Sorensen and McNealey will also engage students in a question and answer session with students after their individual remarks.

“We wanted to give our students the opportunity to meet and exchange meaningful dialog with their respective presidents in an open forum,” said Roach, who is assistant professor of New College and religious studies at UA.

The new course, which is held at the Stillman College campus, combines 10 students from UA and 24 from Stillman twice weekly. Students analyze and debate social and educational issues. Course segments include: “Our Nation’s Kids: Is Something Wrong,” “What is Justice?” “Protecting Our Rights: What Goes on the Internet?” “Is it More Profitable for an Individual to be Just or Unjust?” “Illegal Drugs: What Should We Do Now?” and finally “What is the Value of Education?”

“In this final section of our course, we are discussing the values of education and the values embodied within education, and having the opportunity to hear the comments and viewpoints of each president will add a significant component to what we learn,” said Roach. “Just as important, the presidents’ participation in this class shows the two schools’ support for joint outreach ventures.”

Roach said that the joint course was created out of her desire and that of Dr. Beito to combine the experience and differing educational backgrounds from the two universities, in order to form a wider perspective on social issues and current events.

“Dr. Beito and I are especially happy that we have been able to bring some of our students together this semester in order to discuss some of the important issues that are facing our society today. The students are doing great work, and we’re having a lot of fun in the class,” said Roach. “I think that having presidents Sorensen and McNealey as our guests will leave a lasting impression on our students and will further strengthen our relationship as sister institutions.”