Professors and audience members shared personal stories in an intimate discussion about the challenges of teaching courses on race, gender, and sexual orientation in the media.

Dana Rosengard, professor at the University of Oklahoma, moderated a panel of speakers featuring Dwight Brooks, associate professor at the University of Georgia, Donna Rouner, professor at Colorado State University, Sharon Bramlett-Solomon, associate professor at Arizona State University, and Laura Castaneda, assistant professor at the University of Southern California.

Rouner, who teaches a course on LGBT issues, has been working on approaches to better engage students in classes.

“When there’s a grade percentage for participation, students begin to tell stories about themselves,” said Rouner. “The problem arises when a student of a social group wants to be invisible. The university classroom is not always the most ideal place to reveal personal information.”

Rouner explained how she has dealt with this issue by redefining class participation. By allowing students to talk with her during office hours or turn in a list of questions and comments anonymously, she offers alternatives that allow students to earn credit.

Rouner sets ground rules for class discussion that establishes whether or not students should challenge each other, how long students should be able to hold the floor, and appropriate language use.

Castaneda, who also teaches a course on LGBT issues and the media, takes a different approach to class discussion.

“I tell my students not to worry about learning the language. We all have to assume we don’t mean to offend anyone,” she said. “If [students] have a question, they just have to throw it out there.”

Her teaching style mirrors this approach.

“It can be unsettling for instructors to bring these issues up. If you feel nervous about covering a subject, you just have to jump on in. There are lots of ways to do it,” Castaneda assured as she held up the headline “I’m gay” typed across Lance Bass’ chest on the cover of People Magazine.

Bramlett-Solomon admits she has never been entirely comfortable teaching her class entitled Race, Gender and Media. However, she still emphasizes the importance of class discussion and class synergy.

According to Bramlett-Solomon, her class teaches students skills that will last them their whole lives.

“They are all media consumers and need to know how to deconstruct it. I’m encouraging them to see past the social constructions they have established, so we can have a more democratic society,” she said.

Dwight incorporates a similar agenda in his curriculum for his class, also on race, gender and the media.

“By the end of the course, I hope the students leave more empowered to process media messages,” said Dwight. “The key challenge is getting them to see media constructions intersecting their own lives.”

Rosengard believes universities should offer classes with rotating professors to circulate a diversity of ideas.

Looking across at the panel of professors, he remarked, “I wish we were all from the same school so we could kick butt.”