This course introduces the literature of the former British colonies (South Asia, Anglophone Africa, Caribbean, and Canada). Some topics under consideration are colonialism and society, postcolonial disillusionment, neoliberalism, human rights storytelling, and ecocriticism. Readings include Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta, Maps by Nuruddin Farah, Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga, Krik?

In 1882, the U.S. passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first federal law to ban a specific ethnic group. Over a century later, President Trump would designate COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," reigniting anxieties of "Yellow Peril," even as reports of anti-Asian violence spiked nationwide. This course aims to bridge these two moments by examining the social, political, and historical contexts that come to bear on contemporary Asian American experience.

In 1882, the U.S. passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first federal law to ban a specific ethnic group. Over a century later, President Trump would designate COVID-19 the "Chinese virus," reigniting anxieties of "Yellow Peril," even as reports of anti-Asian violence spiked nationwide. This course aims to bridge these two moments by examining the social, political, and historical contexts that come to bear on contemporary Asian American experience.

Plants as basal resources shape ecological interactions across terrestrial communities. The plant kingdom is diverse, and this diversity structures ecosystem function and interactions within communities. In labs, students will learn about plant taxonomy, structure, function, and adaptation. In lecture, we will build on this botanical understanding to discover how these diverse traits shape ecological interactions. Our goal is to find wonder in the natural world, develop tools for observing natural history, and create a foundation for understanding ecology.

Most organisms are notably unlike ourselves--a tapestry of bacteria, protozoans, algae, and, off by themselves, the plants, fungi, and animals. We will survey the whole range of organisms, especially those in the ponds and forests of our campus. Labs will start in the field, offering many opportunities for wet or muddy work. The class is addressed to students intrigued by natural history; it might be useful for students interested in further study of the environment.

In this course, we will explore the evolutionary history and defining characteristics of living dinosaurs, also known as birds. Students will learn how anatomy and physiology influence natural history and spectacular behaviors such as mating displays and long- and short-distance migrations. By the end of this course, students will: develop a greater appreciation for avian biodiversity and the primary threats to avian conservation across the full annual cycle, be able to identify local bird species by sight and sound, and understand the primary methods used in avian field studies.