Department quick takes
Asking big questions
Students are given the space to investigate basic questions of self in interesting ways. A group of seniors, for example, recently developed a course examining death and dying through grief, rituals and traditions in different cultures. Another student explored questions about herself and her body by choreographing a dance against a mirror, reflecting how she thought others saw her. “Through dance,” Hofheinz says, “she interpreted these questions and made them her own.”
Visiting speakers
Speakers at the global intersection of religion and human rights come to campus to share their experiences. In 2020 students heard from social justice comedian Negin Farsad on confronting prejudice with humor. Other recent visitors have included activist and scholar Zilka Spahić Šiljak and musician Merima Kljuco. Šiljak spoke to students about her research on women who saved lives during the Bosnian War. Kljuco, an accordionist, presented her composition “The Sarajevo Haggadah,” which explores religious and cultural coexistence in a destructive world.
Studying abroad
Global travel opportunities allow students to study firsthand cultures and religions in different countries. In 2019 Hofheinz, together with Director of Equity and Inclusion Stephanie Bramlett, chaperoned a spring break trip to India where students visited the Sikh temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Mahatma Gandhi’s home and Islamic sites like the Jama Masjid mosque. “Being in these places allows students to understand the culture in a different way and open a new conversation with themselves and others,” Hofheinz says.
Meaningful collaborations
In 27 unique course offerings, students can delve deeply into topics outside of traditional religion. One groundbreaking course, Silicon Valley Ethics: Case Studies in the World of High Tech, brings students and alumni together to consider the complex ways that technology has altered not only their daily lives but also their values. Exonians currently working in the technology field help design the class syllabus and collaborate one-on-one with students during the term, acting as mentors and resources for developing case studies.
