SMU’s new program places emphasis on human rights

[dcpony]

Had the pleasure of taking Rick Halperin's Human Rights class when I was in school. Hopefully the proposed undergraduate major and PhD program will help address SMU's Princeton Review ranking in the Alternative Lifestyle Not an Alternative (low acceptance of gay community) column down the road.

And of course it might balance the neocon/wingnut tripe that is bound to come out of W's "think tank."


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Pegasus News
Thursday, July 31, 2008
SMU’s new program places emphasis on human rights
By Erin Rice


There are two things you notice immediately after you step into the office of Dr. Rick Halperin, director of SMU's Human Rights Education Program.

First, one can hardly navigate the triangular space through the various stacks of books. Completely filling the bookcase along the far wall, numerous texts on human rights, peace, Rwanda, etc. are stacked on the floor behind and in front of his desk, on his desk, on chairs, and nearly spilling out in the hallway of SMU’s historic Dallas Hall.


Despite the physical obstructions, Halperin is surprisingly accessible, which is the second thing you notice right away. Speaking with a sometimes-heavy Alabama-bred accent, he can proceed to discuss any number of human injustices, but what you hear is his hopeful predisposition, as opposed to an end-of-the-world rant.

Full story at

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/jul/31/smu-human-rights-education-program-minor/

[smupony94]

Rick was my advisor. Very nice guy. Think he was head of Amnesty INternational then.

[expony18]

i took his class... it was extremely informative and really made you question what is going on around the world. i actually used along of the information he handed out for the race and racism seminar i just finished

[LA_Mustang]

Had the pleasure of taking Rick Halperin's Human Rights class when I was in school. Hopefully the proposed undergraduate major and PhD program will help address SMU's Princeton Review ranking in the Alternative Lifestyle Not an Alternative (low acceptance of gay community) column down the road.

This is great news for our school. Dr Halperin's Human Rights class was one of the most interesting and eye-opening classes I took at SMU. Hopefully more things are in the works to address the lack of diversity and acceptance of our school's student body. Just reading the Princeton Review thread comments that some are glad we are not accepting of alternative lifestyles is troubling. As a straight, white male from a middle-class upbringing, some of my most interesting and intelligent friends came from totally different backgrounds (race, sexual orientation and income level) than I did.