Multiethnic group of people in a workshop

Central Arizona College Social and Behavioral Sciences Offering Workshop Series

By Angela Askey, Executive Director Public Relations and Marketing

Central Arizona College’s Social and Behavioral Science division is presenting a workshop series this spring. Each workshop is free and community members are invited to participate.

Following is a listing of all workshops being offered:

“Love and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: Embracing Rational Self-Interest In Hopes of Healing Racial Divisions in the classroom, on campus, and in communities.”

Presenter: Dr. Derrick Span, Professor Sociology

March 4, Noon – 1:15 p.m.

San Tan Campus, A101

3736 E. Bella Vista Road

San Tan Valley, AZ 85143

This workshop will cover self-Interest and the non-existence of love in American culture:

  • …Has love run its course in American Society?
  • …Has love lost the power to be an effective form of communication?
  • …Is it too weak and irrelevant to resolve racial divisions?
  • …Is love only meaningful today in literature and songs?
  • …Is love superannuated enough to be discarded from our social discourse?

Utilizing the powerful imagery of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave we will examine self-interest as a more powerful socialization strategy for resolving hatred, bigotry, and oppression in American culture and society. Explore how functional self-interest, as a new mindset and morality, can remedy America’s perplexing social problems.

“’Straight Cash Homie’: Johari Window, Collectivistic Cultural Messages, and the Changing Rhetorical Strategies of NFL, MLB, and NBA Players.”

Presenter: Barry Reagan, Professor Speech Communication

March 19, 10:00 am

Signal Peak Campus, I400

8470 N. Overfield Road

Coolidge, AZ 85128

This public lecture will evaluate the shift in public discourse from highly individualistic and restrained communication strategies used by athletes like Michael Jordan, Randy Moss, and Charles Barkley to the more collectivistic and personalized messages displayed by LeBron James, Aaron Rodgers, and Yasiel Puig.

Culture of Rioting/A History of Violence: The rise and Fall of Student Protests

Presenters: Dr. Joe Faykosh, Professor of History and Dr. Sandra Rath, Professor of Communication Studies

March 27

Superstition Mountain Campus, F115

805 S. Idaho Road

Apache Junction, AZ 85119

This workshop will review what caused the rise in student-led protests on college campuses in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, and what led to their demise. This is the 50th Anniversary of the Columbia University Take-over in April, European Student Protests in May, and other student protests in Chicago in August, which brought the counter-culture to the living rooms of Americans.

Education meets inspiration within the programs of study in CAC’s Social & Behavioral Science Division. Studies in the areas of Anthropology, Archaeology, Communication Studies, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, as well as specialized programs in Social Work are available. Through coursework, students study, conceptualize, theorize, understand and explain human culture and behavior across a range of historical periods, places, culture, and social structures to help them function effectively within an environment that includes other individuals with whom they may not share the same world-view.

To reserve your spot at one of the aforementioned workshops please visit www.eventsatcac.com or to receive further information about classes available please call 520-494-5368.