As incoming freshmen preparing to enroll in courses, I know many
of you are trying to figure out what classes to take, not to
mention what major to declare. It can be quite a hectic experience
““ especially if you are attending a summer orientation
session and every class next fall seems to be full. No need to
worry. I guarantee you’ll find something.
But if you’re still searching for a class that catches
your eye, I suggest the recently created General Education Cluster
Program. These classes are offered only to freshmen and they help
meet the dreadful GE requirements. GE Clusters also come with
additional perks such as credit for College Honors, Writing II and
seminar or lab work. But most importantly, they will provide you
with an in-depth understanding of the specific subject matter you
choose.
I took the Work, Labor and Social Justice cluster. In all
honesty, I had no clue what to expect. I was an incoming business
economics student and I thought the words “work and
labor” equated “management.” So I signed up.
To my pleasant surprise, however, the class was not about
management. Instead, it discussed the issues surrounding race and
gender equality in the labor market throughout history. I found
this cluster to be very stimulating and the discussions were
extremely engaging. Over the course of one year, I became familiar
with labor unions, the plight of janitors and assembly line
workers, the dehumanization of labor, day-laborers, welfare,
“the second shift,” labor history, and prison
labor.
In retrospect, had I known those were going to be the kinds of
topics discussed, I probably would not have taken the class because
I did not comprehend the value of understanding labor relations.
After completing the course, however, I realize the information I
gained is very important.
This change in attitude can be attributed to the teachers and
teaching assistants. Both were very passionate about the subject
matter and did an excellent job of engaging students. Overall, the
teachers and TAs in the GE Clusters contribute a lot of time and
effort to developing their courses and making them attractive to
students. In my cluster, for example, we had at least one guest
speaker each week and three class films each quarter.
But the best feature of the GE Clusters, in my opinion, is the
spring seminar. During the last quarter of the year, students are
given the opportunity to choose one of six seminars, each of which
provides a closer look at a topic addressed during the previous two
quarters. In addition, you get the opportunity to learn in a much
smaller class environment ““ something most students
won’t enjoy until their junior or senior years. The Work,
Labor and Social Justice Cluster also gave students the option to
be actively involved in helping labor unions located in the Los
Angeles area. A friend of mine in this program recalls her
experience as “very rewarding and fun.” In other GE
Clusters, students have gone on field trips or had additional
opportunities for community service.
My one complaint is that the reading load could be quite heavy
at times. But that is also to be expected in a newly created class
where teachers are still trying to figure out a proper framework
for the course curriculum ““ in a sense, you are actually
benefitting from the professor’s enthusiasm for the
subject.
Overall, I would recommend clusters to incoming freshmen because
they are truly engaging and inspiring. And you may discover an
interest you had never before considered. For example, the cluster
I took has made me more concerned about work and labor issues. As a
result, this fall I will begin taking classes for my minor in Work
Studies. I also plan on volunteering with a labor union next
year.
Daniels is a second-year undeclared student.