Splash Spring 2014
Course Catalog

Feeling creative? Come take a look at the world of theater and set design! We will take you through the organization of how sets are constructed in professional theater and look at how the designer expresses the show. We will then use the knowledge we have learned to get creative and design our own sets.

Learn how to make photos look interesting and creative by glitching an image. Learn how to use a simple text editor to change a standard photo file.

"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time" - Thomas Merton
Through collage and drawing we will take a step back from the world of everyday life and start to explore our deeper selves. Art therapy can provide a greater awareness of personal struggles and dynamics, along with an increased sense of well-being. Come join us for this empowering hour of exploration.
No previous art experience necessary.

Come lean the basics of Salsa and Bachata, two incredibly fun dances.

The Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler in 1996, is a play based on interviews with over two hundred women about issues surrounding - you guessed it - the vagina. Each Monologue is centered around a specific theme relating to how women relate to their vaginas, and central experiences in their lives involving their vaginas.

I performed in Clark's production of the Vagina Monologues this year, and I want to share them with all of you. In this workshop, we will be staging our own fly-by production of the Monologues. Each person will receive a role, and work in a group or with me to decide how to perform it. Then, in the last hour of the workshop, we will perform the monologues using this year's Vagina Monologues script. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will come away with new insights about vaginas, our culture, and how we move forward in a world that engenders so much violence against women.

Peace, love and vaginas! See you there!

Trigger Warning: While many of the Monologues are about women's positive experiences, many are about abuse, incest, rape and violence. Please do NOT feel that you cannot participate in this workshop if any of these issues are triggering for you. Do not hesitate to contact me before the day of SPLASH so I can accommodate, and feel free to leave or speak with me at any time during the workshop. I want this to be a positive experience and it is completely possible to avoid monologues that deal with triggering issues if you want to be involved but have such concerns.

Learn how to make friendship bracelets by tying a series of knots with string. You may end up with something resembling a bracelet to take home at the end of class!

Come share your poetry with peers in a constructive and positive manner! Please bring at least one poem to share with the class. If we have additional time, we may be able to review more than one of your poems so bring as many as you would like. Be prepared to give constructive comments on your classmate's poems.

Lean how to apply your creativity to the real world, your social life, your work, and your overall life. Going through different forms of creative arts in order to explore different potential passions.

I will be teaching the basics of Belly Dance movements. I will also give explain how the music invokes the Dancer to inspire a reaction. Please wear something comfortable and bring a long scarf.
Boys, please don't think this is just for ladies.
If you would like to see the type of dance that I practice, Youtube the dancers Illan Riviere and Rachel Brice.
I cannot wait to see all of you!!

Have you ever been interested in understanding the elements and concepts behind Graphic Design? Have you ever wondered what exactly constitutes Graphic Design? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, then come be a part of this great introduction to the field of Graphic Design as told by a design student.
There will be learning, fun, markers, & possibly brownies involved!

This course is a hands on exploration of basic color theory. Using 2-D materials we will check out some of the science behind the way color behaves, and hopefully make some interesting works in the process!

We`ll also fold and clip our own instant books! These are great ways to keep notes, make thoughtful cards, or even write short stories.

Take anything from our piles of clothes and turn it into a skirt, a bathing suit, a backpack, and really anything your heart desires. I even can give you instructions on how to make a wedding dress out of 7 t-shirts for that zombie bride costume you have been waiting to make. Anything. Two hours. The creativity is yours! Plus, you can keep whatever you make!

Are all personalities 100% unique? Can we group ourselves into categories and still preserve our individuality? Here is a system where both commonalities among our fellow human beings, and also our individuality is possible. In this two hour intensive class you will be given knowledge about a system that, with an open mind, can enhance your life forever.

Ethics is the branch of philosophy concerned with how we ought to live our lives and treat each other, and where "ought" statements come from and how they are justified. This course will explore the most influential arguments about ethics in Western philosophy. Students are not expected to know anything about philosophy coming into the course.

The problem of free will can be summarized in a question: do we have control over who we are and what we do, or are our personalities "determined" by causes outside of ourselves (such as our environment, social background, genes, etc.)? The question covers many areas of philosophy: how the universe works, what kinds of things "selves" are, morality and politics, theology, etc. This course will present the three most influential answers to the problem of free will and the differences and conflicts between them. No prior knowledge of philosophy is expected.

This course will cover the topic of rape culture in our society. We will work on defining the word rape, rape culture and what that means throughout different cultures. We will then discuss the way in which rape culture has transformed over the years. Continuing on to discuss things that cause/promote rape culture, and finally ways in which we can change the rape culture within our society. If students are willing we will also discuss how rape culture impacts their daily life and I will go on to discuss some of the issues of collegiate rape culture.
*This course will be covering difficult topics and will try to stimulate difficult conversation. I would prefer all students to participate in the discussion. If you believe that there may be things that can trigger different emotions please refrain from taking this course.*

Empathy is the capacity to recognize emotions that are being experienced by another person. Empathy encompasses a broad range of emotional states, such as caring for other people and having a desire to help them; experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions; discerning what another person is thinking or feeling; and making less distinct the differences between the self and the other. In this class we'll learn about how the way we interact, how we talk, and understand others is largely determined by our ability to have "empathy" for them. Using case examples, from our personal enjoyment with fictional stories like Harry Potter, to more real- life day to day situations, like talking to your friends- We explore this concept of "Empathy"

Learn your style of leadership through different scenarios and activities.

PIRATE PARTY! In this class, you will learn about the Barbarosa brothers and how the pirates stole from Spanish ships in the 1500s. It will be an open interactive discussion.

Know enough about the US Government? Come learn about Turkey's! In this class, you will learn about the Turkish government historically and current events in Turkey!

An introduction to debates in contemporary Psychology regarding Evolutionary Psychology, biological determinism, and related issues.

Learn from The Zombie Survival guide by Max Brooks all you ever wanted to know about zombies and how to detect outbreaks.

Learn what weapons are best and what are the worst for a zombie outbreak using The Zombie Survival guide by Max Brooks

Learn what locations are the best and what are the worst during a Zombie outbreak using The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Learn how to get with a group and escape from Zombies using the best vehicles and locations using The Zombie Survival guide by Max Brooks

Learn how to survive in a world overrun with Zombies and after the Zombie threat is eliminated using The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Do you like arguing with people? Would you like to win your arguments more often? Learn to debate using J.S. Mill's ideas.

From how to ask for the bathroom to how to order at a restaurant, this class will teach you the correct grammar and pronunciation to convince people you speak Spanish (at least for a little while).

Your eyes and brain are constantly working together to help interpret what you are seeing. But what happens when what you see and what you think you see don't match up? We'll explore the neurological and psychological reasons behind various types of optical illusions and see how our eyes and brain can sometimes play tricks on us. We will also discuss brain processes related to attention and memory.

This class draws from educational sociological and Marxist economic thought to provide an interesting critique of the development, organization, and intent of public education in America. This lesson is mainly grounded in the ideas of Samuel Bowels and Herbert Gintis. Optimally there will be some time at the end of the lesson for you to offer your thoughts.

Overview of American Government which will survey the American governmental landscape. Topics included, but not limited to, the US Constitution, legislative process, executive agencies, judicial branch, and federalism (federal government vs. state government).

The genocide that took place in Germany from during World War II was known as the Holocaust, which was carried out by dictator Adolf Hitler. In this course, we will be exploring Adolf Hitler's life and looking closely at the events that lead to the execution of more than six million Jews. The class will begin by having a discussion of the Holocaust and why it was able to effectively execute so many due to surrounding circumstances. The second half will persist of watching a movie pertaining to the Holocaust, known as "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas".

The Hungarian poet, Miklos Radnoti was one of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. This class will introduce the poems he wrote during the labor camp and forced march up to his death and will also offer some historical and biographical backgrounds.

We'll be looking at a few contemporary poets and looking critically at exactly what makes their poems "sound cool." What rhymes flow? How does that analogy work so well? This'll be a short, fun discussion on spoken word for those that are interested!

"American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.”-James Baldwin. This class will focus on the "terrible" parts of American history. We will briefly review several controversial events and actions of the American government on US soil, from slavery to civil liberties in the age of the War on Terror, and will then discuss and debate with each other several questions relating to these topics. Some think that though our government has done wrong things in the past, we no longer engage such cruel behavior. Others think that America's past is innocent and wonderful, but that today, our policies are more cruel than they have been in the past. Can we still call ourselves the "land of the free and home of the brave?" What can we do to make up for America's past cruelties? And most importantly, how do we bring an end to those being committed right now?
Warning: some disturbing photographs of war and violence will be seen.

"American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.”-James Baldwin. This class will focus on the "terrible" parts of American history. We will briefly review several controversial events and actions of the American government in the foreign arena, from the early imperialist takeover of Hawaii to the Iraq War, and will then discuss and debate with each other several questions relating to these topics. Some think that though our government has done wrong things in the past, we no longer engage such cruel behavior. Others think that America's past is innocent and wonderful, but that today, our policies are more cruel than they have been in the past. Can we still call ourselves the "land of the free and home of the brave?" What can we do to make up for America's past cruelties? And most importantly, how do we bring an end to those being committed right now?
Warning: some disturbing photographs of war and violence will be seen.

The Black Plague. Tuberculosis. AIDS.

Throughout history, plagues, outbreaks, and pandemics have had an incalculable effect on society, oftentimes defining eras and changing the way of life for people around them. This joint History / Biology course will look at both the molecular mechanisms responsible for disease as well as what effects they've had on human civilization, and will span from Medieval to Modern times, ending on a discussion of modern pandemics like HIV/AIDS and potential pandemics of the future, like Bird Flu, SARS, and MERS.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of History and Biology- nothing more than high-school level.

All of our cells are controlled by our genes, which carry information between generations and allow for life to occur. But what actually is a gene, and what else is in the "Genome", which is the sum of all the genetic information we carry? This class is for anyone interested in genetics and biology, and will address popular and controversial issues in modern medicine, like sequencing and changing our genomes to combat disease.

Introduction to topics in Environmental Science including GIS, Water Test sampling etc. Job opportunities in this field and why you should care about and pursue this field


Prerequisites
No prerequisitie is required, but knowing a bit of background in chemistry, biology or/and physics is optional

Ah yes, the science of flight. But what must we do to leave the atmosphere of Earth, orbit the moon and safely land? Many physics principles are used in the game Kerbal Space Program - use them correctly and safely maneuver your ship through space - misuse them and disaster befalls your fellow astronauts. Come join me and learn how fun physics can be!

Are we alone in the universe? This question has pondered mankind since ancient times. Even now, aliens are one of the most popular topics in science fiction. However, the idea may not be a fantasy for much longer. In recent years, research on searching for extraterrestrial life has exploded in a new field called Astrobiology. This class will provide a brief overview of Astrobiology, including topics such as methods used to search for extraterrestrial life, how life may have began on earth and places in the universe where we believe alien life might exist, such as mars.

Have you ever wondered how you can image the atomic structure of materials? In this class you will learn how one basic concept of quantum mechanics allowed for the development of a state-of-the-art experimental technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, to do just this. This class will include a demonstration of Clark’s scanning tunneling microscope.

I hope to make students interested in what their minds can do. teaching them memorization techniques and the simple befits of planning through retrospection.

Will work through projected figures for 21st century challenges such as data on climate change, population growth, energy supply and demand, reducing poverty, and strengthening social capital through market mechanisms. Will talk about profits, international corporations, benefit corporations and social responsibility. Also about the importance of continuing education and academic achievement.

Become one of Darwin's finches and strive to keep you and your offspring (children) alive. You will use your beak (pliers) to bring enough food energy back to your nest, competing against all of the others in your community (classmates). See how variation (different types) of beaks and the changing environment affects success!
You will see learn the concepts of natural selection and evolution with this interactive activity.

Become one of Darwin's finches and strive to keep you and your offspring (children) alive. You will use your beak (pliers) to bring enough food energy back to your nest, competing against all of the others in your community (classmates). See how variation (different types) of beaks and the changing environment affects success!
You will see learn the concepts of natural selection and evolution with this interactive activity.

Learn how Physics is being used to predict the unpredictable world of Stock Market. Can you pick patterns in apparent randomness of wiggly stock charts? What's common between a drunkard on street, a gas molecule and price of a stock? Could physicists have predicted the stock market crash of 2008....and if anyone did how much money did he or she made?
In this class we'll discuss a few fundamental ideas from physics of random systems and see how they can be applied to study behavior of stock markets (believe me...absolutely no mathematics, just physics).

In geometry, we learn that the square of a right triangle’s hypotenuse is equal to the sum of squares of the other two sides. But how do we know that’s true? And who is this mysterious Pythagoras character who is said to have discovered it? Join us on a journey through time as we encounter a mystic, ancient Greek cult, and meet some of the great thinkers of the ancient world - from Greece to Egypt to India. We will retrace their steps and prove the Pythagorean Theorem ourselves. Bring your thinking caps and prepare to attack a fascinating geometrical puzzle that mathematicians have worked on for thousands of years.

This two hour course will cover some important concepts of Chemistry. Different levels of high school chemistry students are welcome to learn a quick overview of stoichiometry and its applications.

Not all of us have Operating Systems like 'Her', but after you find the right one for you, you'd better love it because you're stuck with it or something else a lot like it. In this class, you'll learn the things that all operating systems (OS's for short) do to make your computer usable, and give you a peek under the hood to see what they're made of and how they work.(Examples you might know are WIndows, Linux, MacOS, iOS and/or Android.) We'll also touch on what 'Virtual Machines' are and why we might want one.

In this course well will talk about the basic principles of economics and how to apply them in the real world. It will provide an overview on the workings of stock market and analysis of financial news.

Prerequisites
Enthusiasm to learn about the economy and financial markets

In this one hour course students will learn a general overview of concepts in stream ecology. This will include the river continuum concept, food web concept, a brief introduction to the different stream insects and an overview of the use of stream macroinvertebrates to analyze water quality. If time and facilities allow this will include hands on investigation with microscopes.

Heard of the Stock Market, but unsure what it's all about? Curious how the stock market's performance impacts you every day? Find out why companies issue stock, what drives prices and some basic investing strategies.

Following the lecture portion of this class, you'll buy and sell stocks in a fast-paced simulation to see who can generate the highest return on an initial $1,000,000 bankroll.

Note: This course is designed for students with little to no background in the stock market.

A lecture and hands on course in basic knowledge of first aid to help in emergency situations. Taught by the trained First Responders and EMTs of Clark University EMS. Students will get pro tips and interesting information on how to handle many common emergencies.

Ever wonder how you'd survive if you were lost in the woods or stranded on a desert island?
Shelter, water, and food are all essential for making it in the wild, but how would you find all these necessities in the woods?
Gather around the campfire to learn the basics of wilderness survival. S'mores included!

Yoga for all levels!

This course will examine the true journey of food from farm to the table. It will explain the basics of modern food production and examine its issues while highlighting the power of the consumer.

I will be talking about the history of animal rights and the various ethics involved behind the movement. At the end, there will be a discussion on people's perspectives, where questions may be answered or various considerable controversial issues regarding animal rights. Questions will be asked during the discussion to inspire the discussion.

We will cover the basics of various makeup types, brands, techniques, tips, and how to shop at the drugstore to get the most for your money

Here we have an environment in which people can put their political views and opinions to the test! Come debate with fellow political science minded individuals and learn a new way to approach politics.

In this course, we will discuss the different types of disabilities (mainly on the topic of mental disabilities like Autism, Down syndrome etc.) and touch base on physical disabilities. I will also talk about how to get involved and raise awareness to help these people, as well as the many reasons for doing so.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required. The course is open to anyone and everyone. If anyone has experience with disabled people, please come and share your ideas.

In this fun computer course, we will be creating particle effects like fire, sparks or rain using Unity. Particle effects are used to help make video games look more realistic. This course is for beginners, so no knowledge of Unity or programming is necessary.

This one hour workshop led by high school sexual health peer educators will examine gender and sexual identity. Through learning about the different spectrums and engaging activities, participants will have an opportunity to examine gender and sexual identity outside of the social binary definitions - of strictly male and female. This will be an interactive workshop.

If you are interested in word play, linguistics, or just having a laugh, sign up to learn about the science of puns! We will discuss what makes a pun good or bad, and how puns have evolved over time, concluding with a "Pun-Off!"

Flash mobbing is a global phenomenon! Come learn the crazy antics of planning a flash mob filled with fun!

In this course, we will learn everything there is to know about the amazing avocado, and even get to make different kinds of guacamole ourselves! Bring your appetites

We will dissect the different parts of our identity. In small circles and in a welcoming space, students will have the opportunity to talk about themselves while learning from their peers.

This course is an introduction to gender analysis. We will look at gender representation and stereotypes in the media, as well as how knowledge and spaces are gendered. Additionally, we will examine gender roles related to our personal lives.

Come learn and play Muggle Quidditch from Clark's very own competitive Quidditch team! Do you like running around? Do you like fun? Then this is the class for you! Proper footwear required. Comfortable clothing recommended.

A learning discussion about how to effectively establish and maintain a network within the queer community. Gain a deeper understanding of how each person's unique identities and experiences can affect one another and influence the issues they face both in and outside of the queer community.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft was a cosmic horror writer of the early 1900s. Lovecraft's "heroes" were ordinary people who found themselves drawn into horrible circumstances through chance, fate, or their own curiosity. In the end, they would always discover that the greatest threat to human existence was not ancient alien monsters, but rather the realization that human existence itself is utterly meaningless. This class offers the chance to be one of those intrepid investigators, using the Chaosium basic roleplaying system, Call of Cthulhu (named for Lovecraft's most infamous creation, the Great Old One Cthulhu).

We will be making RAINBOW CUPCAKES!!!! Yes, they will be 100% rainbow on the inside with rainbow cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. While they bake we will learn about the importance of rainbows and of course-watch an episode of my little pony! Making rainbow baked goods is a good skill to impress your fellow bronys! And who better to teach it than the girl with rainbow hair? Rainbows all around!!!

Global Health is an issue that concerns everyone. It ranges from learning about the access to safe drinking water everywhere, to researching the best way to help children get the access they need to medications, or to volunteering in health clinics around the world to make a difference in peoples lives. This SPLASH course will talk about the different aspects of Global Health and introduce you to the small steps everyone can make to contribute to making health care available to everyone.

Though it seems to be a simple task, giving directions is a skill everyone can brush up on. Learn how hard it can be! You should be willing to talk in a large group to participate in this class.

Participate in a dialogue about the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ allies in LGBTQIA spaces. Should there be spaces for LGBTQIA individuals that exclude allies? What role should allies play in LGBTQIA spaces? Have allies failed the LGBTQIA community? Does the LGBTQIA community have a debt to allies? Come explore these questions in a dialogue setting.

This course will cover the basic rules and strategies necessary to enjoy (and win) Settlers of Catan.

We will explore the virtues of being outside and speaking with trees. We will talk about engaging with Nature from the perspective of a Native American.