them to think both alone cinating ways people read and interpret and together without be- things different from mine.” She said the ing pushed to come to a variety of responses to the same article conclusion. just reminds her of how “wonderfully di“The thinking is the verse the world is,” and she really enjoys point,” Duncan said. That’s hearing all of the different reactions to the not something one can articles and topics. In addition, the confind in just any classroom. versations often take a completely differAnd the class is, indeed, ent direction than she had ever imagined, very discussion-based. but that that is perfectly fine, as there is no Students normally have an agenda. article or two to read each “We can go in whatever direction because week before class and there is no “goal for the day” like in most must write a journal entry classes,” Duncan said. “Here, what everydiscussing their thoughts body brings to the class is what it is.” on the article. The class The course, Duncan hopes, will become then discusses their views regularly offered, maybe not immediately of the article while enjoy- but at some point in the future. Though ing some food to better she has no specific ideas in mind for othreinforce the metaphors er courses she would like to create in the and associations. After future, she feels that the Honors College the class, students write a provides a lot of opportunities for thinkpost-class entry discuss- ing creatively about teaching, so it’s someing how their ideas and thing to think about. views have changed since Outside of teaching, Duncan likes to cook, they heard the ideas of of course. Additionally, she is interested other students. According to Duncan, it took a little Professor Duncan’s Sacrilicous/Snack-Religious bit of time for the Honors students enjoy students to warm a snack that relates to up to the discustheir course material. sion at first. It is Photo courtesy of Dr. a small class—13 Carrie Duncan. students—comprised of people who, for the most part, do not know each other. However, Duncan said the class has had some great discussions already and believes “it’s going to get better and better from here.” Duncan’s favorite aspect of the course is the “fas-
in Greyhound adoption and advocacy, as she has a retired rescue Greyhound of her own. She also travels a lot, especially to the Middle East, due to her archaeologist background. Consequently, her love of travel has caused her to spend much of her time “thinking about how to encourage Mizzou students to study abroad and to be involved on a global scale.” Additionally, she offers a few words of advice to students: “First of all, go overseas—somehow, somewhere. It doesn’t need to be for a semester, although that would be great, but just get out of your comfort zone. Secondly, take the time to do things that you feel strongly about. You never have the opportunities that you have right now, in college, to just explore yourself, so try something that you’ve always wanted to do. Go out on a risk and take the wacky class that you read it and you think ‘Oh my gosh, that just sounds amazing.’ Do something for yourself that broadens your perspective or that challenges you… Something that you’ve always wanted to do that makes you happy.”
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