State legislator targets university course catalog

Sen. David Petersen, R-Mesa, introduced a bill last week that would force state university classes to provide students with an accurate syllabus describing each course's material in depth.

Although University of Arizona officials say such a policy already exists, Petersen said he drafted the bill after reading a letter from a parent of a UA student who was upset about the graphic nature of her daughter's "Women in Literature" class.

Petersen said Melanie Sahli, mother of UA junior Amanda Sahli, complained that the material outlined in the course syllabus was not consistent with the actual content of the class. English Senior Lecturer Yvonne Reineke teaches the course.

"I think up front, they should say - 'We're going to deal with gay and lesbian issues'," he said.

Sahli said her daughter withdrew from the English 418 class earlier this semester because the class content was "contrary to her moral and religious upbringing."

"Imagine being in class one day and the instructor passes around a book with graphic diagrams and descriptions of masturbation. Imagine reading a book which describes a young woman's first sexual encounter with another woman. If the course was about lesbian women, it should have stated so in the description," Sahli wrote in a letter to Petersen.

Instead of teaching these topics, the class could have "explored the contrast between women portrayed by female authors and women portrayed by male authors," Sahli wrote.

Petersen said the bill, which also would have prevented teachers from requiring legally obscene material, was withdrawn from consideration after UA officials promised to review their policy on class syllabi.

UA interim Provost Michael Gottfredson issued an e-mail Monday regarding syllabus content to university deans, directors and department heads.

In that message, Gottfredson re-emphasized that UA policy requires teachers to list certain information in their syllabi, such as office hours, grading policy, a list of required textbooks and any special materials needed for the class.

Gottfredson, the UA's vice president for undergraduate education, also requested that university officials consider adding a new requirement.

"I am asking that consideration be given to adding an eighth required element to the course information sheet that would provide notification of course content that may be deemed objectionable by some students," he said.

UA state lobbyist Greg Fahey said he was pleased to see Petersen give the university a chance to straighten out its policy. Petersen, though, said he would reintroduce his proposal - possibly during this legislative session - if UA officials do not follow through on their promise.