SYLLABUS
COURSE Anth 345 AGGRESSION, WAR, AND PEACE (Theory)
TIME 10:30-11:45 a.m. TTh Spring Semester 2006
PLACE Saunders 345 University of Hawai`i - Manoa
INSTRUCTOR Dr. Les Sponsel, Professor
Office: Saunders Hall 317
Hours: 1:00-4:00 Thursdays
(or by appointment)
Phone: 956-8507
Email: sponsel@hawaii.edu
Website: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/Sponsel
ORIENTATION
“In the life of a nation there comes a moment when we are called upon to define who we are and what we believe” (former U.S. President George H. W. Bush, January 1991).
“True security rests on a supportive and sustainable ecological base, on spiritual as well as material well-being, on trust and reliance in one's neighbors, and on justice and understanding in a disarmed world” (Frank Barnaby, ed., 1988, The Gaia Peace Atlas, NY: Doubleday, p. 212).
This course explores enduring and contemporary questions, problems, and issues of violence, war, nonviolence, and peace. These and related phenomena will be critically analyzed through the unique perspectives of the humanistic science of anthropology with its focus on holism, culture, fieldwork, comparison, evolution, and prehistory. Secondly, this course will also critically analyze in historical perspective the role of anthropology and anthropologists in war and peace from Western colonialisms of the past five centuries to the neocolonialisms of the present. The topics covered are reflected in the Schedule and the titles of the case studies below.
Among the primary questions to be considered are these:
(1) Are violence and war the inevitable expressions of human nature?
(2) How do war and peace vary temporally, spatially and culturally?
(3) How do geographic, ecological, economic, political, religious, ethnic, and/or historical factors influence war and peace?
(4) How are morality and ethics involved in violence, war, nonviolence, and peace, including the study of them?
(5) What happens when a society is militarized?
(6) What is terrorism, and what are the differences between state and non-state terrorism?
(7) How does anthropology help inform our understanding of terrorism and, in particular, the recent “global war on terrorism”?
(8) How does anthropology help inform our understanding of conflicts in the Middle East and adjacent culture areas?
(9) What are the future possibilities of war and peace?
(10) How have anthropology and anthropologists been involved in war and peace throughout the history of the discipline?
These questions and related matters are critically analyzed through anthropological perspectives on the tribal, ethnic, ritual, and symbolic aspects of nonviolence and peace as well as violence, war, and terrorism. The class also examines the phenomena of positive peace (absence of war plus presence of nonviolence, social and economic justice, and human rights).
OBJECTIVES
This semester the 345 course has three primary objectives:
(1) familiarize students with selected topics, problems, issues, and resources about the phenomena of nonviolence, peace, violence, war, and terrorism in anthropological perspective;
(2) explore, critically analyze, and debate primary and related questions about these phenomena; and
(3) explore the history of the involvement of anthropology and anthropologists in war and peace as a critical reflection on anthropology and society in the U.S.A.
A secondary objective of this course is to help every student to improve their oral communication skills (Oral Focus designation). Here participatory and cooperative learning is essential. Furthermore, while some individuals may be more skilled than others in communication, there is always room for improvement, and this can be facilitated best through everyone cooperating in a friendly and constructive manner.
FORMAT
This seminar course is reading, thinking, discussion, and debate intensive. Also it has an oral communication skills designation. Each class meeting will concentrate on a class discussion of assigned readings and/or a discussion of a case study book by one or more students. There will also be individual presentations throughout the semester elaborating on specific topics from the readings. The instructor will not give regular lectures, except for a PowerPoint presentation for case studies listed in the Schedule that are not covered by one or more students.
Some classes will include a very brief segment for open discussion of news events, especially on current wars and related matters. These segments will often draw on recent newspaper articles or video clips from news media.
Also students are encouraged to regularly monitor, explore, and very briefly report orally or in writing relevant cases of nonviolence, peace, violence, war, and terrorism for class discussion from sources such as:
(1) television news and discussion programs like CSPAN, Frontline (PBS, see TV schedule), Foreign Exchange (PBS Fridays 8:30 ), NOW (PBS Fridays 9:00 p.m. ), Larry King Live (CNN week days 4:00 p.m. ), Lehrer Newshour (PBS week days 6:30 p.m. ), Nightline (ABC week nights 11:00 p.m. ), and This Week (ABC Sundays 3:00 p.m. );
(2) newspapers and news magazines like The Honolulu Advertiser, The Nation, The New York Times, Newsweek, The Progressive, Time, U.S. News and World Report, Washington Post, World Press; and/or
(3) internet resources (see website document called "War and Peace Internet Sources").
Outside resource persons may be invited as guest participants when appropriate and available.
In all instances, the emphasis should be placed as much as possible on anthropological information, analysis, criticism, and insights.
FREEDOM IN A GENUINE DEMOCRACY
In this class, the U.S. Constitution First Amendment rights (freedom of speech) and academic freedom will be respected (see the document "Freedom of Speech" on the course website). On page 584 of the UH at Manoa 2005-2006 Catalog it states:
”The UH, like all state universities, embraces those aspects of academic freedom that guarantee the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn. Free inquiry and free expression for both students and faculty are indispensable and inseparable. Students, whether from the U.S. or foreign countries, as members of the academic community are encouraged to develop a capacity for critical judgment and to engage in a sustained and independent search for the truth.”
“For its part, the UH guarantees all students the freedom of silence. No student is required to engage in research on any topic or to make statements of any kind, unless it is the students wish to do so.”
In this class anyone is welcome to say or write anything with only three restrictions--- it is relevant, polite, and concise . This includes respecting the sensitivities of others and allowing others an opportunity to join in the class discussion. Although it will become obvious that the instructor has his own perspective, ultimately there is no “party line” in this course. In fact, students are encouraged to disagree with the instructor, course material, and each other whenever they wish to do so. Ultimately, the instructor does not really care what students think; however, he does care very deeply that they think in an informed and critical manner. The ultimate purpose of this course is to cultivate anthropologically informed critical analysis, discussion, and debate about significant matters regarding the phenomena of nonviolence, peace, violence, war, and terrorism. In a genuine democracy, education is supposed to open minds, not close them. A democracy can be threatened as much by ignorance, apathy, and censorship as by enemies, foreign or domestic.
However, even though the instructor respects every student = s freedom of speech, academic freedom, and personal opinion in his classes, he does not accept responsibility for anything an individual might say in our classes or elect to read for this course beyond the three required textbooks, if there is any kind of inquiry or concern from the U.S. government.
GRADE
The final course grade will be calculated as follows:
15% class discussions;
15% regular reaction papers;
15% individual oral presentation with PowerPoint;
30% panel (or individual) discussion of one case study book
supported by PowerPoint (see list below); and
10% evaluation forms (for individual presentations and for
discussion of case studies);
15% final take home essay examination (three questions of the
student’s choice from those listed on page 2 of this syllabus).
Every student is expected to voluntarily and actively participate in class discussions on a regular basis. The instructor may also call on individuals in class. Engaging in class discussions with clear, concise, and relevant comments and questions is an important component of the focus of this course on developing oral communication skills.
A reaction paper is required for each class meeting in which some reading has been assigned from one or more of the three textbooks. The paper should be limited to one page typed single-spaced. (The instructor will not read more). This paper should be organized into three parts:
(1) list three main points that best summarize the assigned readings;
(2) write a penetrating reaction to one of the three points; and
(3) pose three insightful questions for class discussion.
The purposes of the reaction papers are to prove to the instructor that the course textbooks are being read and to bring that information and the student's own ideas about it to class in order to contribute actively to an informed and meaningful discussion. Reaction papers will only be accepted and credited on the date due for the reading assignment. No exceptions to this rule will be allowed without a written excuse from a medical doctor or another appropriate official. Ideally the paper should be left in the instructor = s mailbox (Saunders 346) or under his office door (Saunders 317) before the class meeting.
The individual oral presentation should be focused on some aspect of the assigned readings that is of particular interest to the student. It should be complemented by PowerPoint with no more than a dozen frames. The presentation must be limited to five minutes.
Guidelines for the case study discussion will be outlined in a separate handout.
Both the individual presentation and the case study discussion should be rehearsed several times outside of class in front of a critical audience. For both the individual report and the case study discussion the instructor should be given a printed outline from the PowerPoint at the beginning of the presentation.
The individual presentation and the case study discussion will be graded on the basis of content and performance by fellow students using a standard evaluation form. The completed form will be graded as well by the instructor. Then these completed forms will be returned by the instructor to the student(s) evaluated after he removes the names of the students doing the evaluation. The instructor will also provide the evaluated student(s) with his summary of the student evaluations and his additional comments.
For the final essay examination a special handout will be distributed with particular guidelines.
It should be obvious that regular completion of reaction papers and regular active participation in class discussions and other oral communications exercises are imperative to pass this course. Students who are not prepared or willing to fulfill these essential course requirements should drop the course immediately, instead of waiting for the inevitable poor grade at the end of the semester.
Regular attendance is imperative. One whole letter grade will be deducted for every three absences that are not excused.
Students are expected to arrive at class on time, remain attentive, and avoid conversation or other behavior that distracts other students and the instructor. Cellular phones should be turned off before class and remain so throughout the class period. Students who disrupt class in any way, or sleep in class, will be warned and may even be asked to leave the room. The second time this happens one whole letter grade will be deducted from the final course grade, likewise for a third time, and so on. The Dean may also be notified.
Extra credit is possible through a book review essay based on one or more of the course texts, an intellectual journal with entries for class discussions and readings, reaction papers on videos, and the like. The instructor must approve any extra credit exercises beforehand.
READINGS
Every student is required to thoroughly read and critically discuss these three textbooks :
Eller, Jack David, 2006, Violence and Culture: A Cross-Cultural Interdisciplinary Approach (Amazon.com prices $35.95 new, from $20.00 used).
Fry, Douglas, 2005, The Human Potential for Peace: An Anthropological Challenge to Assumptions about War and Violence ($24.95 new, from $17.97 used).
Gonzalez, Roberto J., ed., 2004, Anthropologists in the Public Sphere: Speaking Out on War, Peace, and American Power. GN492 .A592 2004 ($22.95 new, from $15.14 used).
In addition, every student is required to read at least one case study book of their choice and to discuss them in an individual or panel presentation with PowerPoint. These case studies are listed below in the order covered in the course Schedule.
Christopher, Paul, 1999, The Ethics of War and Peace: An Introduction to Legal and Moral Issues, Upper Saddle River , NJ : Prentice Hall (Second edition).
Churchill, Ward, 2003, On the Justice of Roosting Chickens: Reflections on the Consequences of U.S. Imperial Arrogance and Criminality , Oakland Press, CA: AK Press. E183.7 .C486 2003
Hedges, Chris, 2002, War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning, New York , NY : Public Affairs. U21.2 .H43 2002
Patterson, Thomas C., 2001, A Social History of Anthropology in the United States , New York , NY : Berg. GN308.3 U6 P38 2001
Otterbein, Keith F., 2004, How War Began, College Station , TX : Texas A & M University Press. GN497 .O78 2004
Ferguson, R. Brian, and Neil L. Whitehead, eds., 1992, War in the Tribal Zone: Expanding States and Indigenous Warfare, Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research Press. GN497 .W28 1992
Wakin, Erik, 1992, Anthropology Goes to War: Professional Ethics and Counterinsurgency in Thailand , Madison , WI : University of Wisconsin Center for Southeast Asian Studies Monograph Number 7. Asia DS586 .W294 1992
Price, David H., 2004, Threatening Anthropology: McCarthyism and the FBI = s Surveillance of Activist Anthropologists , Durham , NC : Duke University Press. GN17.3 .U5 P75 2004
Ferguson , R. Brian, 1995, Yanomami Warfare: A Political History, Santa Fe , NM : School for American Research Press. F2520.1 .Y3 F47 1995
Tierney, Patrick, 2001, Darkness in El Dorado : How Scientists and Journalists Devastated the Amazon , New York , NY : W.W. Norton & Co.
Nordstom, Carolyn, and Antonious C.G.M. Robben, eds., 1995, Fieldwork Under Fire: Contemporary Studies of Violence and Survival, Berkeley , CA : University of California Press. GN346 .F536 1995
Sluka, Jeffrey, ed., 2000, Death Squad: The Anthropology of State Terror, Philadelphia , PA : University of Pennsylvania Press. HV6431 .D433 2000
Juergensmeyer, Mark, 2003, Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence, Berkeley , CA : University of California Press (Third Edition). BL65 .V55 J84 2003
Freese, Pamela R., and Margaret C. Harrell, eds., 2003, Anthropology and the United States Military: Coming of Age in the Twenty-first Century, New York , NY : Palgrave Macmillan. UA23 .A6827 2003
Ury, William, 2000, The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop, New York , NY : Penguin.
Graeber, David, 2004, Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology , Chicago , IL : Prickly Paradigm Press. HX833 .G72 2004
There are no additional readings required, except for some of the documents on the course website and occasional class handouts. However, other sources will be recommended when especially relevant. (Also see the course website for a wealth of topical bibliographies).
The following are especially recommended for reference:
A good current world map such as National Geographic or Rand McNally (check in bookstores).
Rand McNally 2000, World Facts and Maps, Chicago , IL : Rand McNally (or latest edition).
Barash, David P., and Charles P. Webel, 2002, Peace and Conflict Studies, Thousand Oaks , CA : Sage Publications. JZ5538 .B37 2002
Kurtz, Lester, Editor-in-Chief, 1999, Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, San Diego , CA : Academic Press, Volumes 1-3 (Hamilton Library Reference HM886 .E53 1999).
Denzin, Norman K., and Yvonna S. Lincoln, eds., 2003, 9/11 in American Culture, Walnut Creek , CA : AltaMira Press. HV6432.7 .A13 2003
Foreign Affairs journal current and back issues D410 .F761
Country volumes in “The World Bibliographical Series” of ABC-CLIO Press
(Also see special and annual reports and other website material from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and related non-governmental organizations or NGOs available through links on the course website in the Course Document “War and Peace Internet Sources”).
Unfortunately, we do not have time in class for videos even though they provide an extremely useful visual context. However, optional videos are recommended throughout the Schedule below. All videos are VHS unless otherwise indicated as DVD.
Note also that in the Schedule ”document” refers to the name of files on the course website which are part of the assigned reading.
SCHEDULE
DATE/TOPIC/READING
January
10T Orientation Syllabus
Documents: Freedom (under “Peace”), What is Anthropology? (under “Courses”), The Concept of Culture
Websites:
American Civil Liberties Union
Annenberg Political Fact Check
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Independent Media Center
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Office of the Americas
http://www.officeoftheamericas.org
Political Cartoons
http://www.politicalcartoons.com
Truth Out
World Press
Videos: The Cost of Freedom: Civil Liberties, Security and the USA Patriot Act (DVD 2585), Unconstitutional: The War on Our Civil Liberties (DVD 2301), Orwell Rolls In His Grave (DVD 2298), XXI Century series (2631-2637), A Patriot Act (DVD 2988), Independent Media in a Time or War (21257), Detention of Persons (21265)
12Th Approaches to understanding violence Eller Preface, 1-2
Documents: Anthropology of Conflict, Theory of War, Anthropology of Violence, Summary of the Anthropology of War, Generalizations about War and Peace
Video: Obedience (Stanford psychology experiments)(3777, 14063)
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17T Varieties of nonviolence and violence Eller 3-4
Documents: Key Definitions, Peaceful Societies, UNESCO Statement on Violence
Website: Peaceful Societies (Bruce Bonta)
http://www.peacefulsocieties.org
19Th Legal, moral and ethical aspects Christopher
Document: Ethics of Studying War
Website: The Cost of War (National Priorities Report)
Videos: Saving Private Ryan (DVD 1992), Hiroshima : The Decision to Drop the Bomb (16236)
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24T Violence in America Eller 10-11
Videos: Violence: An American Tradition (14195), First Person Shooter (20859), Urban Warrior: The Militarizing of American Law Enforcement (20562), Bowling for Columbine (DVD 1633)
26Th The meaning of war Hedges
Documents: History of the Anthropology of War, War History, Idea of War
Videos: War and Civilization series (16276), Promises Promises (Israeli and Palestinian Children)(20847), War Photographer (DVD 2121)
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31T A critical history of American warfare Churchill
Document: US Wars
Websites:
AlterNet
Common Dreams
CounterPunch
Foreign Policy in Focus
Gold Star Families for Peace
Howard Zinn
Iraq Body Count
Michael Moore
Military Families Speak Out
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org
Move On
Not In Our Name
Peace Protest Net
United for Peace
Veterans for Peace
http://www.veteransforpeace.org
Videos: Ishi, the Last Yahi (genocide in California )(9383), Hiroshima: A Mother’s Prayer (12292), The World According to Bush (DVD 2885), Other American Voices (20561), Truth, War, and Consequences (DVD 2668), Fahrenheit 9/11 (DVD 2319)
February
2Th A critical history of anthropology Patterson
Documents: Leaders in the Anthropological Study of War, Danger in Fieldwork 1, 2, History of Research, Spies
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7T Exposing and challenging assumptions Fry Preface-1
9Th The realities of peace Fry 2-6
Documents: Positive Peace, Character of Peace, Ultimate Security
Website: Topia.net: Another World Is Being Born
Videos: Gandhi (DVD 1262), Mahatma Gandhi (16349)
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14T The myths of war Fry 7-10
Document: Frontline Research
Special reading assignment: L.E. Sponsel “The Natural History of Peace” under Archive of Articles on Peaceful Societies
http://www.peacefulsocieties.org
Websites:
MotherJones
The Nation
The Progressive
Videos: Lord of the Flies - 1963 (DVD 0079), Lord of the Flies - 1990 (3632), The New Chimpanzees (14194)
16Th Cultural worlds Fry 11-13
Document: Ethnology of War
Videos: Dead Birds (Dani of New Guinea )(VHS 614), Guns, Germs, and Steel (DVD 2928)
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21T Why war? Fry 14-16
Document: Ape Aggression
Videos: Ax Fight (Yanomami)(5739), The Feast (Yanomami)(7939)
23Th Origins of war Otterbein
Documents: Origin of War, Prehistory of War
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28T Demystifying aggression Fry 17-19, Eller 5
Document: The Coming Anarchy
Website: Global Exchange
Videos: Executive Outcomes: The Business of War (21026), In the National Interest (US in Central Asia)(20284), The Corporation (DVD 2305), Blood and Oil (DVD 2636), Control Room (Al Jazeera)(DVD 2510)
March
2Th Tribal warfare and Eurocolonialism Ferguson-Whitehead
Documents: Indian-Colonial Wars, Tribal Zone War
Videos: Angels of War (WWII in New Guinea )(702),
Contact: The Yanomami Indians of Brazil (4962),
Frontier: Stories from White Australia ’s Forgotten War (14854)
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7T Yanomami ”warfare” Ferguson
Recommended video: Warriors of the Amazon (Yanomami)(18554)
9Th The alternatives of peace Fry 20, Eller 3
Document: Definition of Peace
Websites:
The Carter Center
Center for Global Nonviolence (Glenn Paige)
http://www.globalnonviolence.org
Clinton Global Initiative
http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org
Spark M. Matsunaga Institute for Peace
http://www.peaceinstitute.hawaii.edu
Sulak Sivaraksa
http://www.sulak-sivaraksa.org
True Majority
Voices in the Wilderness
http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw
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14T Nonviolent conflict resolution Ury
Document: Conflict Resolution
Videos: Where There is Hatred (5841), Trust Me: Shalom, Salaam, Peace (DVD 2776)
16Th Political violence Eller 8-9
Documents: Anthropologist as Terrorist, Ethnicity and Conflict
Websites:
Foreign Affairs
Witness for Peace
http://www.witnessforpeace.org
Videos: Half-Life: A Parable of the Nuclear Age (US bomb testing in Marshall Islands )(851), The Africans: Part 5 New Conflicts (1609), The Ethnic Cleansers and the Cleansed ( Bosnia )(17059), Without Choice ( Burma )(14061), In Whose Interest? A Revealing Critique of US Foreign Policy Since WWII (20702)
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21T Anthropology and the “McCarthy war” Price
Video: McCarthy, Death of a Witch Hunter (1730)
23Th Anthropology and the Vietnam War Wakin
Videos: The Meo ( Laos )(6562), Platoon (DVD 0805), Vietnam’s Unseen War: Pictures from the Other Side (DVD 2031),
As Seen By Both Sides: American and Vietnamese Artists Look At The War (20818)
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27-31 *** SPRING RECESS ***
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April
4T Anthropology and the Cold War Tierney
Videos: Cold War (16313), Yanomama: A Multidisciplinary Study (4553)
6Th To be announced
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11T Anthropology of the military Freese & Harrell
Websites:
International Action Center (Ramsey Clark)
Crimes of War
SaveUH/Stop UARC
Video: The Torture Question (DVD 3025)
13Th State terrorism Sluka
Documents: Genocide, State Terrorism, Terrorism
Websites:
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Prevent Genocide International
http://www.preventgenocide.org
School of Americas Watch
UH High Commissioner for Human Rights
Videos: Never Again?: Genocide Since The Holocaust (19831),
Under Fire (Somoza’s Nicaragua )(2668), Houses Are Full Of Smoke
(5526), Night and Fog (Holocaust)(10115), The Three Rooms of
Melancholia (Chechen war)(DVD 31040
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18T Religious violence Eller 6-7
Document: Clash of Civilizations
Websites:
American Friends Service Committee
BeliefNet
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
International Interfaith Center
http://www.interfaith-center.org/oxford
Islam Online
Muslims Wakeup
Religious Tolerance
http://www.religioustolerance.org
Videos: The Myth of “the Clash of Civilizations” (16373), Crescent and Cross: Rise of Islam and Age of Crusades (DVD 2521), George W. Bush: Faith in the Whitehouse (DVD 2342)
20Th Terrorism in the name of religion Juergensmeyer
Videos: Beyond the Frame: Alternative Perspectives on the War on Terrorism (DVD 2660), Breaking the Silence: Truth and Lies in the War on Terror (DVD 2014)
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25T Anarchist anthropology Graeber
Video: The Anarchist Guest Emma Goldman (19339)
27Th Public anthropology on war and peace Gonzalez I-III
Document: Liberation Anthropology
Websites:
American Anthropological Association Committee for Human Rights
Cultural Survival
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
Justice Action Network of Anthropologists and Other Academics
http://www.justiceactionnetwork.net
Public Anthropology (Rob Borofsky)
http://www.publicanthropology.org
Survival International
http://www.survival-international.org
Videos: Franz Boas 1852-1942 (247), The Shackles of Tradition (Franz Boas)(7101), Margaret Mead: American Anthropologist (1681), Margaret Mead: An Observer Observed (13470), Crime and Human Nature (Ashley Montagu)(Leeward CC VC 577), XXI Century series (DVD 2631-2637)
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May
2T continued Gonzalez IV-VII
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9T FINAL EXAMINATION scheduled for 9:45-11:45 a.m.
Paper due in instructor’s mailbox in Saunders Hall 346 by noon .
Please include a self-addressed and stamped envelope of sufficient size if you wish to have any papers returned.
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