QU 101, part of the core curriculum, is taken by all freshmen. It’s a multifaceted class that helps you to explore your new community and what community means. Students discuss the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, the relationship between individual and community identities and read books ranging from "The Laramie Project" to "A Situationist Perspective on the Psychology of Evil."

An added bonus is that you’ll likely live near the students in your QU 101 class, which helps cement friendships. "I actually met my best friends through the QU class, and they live right downstairs," said Evan Warren. "This idea is absolutely brilliant. It builds the sense of community in such an incredible way."

 
Which was exactly what the committee members who initiated the course intended. "This gives us the chance to integrate a student’s life in the residence halls with life in the classroom and with other opportunities for cultural and educational development on campus and in the greater Hamden area," said Sean Duffy, associate professor of political science and committee member of QU 101.

The mix of student and faculty backgrounds and interests in QU 101 classes makes for unusual and thought-provoking discussions—and professors love it. "As a faculty member, what was wonderful was that we were teaching each other," said Jill Martin, professor of legal studies. "We were all learning at the same time. Sometimes you know your subject matter so well, and this was a different way of learning."