When Honors English professor Dr. Kathryn Warren, during her first year of teaching, met a student who adamantly didn’t want to read her assignments, she found evidence for the theory that literature makes people more empathetic, including herself.

Dr. Warren wrote an article this semester for the Chronicle of Higher Learning about her experience with a student who refused to read the assigned literature. It gave her some insight on working with students who may have different opinion from hers.

The student, whom she gave the psuedonym Henry, had qualms with the material she assigned. He found the progressive American literature problematic compared to the more traditional British tales of heroism and valor he grew up with.

Dr. Warren concluded that for some students, reading the assignment can be a truly ethical dilemma when confronted with material that doesn’t reaffirm one’s worldview. It’s important to try — at the very least– to understand the other side.  Continue reading