Larry Stein is an Assistant Professor of Law at the NIU College of Law This Spring, he’ll be teaching an honors seminar titled “Sex, Reproductive Rights, and the Law Actually Explained.”
Honors Seminar Description: Do you have an opinion on the recent changes relating to reproductive rights in the United States? Do you want to learn about the Constitution and history so you can better articulate and advocate for your opinion? This course will give you that, even if (or maybe especially if) you do not want to go to law school or be a lawyer. There will be no lengthy, legalistic, and intimidating readings. We will get to the heart of the matter without those distractions. You will come away from this course with a more sophisticated and complete understanding of issues that are rarely explained in the current political discourse.
Why were you attracted to offering an Honors Seminar?
I feel like I have something to say that undergraduates should know or learn before they graduate. Civics education at the secondary level has deteriorated during my lifetime. When I graduated from high school, I think every Illinois high school student had to take and pass a Constitution test. That requirement has ended. The current political discourse in the media ignores important issues, leading to a largely misinformed public. I hope to have the students who enroll in the seminar become less misinformed.
How do you teach your subject or specialty to an interdisciplinary group of Honors students?
I take a multifaceted approach with accessible readings (sometimes I translate legal language) to facilitate actual research on a timely topic, role playing (sometimes dynamic, sometimes scripted), a view of history that may be novel, and discussing and evaluating the various ways of interpreting the text of primary historical and legal documents. I do not expect only to teach pre-law students. I want to bring the legal aspects of the issue to non-lawyers in an understandable manner.
What are some of your tricks of the trade to engage students in the course materials?
I try to insert a little humor into every issue or class session to lighten the mood.
What’s the best thing about teaching Honors students?
There is something about bright and motivated undergraduates that I cannot explain. But serving as the instructor for a group of them is fulfilling and uplifting.
How do you hope to inspire civil discourse when dealing with a controversial issue like reproductive rights?
There is a glaring conflation in the current political discourse regarding the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States on the issue of abortion. One side is arguing policy. The other is attempting to interpret the text of the Constitution. The two issues are radically different. The issue is infused with emotion that may blind many to the two separate issues. I hope to put aside the emotion and engender a real and nuanced understanding of both issues.
