From New Mexico.
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, since my question is regarding a college class that I am enrolled in, and not a public school issue involving a child. But here goes:
I am in a Fitness Hip Hop Dance class at the University of New Mexico.
I have had some issues with the way the instructor is running the class, and now I am beginning to worry that he is more interested in degrading us, and seeing our bodies, than in teaching Hip Hop Dance.
At the beginning of the semester, he never provided a syllabus or any indication of what the class would be like. He simply warned that our dance was to be a little "edgy."
As the semester has rolled along, he has progressively moved us into performing more and more "edgy" dances (none of which have been at all hip hop, in fact every song has been Britney Spears). At this point we are currently practicing a strip tease (his own term for it) which actually involves us spreading our legs, handling our breasts, and even removing an article of clothing. This strip tease came well after the drop date, meaning there can be no refund and a dropped class will count as failure and damage GPA.
Until now we have not been graded on any assignment or aspect of class (this is a credit class). Just today, he informed us that our upcoming final will involve him videotaping us privately and then determining wether we will be allowed to perform our strip tease in an auditorium in front of whoever would like to watch. Basically he said this:
"The videotaping will be an audition, which I will view privately at home. Those who are good enough will be named to Team A (as if this is a "make the team class" which the curriculum never perscribed) Those who aren't good enough will be named to Team B and not perform, subsequently failing the class..."
(the above is paraphrased, he said it in a bit nicer tone, but you get the idea).
A lot of the girls are nervous about this, because we see it as a lose-lose situation. Either we fail and lose the credit, which will negatively affect our transcripts, or we pass and have to degrade ourselves in front of an audience, and regardless of what we choose, we are going to be videotaped doing this dance tomorrow. Our boyfriends and husbands are nervous as well..
I have taken these issues to the Dean of the correct department, but he refuses to even remotely pay attention. I am also told that he will be in attendance at the big performance.
Down to the question:
Is this instructor violating the law by mandatory videotaping us? Are there any sexual harassment laws that protect college students, etc..?
And if not, just as simple advice, what should I do?
Thanks!
I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, since my question is regarding a college class that I am enrolled in, and not a public school issue involving a child. But here goes:
I am in a Fitness Hip Hop Dance class at the University of New Mexico.
I have had some issues with the way the instructor is running the class, and now I am beginning to worry that he is more interested in degrading us, and seeing our bodies, than in teaching Hip Hop Dance.
At the beginning of the semester, he never provided a syllabus or any indication of what the class would be like. He simply warned that our dance was to be a little "edgy."
As the semester has rolled along, he has progressively moved us into performing more and more "edgy" dances (none of which have been at all hip hop, in fact every song has been Britney Spears). At this point we are currently practicing a strip tease (his own term for it) which actually involves us spreading our legs, handling our breasts, and even removing an article of clothing. This strip tease came well after the drop date, meaning there can be no refund and a dropped class will count as failure and damage GPA.
Until now we have not been graded on any assignment or aspect of class (this is a credit class). Just today, he informed us that our upcoming final will involve him videotaping us privately and then determining wether we will be allowed to perform our strip tease in an auditorium in front of whoever would like to watch. Basically he said this:
"The videotaping will be an audition, which I will view privately at home. Those who are good enough will be named to Team A (as if this is a "make the team class" which the curriculum never perscribed) Those who aren't good enough will be named to Team B and not perform, subsequently failing the class..."
(the above is paraphrased, he said it in a bit nicer tone, but you get the idea).
A lot of the girls are nervous about this, because we see it as a lose-lose situation. Either we fail and lose the credit, which will negatively affect our transcripts, or we pass and have to degrade ourselves in front of an audience, and regardless of what we choose, we are going to be videotaped doing this dance tomorrow. Our boyfriends and husbands are nervous as well..
I have taken these issues to the Dean of the correct department, but he refuses to even remotely pay attention. I am also told that he will be in attendance at the big performance.
Down to the question:
Is this instructor violating the law by mandatory videotaping us? Are there any sexual harassment laws that protect college students, etc..?
And if not, just as simple advice, what should I do?
Thanks!