By Jovana Jovanovska ‘23
Staff Writer
Lake Forest College enables students to take Independent Study classes to explore topics outside of classes that are normally offered in a semester. This semester, economics Professor Carolyn Tuttle, who is retiring at the end of the year following a 35-year career at the College, is teaching a class on the topic of Income Inequality, both in the United States and globally. The class is being taken by Raymond Gecias, a senior majoring in finance and minoring in music, and Britt Dahlin, a junior majoring in economics and minoring in legal studies and environmental studies. While Gecias is a self-described “right-wing” thinker and Tuttle is a self-described “left-wing” thinker, the two have come together in this independent study. Stentor staff interviewed Professor Tuttle and her students to learn more about their experience in the class.
Stentor: How did the idea for class originate and what topics do you discuss?
Gecias: Originally, I wanted to take a money and banking class and found that I couldn’t fit it in my schedule, so I approached Professor Tuttle and she offered an Independent Study. I found that wealth and income inequality was very fascinating and when I brought it up to Professor Tuttle she was really excited about it. What we’re studying is not only wealth and income in the United States but in and between countries.
Tuttle: The Independent Study is student-driven – we got together and came up with a syllabus with all the topics we wanted to cover and the readings we wanted to do. We followed a syllabus like a [regular] class would, but only the three of us would meet and talk about whatever article we read. The readings we’re doing are pretty difficult and some of them I haven’t done, so I’m learning with them, which is fun.
Stentor: How do your opinions differ from each other?
Gecias: I guess I consider myself a more right-leaning thinker. I wasn’t always a right-leaning thinker so I definitely know how left-leaning thinkers perceive the world. I think it comes down to us respecting each other, just from the beginning. When I took Professor Tuttle’s Macroeconomics class I was blown away by her experience and I didn’t consider the kind of way she thought when I wanted to do this study. I was delighted her opinions are different so I could get an opportunity to learn. It works because we respect each other.
Tuttle: I started [as] very conservative. I was the president of Young Republicans in college and worked for the Nixon campaign. I was raised conservative and have since become liberal, definitely a feminist, somebody who tries to support those who are marginalized and worker’s rights. I try not to give my opinions in class because, in economics, it’s not about my opinion, but the theory. I didn’t even know Ray was conservative. I very much respect him and Britt. I tend to love my students so the thought of me rejecting them for a thought or belief they have is ridiculous. I don’t feel as though it is my job to convert anybody to be liberal. I think it’s my job to open people’s minds to different ideas. The key is to communicate and learn from each other.
Stentor: What is something you have learned from each other?
Gecias: In the very last independent session we had I was criticizing the minimum wage and Professor Tuttle did a great job of very softly disagreeing with me and giving me an article to read on what she thought. Although she didn’t change my opinion, I thought it was wonderful that she didn’t criticize me. I like that she doesn’t shut down my opinions.
Tuttle: I’ve learned that when people work really hard and are driven for something it makes sense that they want to keep that. We were talking about social security being privatized which is something I’m against, but he asked “shouldn’t we be in control of our own money?” and I thought that his position made perfect sense. He brought something I haven’t thought of and I changed my view on that. That’s one thing about a liberal arts education – you should be willing to change.
Stentor: What is your favorite thing about this class?
Dahlin: My favorite thing about this class is to explore a topic that’s not regularly offered in the semester, as well as have a very open conversation and listen to different opinions on the topics discussed.
Gecias: I came to Lake Forest College because I knew I would have the opportunity to connect with professors. I couldn’t have picked a better professor to do something like this with. The focus is on us and our learning and we get to go at our own place. Also, I get to personally know Professor Tuttle and I get to learn what a wonderful person she is.
Tuttle: For me, I like to teach but I also like to work with intelligent and bright students. Independent Study is an additional class with more work and professors don’t get paid extra, but I love these classes if they’re with the right students. It’s a chance to get to know my students and get to know a topic I wouldn’t read about as much if the class wasn’t offered.
Stentor: What is your advice when working with people who have opposing views?
Tuttle: My philosophy is to embrace it. I think rather than ostracizing people, I try to embrace people so they can hear me and they know I will hear them.
Gecias: My strategy this whole time is that I don’t like revealing at the surface what I think. I rather talk about ideas. As soon as you start putting labels that’s when you get hostility. If you are talking to someone and you know they hate you or you hate them, you would treat them differently. I pay attention to what others say because they can make good points and they might change my mind.
