U. course builds community, understanding through the culture of food

In one class, a Native American student was seated next to a white student. From the first day, Jones could tell that the white student was agitated. It wasn't until the class ended that Jones received a thank-you note that explained the student's behavior. His father had been murdered by a Native American man.

"He spent his whole life hating anything that had to do with Native Americans," she said.

But in Jones' class, he got to know his classmate as an individual. 

"They became friends," Jones said, adding that it's far from an isolated occurrence.

"It's powerful to see someone from an Arab country sitting next to someone from Israel. These kids are learning to get along in the world."

No doubt, Looney's deft touch with food is a definite draw. His shrimp, grits and collard greens were unaccustomed dishes to the vast majority of students. The meal, prepared with enthusiasm and generous dollops of bacon grease, won rave reviews. 

But the greater goal of the class is building community, Jones said. 

"Our purpose is to open up a dialogue about how similar we are as human beings."

E-mail: marjorie@desnews.com