Science fiction programs on television might be one of the best ways to open students’ minds to diversity and change, said two aids from Iowa State’s Department of English.

“Science fiction removes the familiar background so the social issue stands in relief,” said Deborah Crown, a graduate student in business and technical communication from Decorah.

For that reason, she said, shows such as “Star Trek” actually offer an important commentary on events and issues in today’s society.

“Where No One Has Gone Before: Using ‘Star Trek’ to Negotiate Sexual Orientation in the Classroom” was the presentation given by Crown and Jim Francis, a graduate student in creative writing from Clear Lake. The presentation was part of the Diversity Teach-In held Tuesday in the Memorial Union.

Francis said, “We can no longer afford to allow” homosexual issues to be addressed only by gay teachers.

Helping instructors to overcome this problem is where science fiction fits in. When the original “Star Trek” was on the air, Francis said, the show subtly commented on the controversial issues of the day, ranging from racial tension to the Vietnam War.

“It was Spock’s ears … that made the progressive messages possible,” he said, explaining that offbeat things such as the alien’s pointed ears offered enough distraction that the show could offer such taboo events as television’s first interracial kiss.

The commentary continued with the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” series. “‘The Next Generation’ emerged at a time when the issues of the time seemed a bit more complex than those of the 1960s,” Francis said.

Francis and Crown showed a segment of an episode of “The Next Generation” which deals with the persecution of homosexuals. The twist in the episode came when a heterosexual member of the society was treated as an outcast.

This was the person the mainstream felt should be “cured” of her “deviant behavior,” much like homosexuals are often treated in the real world, they said.