University Studies 301A, a class focusing on the Holocaust, is now open to all Iowa State students. The class had been limited to students in the Honors Program.

Barbara Pleasants, assistant professor of zoology and genetics, teaches the class.

“I try to give students some historical context about the Holocaust,” Pleasants said.

The class includes discussion of the history of Jews in Europe, the history of anti-semitism, which Pleasants said is a “tremendous eye opener to all students,” the history of Germany and the Holocaust itself.

Pleasants said the class also brings in speakers who either survived the Holocaust or who were children of survivors.

“Students all do research projects and oral presentations,” she said.

Students are also asked to keep a journal in the class.

“I get very moving entries by students about why they took the class,” Pleasants said.

Pleasants teaches two sections of the class. “I also teach an evening class for the off-campus program,” she said.

Eighteen students are currently taking the evening class. There are 20 students in the afternoon class.

Corie Anderson, a sophomore in English, said she loves the class and would recommend it to all students.

Anderson said the Holocaust is “a subject that no one really talks about. It’s not talked about in depth, like it is in class.

“The class offers a different perspective,” Anderson said. “We talk about what they went through and how it came about.”