HAVE AN IDEA for an Agora Days class?

Whether you're a student or teacher, a parent or friend of the school, you're welcome to submit a course proposal for Agora Days 2008.

The Agora Committee began taking proposals today.

"We're hoping for a broad diversity of courses in all categories (academic, fine arts, sports, games, movies, cooking and … other)," Agora sponsor and French teacher John Garvey said in a schoolwide e-mail, "so start amazing us with your talents!"

The committee will accept proposals through the second week of January.

To get access to the online proposal form, click here.

"Please be as detailed as you can for all steps of the proposal process," Garvey said in his e-mail. "Well thought-out proposals are much more likely to be accepted than those with scanty details. When I have questions about individual proposals, I will certainly be contacting the proposers, especially if elaboration is necessary."

Agora Days is Uni High's annual four-day break from regular classes. During this time students, faculty, parents, and community members teach mini-courses on just about anything that interests them.

This year's edition of Agora Days is scheduled for Feb. 19-22.

Uni students and staff must login with their UIUC net ID in order to propose courses. Proposals submitted by Uni students and staff without their net ID login will not be accepted, according to Garvey.

"However, outside individuals (parents, other faculty, etc.) need not concern themselves with this step; you will be prompted for e-mail contact during the course of the proposal session," Garvey said.

"Questions regarding the process should be directed to me (jbgarvey@uni.uiuc.edu), and please watch for further e-mails from either me or [senior] Micah Berman; we will try to send periodic updates as to the status of the proposal process."

Food Creations, taught by students Elizabeth Allen and Alexx Engles, was another popular Agora class in 2007. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)