Welcome!

We will use WebCT for four things: First, it's where I will post your grades. All you have to do is go to the Grade icon on the homepage and as soon as I have something graded you will see it there. Simple.

Second, we will use the WebCT email tool for our communications throughout the semester. This will be easier than having to deal with keeping a list of everyone's email address. You MUST check for email every day, as I will need to be able to communicate with you often and we will not be meeting in class all semester. The email icon on the homepage changes from a bean figure looking into mailbox into a beanfigure kicking his heels when there is unread mail.

Third, you will use the Exam tool to take the midterm exam, which will be avilable at 5PM, March 7. You can take the exam any time until 5PM, March 10.

Finally, this is where you will come for the threaded discussions. This will be a highlight of the course. I have asked three well-known experts on Cuba to participate with us (click on their names for bios).  They are Dennis Hays, former Executive Vice-President of the Cuban-American National Foundation, Matias Travieso-Diaz, a partner in the law firm Shaw Pittman, LLC and one of the editors of your textbook, José Gabilondo of the Albany Law School, and Michael Royal, founder of the Human Rights Study Project at UVA’s Law School. Professors Jacobs and Super and I will also participate.  Finally, I have asked my son Charlie to participate. He's only a senior at Dartmouth but he has been to Cuba several times on research projects (most recently in December) and has published two papers on Cuba and is working with Matias Travieso-Diaz on a third.

You will be expected to participate fully in the discussions.  In fact, it will constitute 20 percent of your grade. Do not be afraid to express your views -- I certainly do not have to agree with them for you to get a good grade. What will get you a good grade is participating fully with well reasoned arguments.

Just click on the Discussion icon on the Homepage to see what's posted. From time to time, I will post something provocative to launch a new discussion. These postings will be organized by topic (ignore the topic headings "All" and "Main"). You will see a title for my posting. Just click on it to see what I have to say. You will see a reply button that you can use to respond to what I say. Everyone can see your response and can then reply to your response, as well. Anyone is welcome to post an original posting in order to launch a new discussion. The more the merrier. Have fun with it. I think you will really get a lot out of it. 

Just to get you used to the discussion tool, I have already posted something under the topic "Introduction" that asks you to introduce yourself. Go ahead and give it a try.