A reframing of past course offerings led to this student-led “Hookup” Culture course at Michigan State University in spring 2020 and provided students with content decision-making opportunities and a more profound voice as to their learning goals and outcomes. Dr. Denise M. Acevedo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures and shared educator in the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities (CISAH) facilitated student-led research, discussions, and subsequent publication of a text formed from students’ actual “hookup” experiences. Students defined “hookup” culture, read and chose two-course texts, and subsequently categorized areas in which they were interested in conducting additional research, discovery, and discussion. Students’ collaborative research and conversations, and individually written reflections, although well-rounded, invite additional questions into “hookup” culture. Why are many left out of the research, conversations, and publications of data, such as those in the LGBTQ, African-American, Asian, and Native American communities? How might higher education humanities programs facilitate and support research into “hookup” practices also within these communities to ensure equality in scholarly practices? Why is “hookup” culture still a taboo topic for many and how might additional student-led research and scholarly publications change the narrative?
