If you are hiding out from the Kansas cold perhaps thoughts of the tropics could entice some students?  

Miguel Gonzalez-Abellas, professor and chair of modern languages and Kim Morse, professor of history, are teaching HI364/SP340 History and Literature of Latin America, a course that evaluates the relationship between history and literature, how authors have interpreted events in their moment, likewise how authors have used history to make a literary point about their present.  

It is a packed and stacked reading list, combining short story, poetry, novels, essay, and film from Mexico, Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Cuba, among others.   Oh, and did I mention, it is fun?  Miguel and I have a blast teaching this course.  

Other than History and Spanish majors, the course works well for English majors who could use it as a correlate course, or any student in need of upper division credit who loves language, history, are intrigued by Latin America, or any and all of the above!