Freshman Dana Gullen was feeling a little anxious on her drive to the Reception Diagnostic Center and Plainfield Correction Facility.
"I was nervous because I was expecting the worst. I imagined a prison fight breaking out at any moment and didn't know how I would react to being surrounded by people who have committed serious crimes."
Conflict Studies Professor Rachel Goldberg wants students to gain a better understanding of the prison system and it's issues after taking her Winter Term course, "Problems and Solutions(?) in America's Corrections System." Through reading articles, watching documentaries and discussion Professor Goldberg is not only attempting to raise awareness of these issues in the prison system, but is also teaching current strategies that help. Another aspect of this course that sets it apart from most classroom based winter terms are their field trips to the local prisons.
"The kids seemed to like it, I mean it was grim, but I think they got a lot out of it," Goldberg said, reflecting on the trip.
It is not every day a group of college students visits and tours a local prison, but Goldberg thought it was necessary for a class learning about prisons to actually visit one, especially when DePauw is located near many. They visited two separate prisons, The Reception Diagnostic Center, a classification center that determines where prisoners will be sent, and the Plainfield Correction Facility, which is a high security prison. Both settings, though very different offered a lot to learn.
Freshman Emily Wiland has been interested in prisons since her Freshman Seminar that analyzed prison poetry. Although she was already familiar with certain aspects of the prison system this class is teaching her even more.
"Oh hell yeah, the class has completely already altered my view, I've learned that prisoners need and deserve respect if you want there to be change when they go back into society" Wiland said.
Only after four class days and a field trip Emily has formed opinions and feelings different than what she once had because she is looking at the system in a completely different way.
Goldberg also wants to bring in material from the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP), which was started by a group of Quakers in New York. Seventy volunteers go into a prison setting and the goal of the three day workshop is for the prisoners to, "have an expanded menu of options" of ways to react that do not involve violence. It is very successful and a volunteer in Richmond, Indiana will be training Professor Goldberg in this practice in the near future. If any students are interested they too can be trained in this program.
Freshman Paige Stromayer was surprised how much going through the AVP program affected her.
"I never thought about going into something criminal justice related, and although I'm still unsure I could actually do it, this class has made me interested in getting involved and learning more about what I can do to make even a little difference" said Stromayer, showing that Goldberg's class is making an impact on her students.