Public Awareness Project (General Education, all levels)

This project was used in a general education course on genocide. Throughout the semester, students learn about the stages, starting with how othering creates out-groups, discrimination against those groups, and how that leads to more series action such as persecution before genocide actually occurs. Students have created some really innovative materials for this project! IContinue reading “Public Awareness Project (General Education, all levels)”

Improving Presentations in Quant Classes

I’m currently taking Dr. Echo Rivera’s class on Stellar Presentations, and trying hard to cut down on wordy Power Point slides to enhance learning. I find it easier to do this in my undergraduate courses, where I can easily use imagery to make my points, but it’s proving more difficult in more advanced courses, suchContinue reading “Improving Presentations in Quant Classes”

The Current Stage of Genocide in the U.S.

The political scientist Gregory Stanton has studied numerous genocides throughout history, and noticed they all followed similar patterns. They all develop in common ways, although aimed at different groups. After thorough analysis, Stanton has developed 10 stages through which all genocides seem to proceed: Classification Symbolization Discrimination Dehumanization Organization Polarization Preparation Persecution Extermination Denial Every country–everyContinue reading “The Current Stage of Genocide in the U.S.”

Why Is It So Difficult to Say “What Works” with Regard to Gun Violence?

As a criminologist, I try to base my opinions on crime policy around “what works” with regard to findings from academic research. Certainly, there are times I have strong personal opinions about policies… but if the research says they don’t work (or work in a way that I wouldn’t expect), I need to abandon myContinue reading “Why Is It So Difficult to Say “What Works” with Regard to Gun Violence?”

Academic “Social Media” and Copyright

Academic social media sites are becoming commonplace. Referred to as “Scholarly Collaboration Networks,” (SCN’s), sites such as ResearchGate, Academia.edu, and Mendeley.com were all created to allow academics to share their work and network with others in their chosen fields. One interesting aspect of these sites is the degree to which they encourage the uploading ofContinue reading “Academic “Social Media” and Copyright”

ACJS 2011

I’m honored to have been invited to participate in two events at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Toronto, ON. First, I’ll be a “critic” on the author-meets-critic panel for Nick Jones’ book, The Courts of Genocide: Politics and the Rule of Law in Rwanda and Arusha. Second, Beth Huebner,Continue reading “ACJS 2011”

ASC 2010

I’m excited to be presenting my first papers on genocide at this year’s American Society of Criminology conference. Both papers will be presented in roundtable format: “Media Reports of War Rape: The Rwandan Genocide”. The United States has been criticized by Samantha Power and others for refusing to intervene in genocidal incidents. Typically, there isContinue reading “ASC 2010”