The Scriminal Issue #2

Dear Readers, We hope to hear your semester is going well. Scrim Club recently finished a Bake Sale and we would like to thank everyone who supported our successful fundraiser. In particular we would like to thank Denise Hesselton, Janelle Wilson, and Marie Hamlin for donating baked goods. A special thanks goes to Tami Vatalaro, our departing Soc/Anth secretary, for her help throughout the school year. We truly appreciate your kindness Tami! Scrim Club would also like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to help or donate to our upcoming Sandstone Food Drive. Newcomers are welcome to get involved with any Scrim Club project or activity. For more information you can check out our webpage which is attached to the Sociology & Anthropology website. We hope you enjoy the second edition of The Scriminal. Sincerely, Jennifer Swalboski INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT? By: Tim Picha In the State of MN you have to be certified by the MN Board of Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST). There are both academic and skills aspects to being POST certified. Some schools only offer the academic portion, but Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College (FDLTCC) is a school that offers both the academic and skills portions of being POST certified. Fond du Lac is in Cloquet, MN about twenty minutes south on Interstate 35 from Duluth. If you go to Fond du Lac many of your classes that you earn at UMD can count towards an AS or AA in Law Enforcement, plus your skills certificate. Set up an appointment with Scott Lyons (Duluth Police Chief, ret.), the FDLTCC Law Enforcement Director, to determine what classes you still need and if you meet the requirements to be a Peace Officer in MN. To learn more information about the Law Enforcement program at FDLTCC, come to the informational meeting at UMD on April 2, from 2-3pm in Cina 202 or call Scott Lyons at 218-879-0849, email at [email protected]. For more information about the MN POST visit www.dps.state.mn.us/newpost/posthome.asp

IN THE SPOTLIGHT By: Samantha Hicks & Courtney Rolfe After speaking to Sheryl Grana one wishes that there was more time in the day. Her enthusiasm and passion for criminology and sociology is astounding. Sheryl came to UMD in 1991 teaching for a number of years before she became Department Head and then Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. She has now been back as a part of the faculty for approximately 4 years; Sheryl stated that “it is a gift to be part of the faculty again”. We are glad to have her back. The combination of Sheryl’s family and growing up in Detroit, Michigan during the 1967 riots gave her a sense of social justice, which motivated her to study sociology in college. In graduate school she was introduced to the “second wave” of feminism. These ideas have greatly influenced her and continue to influence her teaching and research. Throughout her years of teaching Sheryl has seen many different cycles of student activism. She is seeing more participation and is hopeful and excited to see what will happen during President Barack Obama’s term. Teaching during the more conservative cycles was more difficult and challenging; however, she looks forward to challenges from students. Her “second wave” of feminism education has taught her that learning should be an interchange between student and instructor. Through teaching Sheryl hopes to show individuals that there are other ways to look at the world and other ways to think. She does her best to inform her students to think about issues. Sheryl hopes that through her teachings individuals will get involved and make the world a better place. Opening minds is a goal of her teaching and research. Sheryl explains that “change does not have to come about with 100% agreement”. Hopefully students will look at the world with a more open mind after taking her classes or reading her research.

Sheryl has written a number of different articles in publications such Sex Roles, the Journal of Family Violence and the Midwest Feminist Papers. She has two books, both socio-legal texts – The Social Context of Law, and Women and (in) Justice the Criminal and Civil Effects of the Law on Women’s Lives; both books can be found in the UMD Library. Sheryl is currently conducting research on the Agunah in Jewish law. An Agunah is a woman in a suspended state of divorce in Jewish law; she cannot remarry until her husband provides her with a “get.” She is comparing the difference in the United States and Israel in terms of our civil and state laws. She is curious to see if there is a relationship with Agunah being pushed towards criminal behavior in Israel. Outside of UMD Sheryl is involved with a number of activities. She participates in many activities with her temple. Sheryl sits on the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee at SOAR Career Solutions. She is particularly interested with SOAR and their involvement with getting offenders back into the community It is important to know that Sheryl looks at the world through rose color glasses. She is optimistic and looks for the good in everything. She is also about trying to find justice in all social issues. This is extremely crucial when dealing with sociological and criminological issues because injustice can be overwhelming at times. We are lucky and proud to have Sheryl as an instructor at UMD. LAKE SUPERIOR REGIONAL FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER By: Courtney Rolfe In December 2008, the Justice Center opened its door to provide families in need of abuse intervention. Cathryn Curley, one of the center’s committee members calls it a “one stop shop” for domestic violence victims. At the center, women have access to women’s, children’s, and legal advocates, as well as the police, doctors, and many other agencies. This is to relieve some of the complications women face when going through the legal system. Before the center was opened, Duluth women had to visit over 15 different agencies to meet their needs. This can be quite difficult when juggling childcare and transportation issues. The center brings

all the necessary agencies to one public location so it is easily accessible to women. Transportation and childcare can also be provided. Approximately 2,500 women and their children are expected to be served by the center each year. Christina Williams, a volunteer at the center and a UMD Sociology student, had this to say about her experience, “The center is very warm and homey. The people working there are great and have taught me a lot about the intake and legal process for domestic abuse cases.” While the center is publicly located at 414 West 1st Street, it is a locked facility to ensure the safety of the women, their children, and those working at the center. The Family Justice Center is planning for more expansion to provide victims of domestic abuse further assistance in ways that are continuously changing. For more information, go to www.safehavenshelter.org. CRIMINALIZING DISSENT By: Jenny Swalboski & Coly Wentzlaff In early February Scrim Club cosponsored an event called The Criminalization of Dissent which addressed the case of the RNC 8. The RNC 8 is the name given to the eight protesters that were arrested when the police preemptively raided three houses only days before the Republican National Convention. They were said, by police, to be the leaders of the RNC Welcoming Committee which is an anarchist/anti-authoritarian organizing body that coordinated food, housing, and transportation, as well as was the general voice for RNC resistance. The affidavits that supported search warrants and arrest warrants were based on, “paid, confidential informants who infiltrated the RNCWC on behalf of law enforcement” (rnc8.org). The informants said members were supposedly planning to kidnap delegates, assault police officers with firebombs and explosives, and sabotage airports in St. Paul. There was no physical evidence released to corroborate the allegations that were the basis for searching the three houses and arresting the eight organizers. The items seized in the three house raids consisted of, “glass bottles, charcoal lighter, nails, a rusty machete, and two hatchets…” (rnc8.org). The items seized are obviously common items found in households. The RNC 8 is the first to be charged under Minnesota’s Patriot Act for conspiracy to riot in the 2nd degree in furtherance of terrorism. Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner added three more felony charges December 2008. Usually these charges

would carry only 7.5 years in prison but under Minnesota’s PATRIOT Act, “A person who commits a felony crime to further terrorism is guilty of a crime. The statutory maximum for the crime is 50 percent longer than the statutory maximum for the underlying crime” (609.714 Minnesota Statues). This means that, if convicted, the RNC 8 could be given a sentence up to 12.5 years in prison. Two of the four statues the RNC 8 is being charged with were created in response to the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Under this interpretation, the PATRIOT Act is being used to criminalize peaceful citizens who wish to exercise their right to organize and express their dissent. It equates civil disobedience with major acts of violence. Although these are the worst charges against RNC protesters there were over 800 protesters arrested during the RNC. The majority of the 800 protesters were arrested for Unlawful Assembly but it remains unclear how many were actually charged. The RNC 8 was brought here by The Sociology and Anthropology Department, Scrim Club and The State Suppression of Dissent Project. John Hamlin and Dan Martin are the researchers involved with The State Suppression of Dissent Project. If you are interested in the study of state repression you may contact Dan Martin or John Hamlin.

THE SCRIMINAL OF THE MONTH By: Jenny Wine One of the on-going features of The Scriminal is the Scriminal of the Month, where we dub one of the Soc/Crim majors the title and then do a short interview to provide insight to their career aspirations and life. This month our Scriminal is Tim Picha.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Q: What are your career aspirations? A: I would like to eventually get into Law Enforcement at the federal level, but any law enforcement until then would be solid.

Q: What does Scriminal of the Month mean to you? A: It’s an honor; it is a reminder to me that every person is important and can play a big part in volunteering and trying to make a difference in our community. Q: In what ways will you take your “Scriminal of the Month” title to the next level? A: I will strive to do my part in keeping people informed on the activities we are involved with and the information we come across in Scrim Club.

Q: What can others do to become Scriminal of the Month? A: That’s a good question. I would keep on For more information on the RNC 8 go to volunteering and participating in the activities and planning that we do. rnc8.org

 March 23 – April 10 Sandstone Food Drive – Going door-to-door  April 7th at 1:00 PM – Undergraduate Research Opportunity Grant (UROP) & Department Honors Project Information Session. Guest Speakers Janelle Wilson & Jerry Pepper. Room TBA  April 9th at 5:00 PM – Scrim Meeting Room TBA The Scriminal Editor in Chief: Sam Hicks Layout & Design: Tim Picha

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Scrim Club Contact Info President J. Swalboski VP C. Wentzlaff Treasurer J. Adams Volunteer Chair C. Rolfe Fundraising Chair L. Miller Website Design J. Wine

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For more information: www.d.umn.edu/socanth/Scrim/index.html or email [email protected]

Q: What Social Organizations do you support? A: The Machinist Union and The Wilder Foundation. Q: How can we all be better Scriminals? A: We can all be better Scriminals by getting involved. Get involved with social issues that interest you. Things will never change if you stay quiet. WHAT TO DO WITH THAT CRAZY SOCIOLOGY/CRIMINOLOGY DEGREE        

Victim Service Worker Revenue Canada Investigator Lobbyist/Civil Liberties Assistant Urban Planner Human Resources Administrator Marketing Research Analyst Peace Corps Worker Political Systems Researcher