| | Friends and Alumni, It’s currently spring semester and the deep Siberian-like freeze that gripped our beloved campus for more than a week seems to have lifted. Due to frigid temperatures and drifting snow from a weekend storm, EIU took the unusual step of cancelling classes the other day; and rarer still—they closed all campus operations, which meant that even our office manager Emily and I did not need to report to work. That’s how bad it was. But with the optimism of a glass half-full (albeit frozen), we could conclude that we are in the July of winter, and that temperatures can only go up from here. The sky is already a little brighter on my drive home in the evening now. Spring indeed. Don Holly
Chair, Department of Sociology,
Anthropology & Criminology | |
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| | Department NewsI’ve been telling you for quite some time about our proposed interdisciplinary Bachelor of Social Work program (a collaboration with the Department of Human Services). I’m happy to report that the program is officially live! EIU will be welcoming our first class of prospective Social Work majors this coming fall. These students will begin their academic careers as either Sociology or Human Services majors, and then in their sophomore year they will apply to our competitive Social Work program. If they are admitted, they can transfer to the Social Work program and elect to double major in Sociology. We are optimistic that the program will draw many students that would otherwise go elsewhere to our fine campus and that many of these students will also major in Sociology. | | | |
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| | Professor Wade Smith, EIU Veterans Day Ceremony | |
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| | | Assistant Professor of Sociology and US Army combat veteran, Dr. Wade Smith, gave the keynote address at this past Veteran’s Day ceremony at EIU. His message centered on what military service means to him and what it looks like, with deft sociological attention to the myriad experiences and contributions of servicemen and women. As a veteran myself, I thought his observation that “…people join the military for a variety of reasons, but all who do pay a cost” was apt, and trust that our many alumni veterans would agree. | |
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| | Dr. Wade Smith’s research interests include “Military Sociology,” and he periodically teaches a special-topics course of the same name. This semester he is working with University Honors Laureate Isabel Spear—a senior Criminology and Criminal Justice major with a minor in Sociology—on an independent study focused on the US Medal of Honor. In her research, I’m sure Isabel will come across EIU Medal of Honor recipient Carlos C. Ogden, who was awarded the medal for valor in action in France in 1944. In addition to being a fine student, Isabel Spear is also ROTC Panther Company Commander and is on track to earn her commission this Spring. After graduation she will serve active duty as a logistics officer in the US Army. | |
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| | | Isabel Spear, Cadet Troop Leader Training exercises, Ft. Lewis | | | |
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| | Alumni NewsIn keeping with our veteran theme, we spotlight Alum Ashley (Orr) Bennett, who served in the U.S. Army for seven years before attending EIU—service that included a tour in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Ashley graduated from EIU in 2019 with a double major in Criminology/Criminal Justice and Sociology and has been a patrol officer in Mattoon, Illinois, for nearly five years now. On her time at EIU, officer Bennett writes: | |
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| | Ashley (Orr) Bennett ’19 and family | | | |
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| | | Following my military service, I turned my focus toward education and a long-term career in law enforcement. EIU was my first choice due to its proximity to home and [then recent] launch of its criminology degree program. While completing my degree, I balanced being a full-time student and a single mother to a young child. I credit my professors Dr. Lovekamp and Dr. Gillespie for helping me succeed while at EIU. Their support, understanding, and words of wisdom did not go unnoticed. Plus, I will always remember being taught standard deviations by a professor (Dr. G) dressed in a hot dog costume! My Sociology coursework and dedicated professors helped me develop a deeper understanding of people and effective communication within my community. These skills have been instrumental in my law enforcement career, allowing me to better assess situations, understand individuals’ needs, and make thoughtful, professional decisions in the field. | |
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| | | | Give Back & Pay it Forward
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| | I am very grateful to those of you that have donated to our department gift account or to one of our department scholarships. Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to make improvements to the student lounge, support student research and student club programming, and offer scholarships to a few of our finest students. When you wishfully “think spring” on a cold winter day, please think ahead to us on EIU’s Annual Day of Giving this April 22. You can give to one of our scholarships or our department gift account here: go.eiu.edu/give2soc.
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| | Student Lounge in Blair Hall | |
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