By Terra Simms
Ten hand-picked undergraduate Justice Administration students attended the 42nd annual Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences conference in Chicago over spring break. The students arrived in the city on March 15 and checked into their $400-a-night guest rooms at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers two blocks from the renowned Michigan Avenue, all compliments of the J.A. department.
Dr. Debra Wilson, chair of the J.A. department, said that allowing undergraduates to attend the conference would benefit both the students and the department.
“When students feel appreciated by their professors, instructors, department, they are more likely to stay in school. I think this is another way of increasing retention and graduation rates.”
The ACJS conference provides forums and sessions with panels of professionals, scholars and students who are presenting their research in the professional realm of the criminal justice community.
The conference panels varied, discussing issues of corrections, international affairs and terrorism, juvenile justice, minorities and women in criminal justice, and law enforcement.
Wilson wanted students to witness the exchange between leading and breakthrough research presenters at ACJS, who “come from all over the country and world.”
“It was interesting to see other professors and presenters from not just the region, but from all over and some international universities give other perspectives,” said junior Heather Brosnan.
Dr. Jeffrey Magers, an instructor in the U of L J.A. department and presenter at the conference, attended ACJS conferences as a graduate student, and has gone for a total of 10 years.
“The students are being exposed to the people that write their textbooks and the people they cite in their papers. It’s a great experience. It was for me,” Magers said.
Brosnan explained some kinks in the conference, however: “There were so many sessions going on at the same time. I would have to leave one session, run to another part of the hotel, just to get to the other.”
Students, faculty and staff not only assembled during sessions, but also together in Chicago.
Marie Barron, a senior, said one of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip was “getting to know my professors at a different level.”
Many students and faculty took advantage of the shopping, dining and business district of Michigan Avenue.
Some faculty were reluctant about the trip, thinking students’ presence at such an important event during spring break would illicit poor conduct, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, but all students recovered more information from panelists than from the trendy and accessible city.
“I trusted the students would police themselves,” said Wilson.
The students and faculty enjoyed the many hostelries of Chicago.
Wilson credits the J.A. club for recruiting and maintaining an active organization alongside the national criminal justice honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma.
Many students were thankful to Wilson, faculty and staff for a great spring break.
