CSUF Newsletter 2011
- 1. You will notice a theme as you read through this edition of our newsletter: students making a difference. It is the dedica- tion and work of our faculty who have mentored and advised our students that has found its way into communities outside Cal State Fullerton. The size of the Sociology Department has been increasing. We currently have 763 majors, 102 mi- nors, and 39 graduate students. We congratulate all our graduating seniors and welcome our new cohort of students. Special thanks to the leadership of our Undergraduate Advisor, Dr. Hilla Israely and Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Berna Torr and Internship Coordinator, Dr. Edythe Krampe. They have spent countless hours assisting students navigate the academic arena. They have also provided students with career assistance and networking op- portunities. This year‟s Sociology Week had the theme, Sexual Rights and Social Change. Dr. Jorge Fontdevila has served as the student AKD Advisor and assisted the students in planning and coordinating Sociology Week activities. All of our dedicated faculty members have been instrumental in the success of our students, even with a shrinking resource base, by focusing on excellence in teaching. Good things are happening in the Department. If you are a graduate of our program, please make sure to keep in touch so we can share the good news. Notes From The Chair, Dr. Joseph Weber CSUF Prominent at PSA Annual Meeting, by Eissa English Faculty and students attended the 82nd Annual Pacific Sociological Association Meeting, in Seattle, Washington in March. Our faculty served as panel discussants and organized and presided over six sessions. In addition, the following papers were presented by faculty, undergraduate and graduate students “Phenomenologies of Courtship: Sexual Rituals across Genders among Mexican Immigrant Men” by Jorge Fontdevila “Ripe for Theorizing: Towards a Multidimensional Explanation of Democratization in South Africa” by Alan Emery “No Child Left Behind: A Qualitative Content Analysis of Education Policy and Language” by Naeem Ataian “Interrogating Self-rated Health of Vietnamese Americans in Little Saigon” by Eileen Walsh & Berna Miller Torr “The Effects of Colorism within African American Communities in the 21st Century” by Candice Rochelle Hodge “Reproduction of Race and Class: Kinship among Multi-racial Families” by Eileen Walsh “Moments of Social Reproduction & Interruption: How Educator-Student Relationships Shape College Aspirations & Success” by Roberta Espinoza & Cynthia Alcantar “The Role of Academic Outreach Programs in the Educational Advancement of Working-Class Minority Students” by Roberta Espinoza, Monica De Lacruz, & Cynthia Alcantar “Resisting Racialized Discourse within the Cultural Diversity Classroom” by Marissa C. Banuelos “Money in Marriage” by Kathryn Amanda Evans “An Evaluation of Social Services and Race Relations at the Las Brisas Community Housing Development” by Patricia E. Literte “I Do This in All My Classes: The Creation and Maintenance of Racial Hierarchies In University Classrooms” by William R. Austin “Vietnamese Cafes: An Exploration of Gendered Work in an Under-Theorized Space” by Sang Thanh Phan “Families, Fathers, Feelings, and Food: The Psychosocial Correlates of Fibromyalgia” by Edythe Krampe “Transnational Sexualities in Local, National, and Global Perspective” by Dana Collins “Completely Straight, Most of the Time: An Inquiry into the Sexuality of Male Swingers” by Elizabeth Morton “InterPlay at Disneyland: The Totem, Fetish, and Simulacra” by Keith G. Kottenbach “The Conceptualization of the SAT: The Knowledge Students Have of the SAT and How They Have Access to that Knowledge” by Aimee Jean Yoon “This is a Protest: Students Mobilizing in Orange County, CA” by Burrel James Vann Jr. Professor Carter Rakovski Edited By: Katelynn Monday Faculty Editor: Carter Rakovski Student Editors: Katelynn Monday & Eissa English Volume 5 CSUF Sociology Newsletter Spring 2011 Inside this issue: Faculty Spotlight 2 Student Spotlight 2 Course Spotlight 3 Student Research 3 Student Honor Society AKD 4 Faculty & Student News 5
- 2. As part of an ongoing series, the Department of Sociology is profiling its faculty members, asking each of them the same set of questions about their background, teaching style, and research. This interview features Dr. Randol Contreras who is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology. Dr. Contreras earned his Ph.D. from The Graduate Center at CUNY. Dr. Contreras currently teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in Criminology, Juvenile Delinquency, and Theories of Social Behavior. Q: Can you tell me about your background? I was born to Dominican immigrants in the South Bronx and came of age during the Crack Era. So not only did I ex- perience the widespread arson and abandonment of that period, I also witnessed the rise of the crack-cocaine market, which further devastated South Bronx communities. Q: Why did you decide to become a professor of sociology? I decided to become a professor of sociology because the field provides wonderful insight into human behav- ior. Specifically, it helps connect the social and physical environment to how people make meaning of their lives. This has really helped me understand my South Bronx community and the lives of my neighborhood friends, who became crack market participants and later on, violent drug robbers. Q: How would you describe your teaching style? In my classes, I encourage lots of class participation and discussion because I firmly believe that students should not be passive recipients of knowledge. Their life experiences give them a specialized knowledge, one that enhances so- ciological concepts and provides wonderful insights into our everyday worlds. Often, students learn just as much from peer experiences as they do from standard textbooks. Q: Can you describe your research? I am an ethnographer, or a researcher who uses participant observation as a research method. So in my research, I did fieldwork, or hung out with a group of Dominican drug robbers, who robbed drug dealers that store large amounts of drugs and cash. Mostly, I observed their interactions and listened to their stories as they made sense of their lives. And since I‟m a huge proponent of C. Wright Mills‟ notion of the sociological imagination, I went beyond examining their in-the-moment drug robbery organization and torture. I also contextualized them within a historical period and made links between their meanings and larger racial, class, and gender inequalities. Sociology major, Maria Ruelas, has recently been accepted into the competitive MSW Program at University of Southern California. Here she shares her experiences and advice for sociology students. My name is Maria G. Ruelas and I am from Inglewood, CA. I am a product of public schools in the Los Angeles area, in particular the Lennox School District where I am currently interning as an as- sistant counselor and working for the Lennox Enrichment After-School Program as a cheer and drill coach. As a freshman I knew I wanted to help others, in particular, ethnic and economically disad- vantaged students who like me are striving to succeed and pursue a higher education. I declared my major to be Sociology with a concentration in Education and a minor in Child and Adolescent Stud- ies. With a Sociology major I learned I could work with students and families and apply my knowl- edge and background to guide and assist those who are in need of help. I was admitted to the USC School of Social Work Masters Program for Fall 2011. This is a huge accomplishment for me and my family. I am the first in my family to graduate high school, achieve a college education, and will be the first to attend graduate school. I want to advocate student and family services to enhance the quality of outreach programs and education. As an undergraduate student about to embark on a new endeavor, my best advice for other sociology students hoping to go to graduate school is to build professional relationships with professors and ask questions about graduate school. Page 2 CSUF Sociology Newsletter Spring 2011 Student Spotlight: Maria Ruelas, by Carter Rakovski Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Randol Contreras, by Eissa English
- 3. The sociology department has great faculty who are willing and eager to help and mentor students. All it takes is a ques- tion that can open doors to resources and programs that will guide and assist you with the process of applying to graduate school. I would also encourage students to strive to do well academically and get the highest grades that they can in or- der to be competitive applicants. In addition, I suggest students speak to professors about their interests and plans. Get- ting involved is important when applying to graduate school. I suggest students to take advantage of sociology 495 (internship) or sociology 499 (independent study). Interning can help students develop intellectually and professionally as well as prepare them for their future careers. Having an independent study class is also beneficial when building your resume or curriculum vitae because it provides exposure to research skills and methods. Above all, my advice will be to start getting information early, speak to professors about your options and interests, and try to do well in all of your classes. Have you ever wondered why American society frowns upon drug use? Have you ever wondered why drugs are such a big scare in America? These are some of the questions answered in the newest sociology class, The American Drug Scene. The class, taught by Dr. Carter Rakovski, began its first session in the Spring 2010 semester. The class is an informative out- look about drug use, stigmas of drug use, and effects drugs have on Ameri- can society. The course also looks at how media can place a huge spin on how drugs are perceived in American society. The class, based on readings from the text, is lead mostly in a discussion forum with activities the stu- dents in the class get to participate in. Students get to give their opinion of the readings and on drug use in a safe environment that stimulates learning and understanding about how drug use affects almost everyone in some way or another. To illustrate here are what some of the former and current students have said about the course: Jean-Pierre Gatillon stated, “Sociology 325, The Ameri- can Drug Scene, was by far one of the best classes I have taken at CSUF. Prior to taking the class, I admit, I had my pre- conceived notions regarding drugs and drug users. However, I quickly learned that many of the stereotypes regarding drug users (e.g., that they are active drug pushers, they want to escape life, and the like) are actually false. Further, taking the class made me critically analyze our society with respect to how we treat drug users.” Matthew Vickovic said, “The textbook for the class is refreshing to read, in that it is not a normal textbook, but a collection of articles which offers a wide range of views and opinions towards drugs throughout history in American society.” The American Drug Scene is an informative class that should not be missed by students. It offers a rare insight into a preconceived notion about who drug users are and how the drugs they use affect them. Course Spotlight: The American Drug Scene, by Katelynn Monday Student Spotlight, continued from page 2 Sociology student, Daniel Penilla, co-founder of the SocialArt Project, was selected as one of the Top 10 student researchers to represent Cal State Fullerton at the statewide CSU Student Research Competition in Fresno. The competition will be on May 6th and 7th at CSU Fresno. Daniel‟s faculty advisors are Dr. Alison Cliath and Carter Rakovski. His research focuses on student involvement in social activism through interviews with participants in the SocialArt Project. Sociology Student to Present at Statewide CSU Research Page 3 http://hss.fullerton.edu/sociology/
- 4. AKD: Raising Awareness of Social Issues and Generating AKD has a Spring semester schedule that allows stu- dents to take part in helping to raise awareness about social issues, generating social change and becoming prepared for graduate school. The honors club spon- sored the semiannual free Kaplan practice GRE, MCAT & LSAT in Mihaylo Hall on February 5th. After taking the exam students were immediately given their scores and were taught how to solve problems on the practice tests. The theme for Sociology Week 2011 was “Sexual Rights & Social Change” and took place on March 15th -17th in the TSU Pavilion C & Alvarado AB. Dr. Berna Torr and Dr. Carter Rakovski led a session that focused on graduate school admissions and what to do with a Sociology degree. CSUF Sociology graduate students presented their thesis research in a session. Dr. Dana Collins presented “Queer Visions of Social Change: What‟s human rights got to do with it?” AKD will also be volunteering at Orangewood Children‟s Home (a home for neglected children) on April 12th. The club will be participating in games, pizza and fun activi- ties with the children. On April 28th at 4pm, the docu- mentary “The Dark Side of Chocolate” will be shown in the TSU Titan Theatre. This film shows how child slav- ery goes on in the cocoa plantations in the West Coast of Africa and how we as consumers can help fight against this issue. After the film, Sandra Morgan of Vanguard University will speak and conduct a question and answer session. AKD officer elections for President, VP, Treas- urer & Secretary for the 2011-2012 school year will be held at the last meting on May 4th. Contact AKD at csufakd@gmail.com for any questions or if you are interested in participating in AKD activities. Contact AKD through… Email: csufakd@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/csufakd Website: http://hss.fullerton.edu/ sociology/ Page 4 http://hss.fullerton.edu/sociology/
- 5. Graduating senior and sociology major Darcy Reed was accepted into Cal Poly's Master of City and Regional Planning for Fall 2011. Sociology graduate student Bonnie Bui was accepted into the Ph.D. program at University of California Irvine. Dr. Jorge Fontdevila‟s paper was accepted in Sociological Theory. Fontdevila, J., Opazo, M.P., and White, H.C. 2011. "Order at the Edge of Chaos: Meanings from Netdom Switchings across Functional Systems." Sociological Theory (in press). Dr. Berna Torr has a paper forthcoming in Journal of Family History. Torr, Berna M. Forthcoming July 2011. “The Changing Relationship between Education and Marriage in the United States, 1940–2000.” Journal of Family His- tory. Dr. Torr also contributed to an applied report that was just released. Cohen, Steve M., Ron Miller, Ira M. Sheskin, Berna Torr. 2010. The Long Term Impact of Jewish Camp Upon Adult Jewish Engagement: Evidence From Twenty-Six Population Studies in the United States. Report Prepared for the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Dr. Carter Rakovski led a session entitled “Providing support for a person with Fibromyalgia” with Dr. Laura Zettel-Watson of Psychology at the Healthy Aging with and without Fibromyalgia Event at CSUF in February 2011, sponsored by the Fibromyalgia Research Center. Dr. Rakovski received a mini-grant for Spring 2011 funded by the Associate Vice President of Graduate Pro- gram and Researcher‟s Center and Institute Planning and Expansion Program, in partnership with the Health Promotion Research Institute. Dr. Edythe Krampe received a community research grant from the Center for Internships and Community En- gagement (CICE) for her study, "Families, Feelings, and Fibromyalgia." She also has an article accepted for publication with Professor Emeritus Rae Newton entitled “Reflecting on the Father: Childhood Family Structure, and Women‟s Pa- ternal Relationships.” Dr. Dana Collins has the following recent publications: Collins, Dana and Molly Talcott. Forthcoming in 2011. „A New Language that Speaks of Change Just as it Steps Toward it‟: Transnationalism, Erotic Justice, and Queer Human Rights Praxis. Sociology Compass. Collins, Dana. Forthcoming in 2011. Performing Location and Dignity in a Transnational Feminist and Queer Study of Manila‟s Gay Life. Feminist Formations. Collins, Dana, Sylvanna Falcón, Sharmila Lodhia, and Molly Talcott, eds. 2011. New Directions in Feminism and Hu- man Rights. London: Routledge. (With co-authored “Introduction” and “Conversations” sections.) Dr. Collins will be giving the keynote at the CSUF Women‟s and Gender Studies “Gender Research Confer- ence” on April 7th ; the name of her talk will be “Desire, Imagination, and Urban Space: Irreverent-publics and Manila‟s Urban Gay Community.” Dana Collins co-organized and will be presiding over a 1-day conference at the University of California, Santa Cruz, titled “New Directions in Feminism and Human Rights: Cross-disciplinary Perspectives on Hu- man Rights in the Américas speakers series” on April 21st . Faculty & Student News Page 5 http://hss.fullerton.edu/sociology/