Feb 4

Incarceration and Society

• Discussion on terms referring to individuals in prison versus societal perspectives on issues like homelessness.

• Suggests that being unhoused can be seen as a personal failing, yet it is a broader public issue.

Educational Practices

• Critique of traditional education methods:

  • Conventional approaches assume students simply write papers after research.

  • Advocates for critical thinking, leveraging personal experiences, and common sense in understanding education.

• Emphasizes the need for adaptability in education due to information overload.

Changing Perspectives on Addiction

• Overview of shifts in political and social attitudes towards addiction over time.

• Mention of Portugal as a case study in drug decriminalization and its outcome:

  • Statistics show decreased crime and addiction levels, contrary to fears of drug epidemics.

Issues in Police Training

• Report on controversial police training practices in New Jersey:

  • Emphasis on unconstitutional practices and glorification of violence.

  • Instances of disparagement toward women and minorities during training conferences.

• Focus on a lack of regulation in police training, leading to harmful teachings.

Racial Inequality in Policing

• Highlight of racial disparities in New Jersey police departments:

  • 72 police departments have all-white staffing; 108 are all male.

  • Communities of color disproportionately affected by negative policing practices.

• The role of the ACLU and other bodies in addressing and reforming these practices.

Sociological Imagination

• Discussion of the concept of sociological imagination as a useful framework:

  • Aimed at situating personal experiences within larger historical and societal contexts.

  • Consideration of how historical events, such as the Great Migration, influence contemporary societal structures.

• Highlights the need for reflective and informed approaches to understand systemic issues.