Alaska Legal Services hosts fundraiser May 16 honoring Justice Center Professor Emerita Dr. Nancy Schafer

Alaska Legal Services is hosting a fundraiser honoring Justice Center Professor Emerita Dr. Nancy Schafer,  who died in September 2013.

What: Jammin' for Justice - Alaska Women Performing to Benefit Alaska Women
Date:  Friday, May 16, 2014
Time:  6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Place:  Tap Root, 3300 Spenard Road
Cost:    $10 cover
Music by: Marian Call, Melissa Mitchell, and Hilary Morgan

The event will help fund free civil legal assistance for low-income and senior women.

Prof. Knudsen presents on Affordable Care Act to Clinical Laboratory Scientists of Alaska conference

Prof. Kristin Knudsen, J.D., Legal Studies faculty in the Justice Center, presented to the  Clinical Laboratory Scientists of Alaska (CLSA) Conference in Anchorage on April 25.  She  presented an overview of the Affordable Care Act and how it relates to other significant federal health insurance legislation: ERISA, HIPAA, HITECH. Some notable features of the Act, the legal theory behind the legislation, and past and present court challenges to the ACA were also outlined.

Prof. Knudsen teaches health law and is frequent lecturer on this topic.

CLSA is a member organization of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science. Their mission is to "make a positive impact in health care through leadership that will assure excellence in the practice of laboratory medicine."

Pre-Law Society students meet with Alaska Supreme Court Justice Peter Maassen

Students with Justice Peter Maassen in his chambers. L to r: Camilla Hussein-Scott, Aleta Bartimmo, Justice Peter Maassen,
Prof. Ryan Fortson, Anna Marquez, and Splendora Ulukivaiola.

 UAA Pre-Law Society students met with Alaska Supreme Court Justice Peter Maassen in his chambers on March 21. Justice Maassen described the workload of the court, gave an overview of case processing, and discussed the role of law clerks.  Students were able to see the Justice's chambers and tour the Alaska Supreme Court Room. Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., faculty advisor for the Pre-Law Society, accompanied the students.

Marilyn May, Clerk of the Appellate Courts, also met with the students and explained the administrative process in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.

Earlier in the day, the students had taken a tour of the Anchorage branch of the Alaska State Court Law Library,  one of 16 state branches. Buck Sterling, Public Services Librarian, outlined the services the library provides and the changes that are underway at the Anchorage facility.

Prof. Fortson and Justice major Simona Gerdts make presentation on NO MORE campaign to U.S. Army Alaska at JBER

Simona Gerdts (center) explains the goals of the "NO MORE" campaign
at UAA and the efforts she and Kristen Speyerer have been involved in.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., Justice faculty, and Simona Gerdts, Justice major/Legal Studies minor, made a presentation about "NO MORE at UAA" on April 11 to Col. Adam Lange, Deputy Commander, U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK), and other members of the USARAK Sexual Assault Review Board at JBER.

The "NO MORE at UAA" campaign, which began the week of March 17 as a precursor to National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, was co-branded with the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Prof. Ryan Fortson (center) presents data from the Alaska Victimization Survey.

The "NO MORE at UAA" campaign is part of a degree capstone project with the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL). The UAA campaign was  initiated and coordinated by Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer, Justice majors/Legal Studies minors, who will be graduating in May 2014.

The "NO MORE at UAA" campaign will continue its works as a student organization called the NO MORE Alliance.

Prof. Periman presents at CAFE faculty development appreciation award breakfast April 11

Standing l to r: Prof. Deb Periman and Prof. Brannon discuss the results of their course revisions.

 Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Justice faculty, and justice library liaison Prof. Page Brannon presented at the Center for Academic Excellence (CAFE) 6th Annual Faculty Development Appreciation Award Breakfast on April 11. The event highlighted the many faculty development initiatives taking place in the UAA system.

Provost "Bear" Baker (at podium) welcomes the group.

One of these initiatives is the Embedding Information Literacy into the Curriculum Program, a partnership with CAFE and the UAA/APU Consortium Library.  Mini-grants were awarded to faculty to assist them in embedding information literacy into a course. 

Prof. Periman was awarded a mini-grant and collaborated with justice library liaison Prof. Page Brannon, on revisions to the course "Legal Ethics and the Role of the Legal Paraprofessional."  They spoke to the group about the results of these revisions. The revisions included an emphasis on library-related student research and focused on allowing students to learn, reinforce, and master information literacy skills relevant to the course level.

Dr. Chamard interviewed by Anchorage Daily News about Anchorage Police Department's new crime-mapping system

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, was interviewed by the Anchorage Daily News about the Anchorage Police Department's newly launched crime-mapping system called RAIDS Online.
Dr. Chamard noted that the system "really puts the power of getting this information into the hands of citizens."

"APD launches new crime-mapping system" by Devin Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, April 16, 2014.

Justice major Daniel Reinhard presents at 2014 UAA Student Showcase Conference

L to r: Dr. Sharon Chamard, Daniel Reinhard, Dr. Allan Barnes.

Daniel Reinhard, Justice major, was one of the presenters at the 30th Annual UAA Student Showcase Conference on April 11.  His topic  was "Crime Prevention: Mountain View Shopping Center" and focused on research he undertook to evaluate how crime and disorder in the parking lot and surrounding areas of the shopping center might be reduced by crime prevention through environmental design.  Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice faculty, taught the course in which Daniel did his group project. Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice faculty, reviewed his project and provided feedback.

Daniel Reinhard presents his data.

The UAA Student Showcase Conference highlights the extraordinary work of students throughout the UAA system.  Any best works created in Spring 2013 semester, Summer 2013 semester, Fall 2013 semester can be submitted.

Each year Student Showcase creates an opportunity for dialogue among university and community members. Students submit their best work; an anonymous review is done by a faculty member of the submission discipline; highest marks are presented at the Conference; and distinguished community members are invited to the Conference to evaluate, critique, and comment on students' works. Click here for list of Showcase winners.

Justice major Kimberly Del Frate displays her research at UAA Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium

L to r: Kimberly Del Frate and Dr. Cory R. Lepage with Kimberly's poster.

Kimberly Del Frate, Justice major and a member of the University Honors College, participated in the 2014 UAA Honors College Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium held April 14 - 17.  Her research from her honors thesis, "The Arizona Issue: Racial Profiling and Civil Rights in Immigration Law Enforcement," was displayed at the poster fair in the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

The presentation was based on her honors thesis.  Dr. Cory R. Lepage was her thesis advisor, and Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., was her thesis reader.  Her paper examined the questions in constitutionality  and civil rights concerns that arise with enforcement of Arizona's SB 1070 - Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act - also known as the "Show Your Papers" law. A major focus of her work was whether or not implementation of the SB1070 constitutes racial profiling by law enforcement, and whether or not such laws could ever be enforced constitutionally.

Justice faculty present on embedding information literacy in courses

L to r: Prof. Deb Periman and Prof. Page Brannon
explain how the revised course increased student
engagement with technology and library resources.

Dr. Marny Rivera and Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Justice faculty, recently presented the results of embedding information literacy into a course to increase students' understanding of technology. The faculty members had each received a Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFE) Information Literacy minigrant to assist them in revising a course to be taught in the 2013-2014 academic year with the goal of embedding the use of technology resources.

Another objective of the process was to encourage collaboration between discipline faculty and library faculty. Dr. Rivera revised her JUST 200 Research Methods course and Prof. Periman focused on her LEGL Legal Ethics & the Role of the Legal Professional course in partnership with Prof. Page Brannon, Justice Librarian.  The presentations were made on April 11 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

 Both Justice faculty working on information literacy are also program coordinators. Dr. Rivera is the Justice Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Prof. Periman is the Legal Studies Program Coordinator.

L to r: Dr. Marny Rivera and Prof. Page Brannon discuss how they determined
the best ways to include technology resources in the course curriculum.

Alaska Statistical Analysis Center Fact Sheets noted in national SAC Publication Digest

Three Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) Fact Sheet articles by Dr. Brad Myrstol, AJSAC Director, have been included in the SAC Publication Digest covering January - June 2013.

Studies and Statistics
"Violent Crime Arrests in Alaska"
January 2013, 6 pp.

Law Enforcement
"Assaults Committed Against Alaska Police Officers, 2002 – 2011"
March 2013, 6 pp.

"State and Local Law Enforcement Personnel in Alaska: 1982 – 2011"
February 2013, 5 pp.

The SAC Publication Digest is produced by the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA), and is a comprehensive collection of abstracts of state Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) reports, including reports produced for the SACs by outside authors or organizations.  The Digest is a resource for anyone concerned with understanding the current major justice issues, as well as the administration of justice, in the states.

JRSA is a national nonprofit group of state Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) directors, and also includes other researchers and practitioners in government, academia, and criminal justice organizations. The Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center is housed within the UAA Justice Center. 

Justice Clubs meets Sunday, April 27, to elect officers for next academic year

Justice Club will meet this Sunday, April 27, at 4:00 p.m. in the UAA/APU Consortium Library, LIB 307.

The main order of business will be election of officers for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Justice alum Justin Johnson makes National Hockey League debut

UAA freshman walk-on winger Justin Johnson fires a shot
against Wisconsin in January 2003.
BOB HALLINEN/Anchorage Daily News. Used with permission.

Justice alum Justin Johnson, BA '08, recently made his debut with the National Hockey League. Read more about his story below:

"After the longest of journeys, Anchorage's Justin Johnson arrived in the NHL to fulfill his dream," by Doyle Woody, Anchorage Daily News, April 11, 2014

New AJSAC Fact Sheet — Arrests for Violent Crimes in Alaska, 1980–2012

The most recent issue of the AJSAC Fact Sheet presents data for 1980–2012 on violent crime arrests in Alaska: murder/non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Data on age, sex, and race of persons arrested for these crimes in 2012 is also presented. Data is drawn from the annual Crime in Alaska report of the Alaska Department of Public Safety, which represents the State of Alaska's contribution to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. The fact sheet is by Khristy Parker of the Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC).

What students need to know about apartment renting - come to this April 22 workshop at the Student Union

Don’t miss this!
Renting 101: Tips for Renting an Apartment

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Lyla Richards Conference Room, Lower Level, UAA Student Union

In just one hour, learn about:
•    Leases
•    Security Deposits
•    Problems with Landlords
•    Evictions
•    Moving Out

Know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant!

Presenter:
Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., UAA Justice Center faculty
Prof. Fortson is a lawyer and the author of A College Student’s Guide to Landlord/Tenant Relations in Alaska. In his previous employment, he represented tenants in eviction proceedings. Get the guide under Student Forms & Resources on the Justice Center website.

Come and ask questions.
Learn about resources for renting an apartment and finding roommates in Anchorage.

For more information, call 786-1124. 

A joint presentation of the UAA Justice Center and
UAA Student Union & Commuter Student Services

Justice Center and UAA community invited to participate in 4th annual global cyber-conference on April 23

Video conference screen shot from 2013.

The Justice Center, all the UAA community, and the public are invited to participate in the 4th annual UAF Global Cyber-Conference on Dispute Resolution organized by Prof. Brian Jarrett, UAF Department of Justice. 

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 
Time: 11:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m. (Alaska Daylight Time)
Guest Speaker:  John W. McDonald - diplomat, peacebuilder, former international civil servant, mediator, negotiator

Practitioners, local communities, mediator organizations, students, faculty and staff are invited to participate.  To connect to the cyber-symposium, please contact Kelly Gitter at UAF, video@alaska.edu or klgitter@alaska.edu. University of Alaska Fairbanks is the technical bridge for this event.

Individuals at UAA and in Anchorage may attend on the UAA Campus in Suite 201, 2nd floor, Administrative/Humanities Building.

Pay parking for visitors:
East Parking Garage. Click here for a campus map.  The Admin/Humanities Building is number 25 on the map in the upper right quadrant.

The program will be an informal town-hall discussion and address issues related to the following themes:

• Integrating different approaches to mediation
• New developments and applications in therapeutic jurisprudence
• Circle peace-making and indigenous knowledge
• New applications in restorative justice - including methods for local community empowerment, and restorative responses to street riots and crowd violence

 If you are unable to attend the live event, the cyber-symposium will also be recorded and posted online shortly after the program.

For additional questions about the cyber-conference, contact Prof. Brian Jarrett, bnjarrett@alaska.edu or  907-474-6790.

Dr. Chamard joins data group for Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Faculty, recently joined the newly-formed Data Group of the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness (ACH). The group, which also includes Dr. Kathi Trawver, UAA School of Social Work, is tasked with scanning available and currently-collected data to determine what is there, the quality of the data, and what is missing.

Additional action items include identifying gaps in data collection and sources, and looking at other states and Continuums of Care around the country to determine what they are doing that could be useful for Anchorage.

Dr. Chamard has also been a member for the past two years of the ACH Continuum of Care subcommittee, which works with homeless service providers in Anchorage to develop applications for federal funding, ranks those applications, and makes recommendations to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.     

Justice Club visits Hiland Mountain Correctional Center

Members of the Justice Club on their visit to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center.

Members of the UAA Justice Club visited Hiland Mountain Correctional Center on Saturday, April 12.  Probation Officer Bruce Ronchetti coordinated the program for the students.

The Alaska Department of Corrections website describes the correctional center as follows:
"The Combined Hiland Mountain Correctional Center is the State of Alaska's dedicated facility for housing female prisoners. It is a multi-level adult correctional facility located in Eagle River, Alaska. The institution includes 11 buildings, containing approximately 120,000 square feet of space. It sits on approximately 62.7 acres of land adjacent to Eagle River, Alaska. It has the capacity for approximately 400 prisoners."

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Resource Fair at UAA on April 17

As part of UAA Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, a resource fair is scheduled this week. Community partners and UAA departments are joining to present information on domestic violence and sexual assault awareness, prevention, and resources.  These events are part of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.

Event: Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Resource Fair
Date: Thursday, April 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Place:  UAA Student Union

Learn about local and statewide resources and volunteer opportunities. "NO MORE Alliance," an organization of UAA students, will be one of the exhibitors.

Images from the "UAA Says No More" Facebook page.

Click here for a full list of events at UAA in April  on domestic violence and sexual assault awareness and prevention in April on campus.

Save the date! On April 22 - Renting 101 workshop - what students need to know about landlord/tenant relations in Alaska

Don’t miss this!
Renting 101: Tips for Renting an Apartment

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Place: Lyla Richards Conference Room, Lower Level, UAA Student Union

In just one hour, learn about:
•    Leases
•    Security Deposits
•    Problems with Landlords
•    Evictions
•    Moving Out

Know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant!

Presenter:
Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D., UAA Justice Center faculty
Prof. Fortson is a lawyer and the author of A College Student’s Guide to Landlord/Tenant Relations in Alaska. In his previous employment, he represented tenants in eviction proceedings. Get the guide under Student Forms & Resources on the Justice Center website.

Come and ask questions.
Learn about resources for renting an apartment and finding roommates in Anchorage.

For more information, call 786-1124. 

A joint presentation of the UAA Justice Center and
UAA Student Union & Commuter Student Services

Alpha Phi Sigma national criminal justice honor society welcomes 17 new members

L to r: Dr. Sharon Chamard, Sean McErlane, Nicole Weber, Mariama Wiggins, Dr. Ryan Fortson, Chloe Thaman,
Tahnee Conte-Seccareccia, Robin Stepetin, Camilla Hussein-Scott, Dr. Marny Rivera, and Dr. Allan Barnes.
Not pictured: Jacob Decker, Seth Dinkel, Leslie Erdman, Melissa Eury, Isabella Forshee, Veronica Klyber,
Anne Livingston, Frazier Manfull, Tenaya Stanton, and Kayla Wilke.

Seventeen Justice majors were inducted as members of the Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Omega Xi Chapter, on Thursday, March 27 at the UAA/APU Consortium Library. Family and friends attended the ceremony, followed by a reception.

To be selected for this honor, each student had to maintain a 3.2 overall cumulative GPA and 3.2 GPA in their Justice major. Alpha Phi Sigma is the only National Criminal Justice Honor Society for Criminal Justice majors. The society recognizes academic excellence of undergraduate and graduate students of criminal justice.

Dr. Ryan Fortson, J.D., faculty advisor, moderated the ceremony. Dr. Marny Rivera, Dr. Sharon Chamard and Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice faculty, also attended.

2014 Inductees:
Tahnee Conte-Seccareccia
Jacob Decker
Seth Dinkel
Leslie Erdman
Melissa Eury
Isabella Forshee
Camilla Hussein-Scott
Veronica Klyber
Anne Livingston
Frazier Manfull
Sean McErlane
Tenaya Stanton
Robin Stepetin
Chloe Thaman
Nicole Weber
Mariama Wiggins
Kayla Wilke

Walt Monegan, law enforcement veteran, speaks to students in JUST 110 classes

L to r: Walt Monegan and Dr. Allan Barnes pose
for a photo after class.

Walt Monegan, a law enforcement veteran who has served as Chief of the Anchorage Police Department, Commissioner of Public Safety, and most recently as Executive Director of the Alaska Native Justice Center, spoke to two of Dr. Allan Barnes' Introduction to Justice classes in March.

Mr. Monegan spoke about his journey into a law enforcement career, and also discussed community policing, police use of force, characteristics of a good police officer, and how students should approach applying to the Anchorage Police Department.

Dr. Chamard discusses homelessness and affordable housing at UAA Urban in Alaska Conference

Conference panelists (l to r) Anecia O’Carroll, Rebecca Robinson, Diane Bline, Mike Sobocinski,
Susan Bomalaski, Sharon Chamard, James Fitterling, and Carrie Longoria.

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, was a panelist at the 2nd Annual Urban in Alaska Conference: A Creative Placemaking Initiative, on March 28 in the UAA Student Union Cafeteria.

“Social Issues in Anchorage: Informing Design” was the panel theme, and Dr. Chamard and Dr. Susan Bomalaski, Executive Director of Catholic Social Services  held a "conversation” on homelessness and affordable housing, and the relationship to design and use of public spaces.

The purpose of the annual conference is to bring together faculty, students, and community members in a community-wide participatory process focusing on social issues that impact the design of public space, such as race and ethnicity, youth violence and opportunities for youth, and alcohol and substance abuse and recovery. The event is sponsored by the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL).

At podium, Dr. Judith Manley-Owens, CCEL Director, listens with the audience to panelists.

Prof. Brandeis hosts law careers panels for Intro to Law classes

Prof. Jason Brandeis, J.D., organized 2 law careers panels for his LEGL 101 Introduction to Law classes on March 26.  Prof. Brandeis invited local attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals who work in politics and government to present information on entering the legal profession, required academic credentials, tips for applying for jobs, what their particular positions entail, and critical skills needed for a successful legal career.  Students then participated in a lively q & a session with the panels.

The first panel included Carly Ashby, Paralegal, Nyquist Law Group; Meghan Kelly, Environmental & Compliance Specialist, General Communications, Inc.; Sarah Jane Shine (Fischer), Associate Attorney, Perkins Coie; and Andy Moderow, Data Director, Alaska Center for the Environment. See below.
  

L to r: Prof. Brandeis, Carly Ashby, Meghan Kelly, Sarah Jane Shine, and Andy Moderow.

Panel two included Vikram Patel, Program Manager/Grants Administrator, Anchorage Park Foundation; Heather MacAlpine, Associate Ombudsman, Municipality of Anchorage; Monica Elkinton, Law Office of Monica Elkinton; and Jennifer Seeley, Paralegal, Bliss, Wilkins & Clayton. Heather MacAlpine and Jennifer Seeley are Justice Center alums. See below.

L to r: Prof. Brandeis, Vikram Patel, Heather MacAlpine, Monica Elkinton, and Jennifer Seeley.

Podcast of March 19 domestic violence program NO MORE Silence in the Dark now on Justice Center website

Panelists listen to a question from the moderator. L to r: Dr. Angelia Trujillo, Officer Rhoda Street,
Officer Dave DeLesline, Randi Breager, and Dr. Marny Rivera.

The podcast of the March 19 event  "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" about domestic violence and sexual assault is now on the Justice Center website. Click here for the podcast.

Speakers included Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner. Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, was the moderator.

The program was sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and Alpha Phi Sigma, Omega Xi chapter, national criminal justice honor society. Senior Justice majors/Legal Studies minors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer planned and coordinated this event as part of their capstone project through the UAA Center for Community Engagement & Learning (CCEL). The students made contact with the "NO MORE" national campaign which has the goal of  increasing greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

Prof. Periman presents on student assessment and data collection at Lilly-West Conference

Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Justice Center faculty, presented at the 26th Annual Lilly-West Conference on College and University Teaching held in February in California.

Her presentation, "Data Collection Demystified: Simple Strategies for Integrating Assessment Tools into Your Teaching," was geared to faculty who are non-specialists in quantitative data analysis. The session was a collaborative discussion of the newest and/or easiest strategies for using online tools to collect assessment data on students’ progress toward course or program outcomes. Techniques and strategies for incorporating assessment and data collection in a normal teaching routine, as well as tips for reducing time spent on data collection were highlighted.

Lilly Conferences are academic retreats that combine formal presentations and workshops with opportunities for informal discussion about excellence in college and university teaching and learning. These events are attended by internationally-known scholars, new and experienced faculty members, and administrators from all over the world who meet to discuss topics such as gender differences in learning, technology and teaching, encouraging critical thinking, student portfolios, group learning, and evaluating teaching.

NO MORE at UAA campaign gains momentum on campus and off

UAA students and faculty (standing left of the Choose Respect banner) hold "NO MORE" statements at the
Choose Respect March in Anchorage on March 27.

The "NO MORE at UAA" campaign which began the week of March 17 as a precursor to National Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April continues to gain momentum on and off campus. The "NO MORE" campaign at UAA co-branded with the "NO MORE" national campaign to increase greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

UAA students and faculty involved in the "NO MORE at UAA" campaign participated in the Choose Respect March in Anchorage on March 27 , 2014.   

UAA student Sarah Anderson was motivated by the "NO MORE at UAA" campaign to visit her home village of Port Heiden to talk to students about domestic violence and sexual assault. See below.

Students from Port Heiden hold the "NO MORE" statements they wrote after hearing Sarah Anderson's
presentation on preventing domestic violence and sexual assault.

 The "NO MORE at UAA" campaign is part of a degree capstone project with the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL). The UAA campaign was  initiated and coordinated by Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer, Justice majors/Legal Studies minors, who will be graduating in May 2014.

Simona and Kristen hope that the campaign will become a yearly event at UAA, and they are working with Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, to explore forming an official student club that will sponsor the NO MORE at UAA events.

KTUU Ch 2 News interviews researcher Khristy Parker about violent crime in Alaska and U.S.

Khristy Parker, Alaska Justice Statistical Analysis Center (AJSAC) researcher, was interviewed by KTUU Channel 2 News recently about the AJSAC Fact Sheet, "Firearm Use in Violent Crime in the U.S. and Alaska, 1985-2012."

Interview: "UAA Justice Center Looks at Violence Statistics" by Lacie Grosvold.  KTUU Channel 2 News, 5 Apr 2014. (http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/uaa-justice-center-looks-at-violence-statistics/25343622).

Click here for more information on AJSAC publications. To subscribe to the Fact Sheet, email editor@uaa.alaska.edu and put "Fact Sheet" in the subject line.
    
Other media mentions:
"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Anchorage Daily News, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.adn.com/2014/04/06/3412706/alaska-gun-crimes-down-knife-crimes.html).

"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  KTOO 7 Apr 2014. (http://www.ktoo.org/2014/04/07/alaska-gun-crimes-knife-crimes/).

"Alaska Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Houston Chronicle, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.chron.com/news/article/Alaska-gun-crimes-down-knife-crimes-up-5380956.php).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  The Republic, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.therepublic.com/w/AK--Crime-Statistics).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Daily Reporter, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/e3481a8a67af4f68b170ebd17149cbff/AK--Crime-Statistics).

"University of Alaska Anchorage Researchers Say Gun Crimes Down, Knife Crimes Up" by Associated Press.  Daily Journal, 6 Apr 2014. (http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/e3481a8a67af4f68b170ebd17149cbff/AK--Crime-Statistics/#.U0LeQIVNt8F).

Dr. Fortson and Dr. Kelly hold interdisciplinary class session on philosophy of law and tribal courts

Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, and Dr. Terry Kelly, Department of Philosophy, held two joint class sessions in March of JUST/LEGL Tribal Courts & Alaska Native Rights and PHL Philosophy of Law.  The first session focused on philosophy of law readings pertaining to theories of legal interpretation and how a court decides the proper outcome of a case.  Session two looked at a case currently pending in the Alaska Supreme Court that deals with the jurisdiction of tribal courts and the due process requirements of tribal court proceedings; sttudents were assigned to read the legal briefs filed in the case.

The goal of this interdisciplinary process was to provide both classes with different perspectives than the ones they would ordinarily encounter in their coursework, and to demonstrate the practical application of legal theory to an actual case.

Dr. Barnes talks to Gateway Rotary about history of UAA and the Justice Center

Dr. Barnes (center) and Gateway Rotary Club
members Jacqueline Evans (l)
and Mitzi Mishler (r).

Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice Center faculty, spoke to the East Anchorage Gateway Rotary Club on March 14 about  the history and growth of UAA and the Justice Center over the last 30 years, the newly approved Justice Alumni Chapter, and general crime trends.

Dr. Chamard presents workshop on public safety and public spaces at community council leadership training

Dr. Sharon Chamard, Justice Center faculty, presented a workshop on “Public Safety/Public Spaces” at an all-day Community Council Leadership Training program on March 1, 2014 at the BP Energy Center.  The training, sponsored by the Anchorage Assembly and the Municipality of Anchorage Ombudsman’s Office, was directed at presidents, vice-presidents, and other leaders of the 38 community councils in Anchorage.

Presenters of other training sessions included Tim Potter of Dowl HKM, Dennis McMillan of the Foraker Group, Hazel Blackmore of NeighborWorks Anchorage, Beth Nordlund of the Anchorage Park Foundation and Kitty Farnham of the Alaska Humanities Forum.

Dr. Chamard’s three-hour session covered:

• disaster preparedness at the neighborhood level
• the difference between illegal and undesirable behavior in public spaces
• problem-solving partnerships with the police
• use of crime prevention through environmental design and civil remedies
• social strategies for dealing with crime and disorder problems

Prof. Knudsen speaks about Affordable Care Act to UAA Institute for Healthcare Improvement

Prof. Kristin Knudsen, Justice Center faculty, and Joan Fisher, Lead Navigator at United Way of Anchorage, co-presented on the Affordable Care Act to health sciences students in the UAA Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) on March 28.

The session included discussion of:

• the Healthcare.gov website
• insurance options
• important provisions beyond insurance
• legal history of the Act
• legal and policy implications of the Act

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School for Health Professions is an interprofessional educational community that gives students the skills to become agents of change in health care improvement. Students in nursing, medicine, allied health, pharmacy, dentistry, policy and other health professions are encouraged to participate in order to gain and improve skills like quality improvement, patient safety, teamwork, leadership and patient-centered care.  Dr. Heidi Mannion is the faculty advisor for this group. For more information about the the IHI, email her hamannion@uaa.alaska.edu.

National Public Health Week starts April 7 at UAA - check out Healthy Alaskans 2020 and other events

National  Public Health Week starts Monday, April 7, at UAA with a roster of activities including a drive-in movie, a group walk, and sessions on health topics.  These events are coordinated by the College of Health Department of Health Sciences.

On Tuesday, April 8,  Lisa DH Aquino, State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and Emily Read, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, will discuss "Healthy Alaskans 2020 - Alaskans in Healthy Communities." This event will run from 11:30 a.m.. - 12:30 p.m. in Room 113, Health Sciences Building, UAA Campus.

Healthy Alaskans 2020 is a joint effort of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Together they have identified 25 Leading Health Indicators — a list of critical health priorities for Alaska. The 25 leading health indicators include reducing the rates of cancer, suicide, and interpersonal violence and sexual assault.

Dr. André Rosay, Justice Center Director, and Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty, are co-conveners for the Healthy Alaskans 2020 Strategy Workgroup responsible for identifying key strategies and actions steps related to reducing the rate of child maltreatment, rate of rape, and percentage of adolescents who were ever physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend.

Contact the UAA Department of Health Sciences at 786-6540 or krfrost@uaa.alaska.edu for a full schedule of events.

UAA student returns to her village to teach about domestic violence and sexual assault prevention

From Sarah's Facebook post.

Sarah Anderson, a Native Aleut and UAA student, is making a visit to her home village of Port Heiden to talk to the youth in the village about domestic violence and sexual assault prevention.  Sarah is a survivor of sexual assault and was motivated to share her story by "so many supportive people, including those incredible girls [Justice majors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer] from UAA Justice Center and NOMORE.org."  In response to her request for assistance with this effort, the Native Council of Port Heiden awarded her a grant.

Shoes donated by the UAA
NO MORE team.

While at Port Heiden, Sarah is also coordinating a "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event and is taking 10 pairs of donated high heels for participants to wear.  "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" is an international men's march to "stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence."  Men are invited to don high heels and walk one mile.

You can read all of Sarah's post on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.  She writes, " I encourage every person who has suffered from sexual abuse to reach out & tell your story... Take your voice back."

Sarah has been studying journalism at UAA, and will be applying for the paramedic program at UA Mat-Su College. The "two incredible girls" she refers to are Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer who coordinated the March 19 "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" panel discussion at UAA on domestic violence and sexual assault. The event is part of their Justice degree capstone project with the UAA Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL). Simona and Kristen, Justice majors/Legal Studies minors, will be graduating in May 2014.

Standing room only for March 19 panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault - "NO MORE" campaign

Dr. Ryan Fortson (at podium) welcomes attendees to the program.

 Over 150 people attended the March 19 "NO MORE Silence in the Dark" panel discussion on domestic violence and sexual assault held at the UAA/APU Consortium Library.

Panelists listen to a question from the moderator. L to r: Dr. Angelia Trujillo,
Officer Rhoda Street, Officer Dave DeLesline, Randi Breager, and Dr. Marny Rivera.

Speakers included Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice faculty; Randi Breager, Alaska State Troopers Program Coordinator; Officer Rhonda Street and Officer Dave DeLesline, Anchorage Police Department; Shannon Eddy, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA) Legal Project Staff Attorney; Dr. Angelia Trujillo, UAA School of Nursing, Forensic Nurse Examiner. Dr. Ryan Fortson, Justice Center faculty, is the moderator.

L to r: Officer Rhoda Street, Dr. Marny Rivera, Kristen Speyerer,
Simona Gerdts (back row), Dr. Ryan Fortson, Dr. Angelia Trujillo, and
Officer Dave DeLesline stand in front of "No More"
statements made by the public.

 
The program was sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and Alpha Phi Sigma, Omega Xi chapter, national criminal justice honor society.

Senior Justice majors/Legal Studies minors Simona Gerdts and Kristen Speyerer planned and coordinated this event as part of their capstone project through the UAA Center for Community Engagement & Learning (CCEL). The students made contact with the "NO MORE" national campaign which has the goal of  increasing greater awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Simona and Kristen also connected with local media to increase awareness of the program and these issues on campus and to encourage the UAA community to engage in prevention efforts.

Volunteers for the event: (l to r) UAA students Lena Illig, Jilene Galle, Kristen Speyerer, Isabella Forshee (back row), Camilla Hussein-Scott, Simona Gerdts. (l to r) JBER volunteers Airman First Class Ty Melnyk (back row), TSgt Alan Gerdts, (both with 703 AMXS), Senior Airman Brittany Pritner with 673 MDG, and Senior Airman Lance Pritner with 703 AMXS.

The event was part of the "NO MORE" national campaign   Like us on the UAA Says No More Facebook page.  The hope is to make the "No More" campaign an annual event at UAA.

Far left and far right: representatives from JBER - Chief George Richey, 673 LRG,
and the Third Wing Command Chief, Chief Jose Barraza, USAF.
Ctr l to r: student coordinators Kristen Speyerer and Simona Gerdts.

Representatives from STAR and AWAIC made information
available to participants about their services.