Dr. Payne interviewed by Alaska Dispatch about economics of marijuana

Dr. Troy Payne, Justice faculty, was interviewed about the economics of marijuana by Suzanna Caldwell of the Alaska Dispatch News. He commented on the lack of economic data and statistics on legal recreational use of marijuana, and the difficulty in drawing comparisons from other states at this time.

Click below to read the article:
"With no official forecast planned, revenue from Alaska marijuana taxes is anyone's guess" by Suzanna Caldwell. Alaska Dispatch News, Sep 11, 2014.

Dr. Blumenstein interviewed by Fox/4 News about violence against women in Alaska

Dr. Lindsey Blumenstein, Justice faculty, was interviewed by Fox/4 News about the high rate of violence against women in Alaska.

To see the interview, click below:
"Examining the murder of Alaska women" by Jessica Gruenling.  Fox/4 News, Sep 11, 2014.

Dr. Barnes participates in First-Year Faculty Social event for UAA students in North Hall dorm

L to r: Dr. Allan Barnes and Dr. Bruce Schultz,
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, at the event.

Dr. Allan Barnes, Justice faculty, and nearly 20 other UAA faculty and staff members met with first-year students on September 3 at the North Hall "First-Year Faculty Social."

The social gave first-year students living on campus the opportunity to engage with faculty members teaching fall semester 100-level courses that are part of the general education requirements (GERs) for the university.

The event also gave faculty the chance to see the classroom in North Hall that can be scheduled for courses. The classroom has iPads for 20
students and is equipped with "smart technology."

Ryan Hill, North Hall & First-Year Experience Residence Coordinator, organized this event  in response to research that shows students who are able to connect with faculty early in their education experience tend to stay in college and have higher GPAs at graduation.

Save the date - October 22 - 6th annual Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair at UAA Student Union

6th Annual Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair

Are you interested in an exciting career in law enforcement, but don’t know who to ask, where to start or what to do? Come to the Recruitment Fair!

• Date:  Wednesday, October 22
• Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
• Where:  UAA Student Union, Upper Level  next to the Wells Fargo Sports Complex
• Parking: Free

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Come by the 6th annual Women in Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair to learn about the tremendous rewards offered by the field, as well as how to get started. Representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will be present to discuss opportunities with you in a casual setting. Law enforcement agencies are actively recruiting for female officers

Sponsored by:

Women Police of Alaska
 with the support of
Alaska State Troopers
Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police
UAA Justice Center

For more information, contact the Justice Center at 786-1810. Dr. Brad Myrstol is the faculty advisor for this event.

Justice major receives 3rd $1,000 law enforcement scholarship

Lena Illig

Justice major Lena Illig has received a $1,000 Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) college scholarship for the third year in a row.  She is featured in the August 19 UAA electronic newsletter, Green & Gold Digest.

Lena's goal is to become an Alaska State Trooper and ultimately to work for the FBI. The LEEP scholarship is presented to students interested in pursuing a career in public safety and all of its related fields — law enforcement, police-fire dispatch, corrections officer, firefighting or emergency medical technicians (EMT).

She is an employee of Aviation Medical Services of Alaska, and is also an on-call volunteer with the Anchorage Police Department Search Team. Lena completed the 6-week Anchorage Police Department Citizens Academy, and is a graduate of the Alaska Military Youth Academy (AMYA).

The Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to public safety research and education with a focus on child safety. LEEP was founded in 1997 and expanded nationally in 2004 to reach children and teens throughout the country.

Justice Center hosts reception Sep 11 to celebrate UAA-Willamette Law 3+3 program

The UAA Justice Center is hosting a reception to celebrate the new UAA-Willamette Law 3+3 Program. UAA and Willamette University College of Law have signed a memorandum of understanding to offer a 3+3 program allowing students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in 6 years, rather than the usual 7.

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2014
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Place: UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307

•  Meet Willamette University College of Law Dean Curtis Bridgeman and
Willamette alumni and staff.

•  Learn about the exciting new partnership between the University of
Alaska Anchorage and Willamette University College of Law.

•  Find out how qualified UAA students will be able to attend law school during their senior year
and graduate from law school in six years rather than the usual seven.

Prof. Deb Periman, J.D., Legal Studies Program Coordinator at the UAA Justice Center, worked with Willamette to develop the 3+3 program and will be UAA’s point of contact for program advising.

Faculty, staff, students, and members of the public are invited to attend.

Justice alumni meet to discuss activities for the upcoming year

Alumni plan the year's activities. L to r: Bridgette Ellis, Melanie Osborne,
Ezekiel Kaufman, Beth Mader, Dr. Allan Barnes (standing), Charles Gunther.

The Justice Alumni Chapter met at the home of Dr. Allan Barnes, chapter advisor, on August 24. They discussed possible activities and priorities for the coming year.

Charles Gunther, B.A. Justice '91, was elected the alumni chapter liaison officer and will work with the UAA Alumni Association, of which he is a board member.

Justice Center participates in Alaska Court System and Alaska Bar program for Anchorage secondary school social studies teachers

Alaska Supreme Court Justice Dana Fabe (seated center) with secondary school teachers and
volunteer attorneys in the Alaska Supreme Court courtroom at the close of the day's program.

Prof. Ryan Fortson, J.D.,  and Prof. Kristen Knudsen, J.D.,  Justice Center Legal Studies faculty, participated in the "Justice for All Social Studies Secondary Field Trip" on August 15. About 40 secondary school social studies teachers from Anchorage toured the Supreme Court courtroom, met and heard from Supreme Court Chief Justice Dana Fabe, and listened to a panel of judges including Presiding Judge William Morse, Judge Patrick McKay, and Judge Leslie Dickson.  The group also observed Wellness Court where Judge David Wallace presided, and met with volunteer attorneys as part of the Attorney Connect program.

Prof. Knudsen (r) talks with teachers and another volunteer
attorney, Sue Urig, about the Attorney Connect program.

The Attorney Connect program is a new project of the Alaska Bar's Law Related Education (LRE) Committee. The goal is to create a liaison between the schools and attorneys who are interested in legal education for their students. The volunteer attorneys will support teachers who have a legal question, need a presenter for a class, want to check their facts or law, or who otherwise need legal assistance in educating students on law-related subjects. The teachers were introduced to this new program and volunteer attorneys assigned to schools.  Prof. Kristen Knudsen will be the liaison to alternative schools in the Anchorage School District.

Prof. Fortson (standing) listens for questions from secondary school
teachers about the Alaska Youth Law Guide .

As part of the Attorney Connect agenda, Prof. Fortson made a presentation to the teachers about the Alaska Youth Law Guide -  a project of the LRE Committee of the Bar Association. The online guide helps teens and young adults understand the law and how it may affect them. It includes general information about many of the legal issues youth are likely to encounter, and some resources for getting more information or assistance.

The event was sponsored by the Alaska Bar Law Related Education Committee, the Alaska Court System, and the Anchorage School District.

Drs. Rivera and Garcia presented at international epidemiology conference

L to r: Dr. Gabe Garcia, Dept. of Health Sciences, and
Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center.

Dr. Marny Rivera, Justice Center faculty, and Dr. Gabriel Garcia, UAA Department of Health Sciences, presented their collaborative research,  "Is Race a Factor in Disparate Health Problems Associated with Violent Victimization in Alaska?" at an August 20 poster session for the 20th IEA World Congress of Epidemiology in Anchorage.

Dr. Rivera and Dr. Garcia discuss their research with
a conference attendee.

 This year's conference theme was "Global Epidemiology in a Changing Environment: The Circumpolar Perspective." The mission of the International Epidemiological Association  (IEA) is to facilitate communication among individuals engaged in research and the teaching of epidemiology worldwide, and to foster the use of epidemiology in all fields of health including social, community, and preventative medicine.
      

Conference attendees study Dr. Garcia and Dr. Rivera's
research poster.

 

Justice Center participates in College of Health all-college meeting

COH faculty and staff at the Fall 2014 All-College Meeting.

The College of Health (COH) held an all-college meeting and BBQ on August 15. Dean Bill Hogan presented information on the COH Strategic Plan 2014-2018 and the results of the recent prioritization process, and introduced new faculty and staff.

Dr.  Gabe Garcia and students from the Smoke-Free Campus Initiative addressed the group about their project. UAA is the first UA campus to join the Fresh Air Campus Challenge.

Breakout sessions included presentation on the new electronic approval system for travel, e-learning resources, and a tour of the new Allied Health facilities.

Justice Center faculty and staff at the COH All-College Meeting.

COH departments also set up exhibit tables to display recent research and programs.

See the slide show below.