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Winter 2023 Highlights
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- UW Sociology, Then and Now
- Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky
- Chiara Packard's Award Winning Paper
- Wisconsin Idea Course Has Another Great Year
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- Recent Impactful Research
- Nominations Open for Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award
- Nur Hidayah Binti Rostam's Wisconsin Idea Fellowship
- End of Year Giving
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Decency. Excellence. Diversity.
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The Social Science building, built in 1962, viewed from across Observatory Drive, circa 1970-1979.
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UW Sociology, Then and Now
The Sociology Department has changed a lot over the decades. The 175th Anniversary of UW-Madison this year has us in a reflective mood, and sociology has been a part of the University almost, but not quite, since its inception.
The very first sociology courses at UW-Madison were taught by John Bascom during his presidency of the University from 1874 to 1887. Considering that UW-Madison assembled its first football team and chose the tenacious Badger as a mascot in 1889, we can say that sociology at UW-Madison is older than Bucky himself!
In 1909, the first rural sociology research was conducted at UW-Madison, marking the start of what would become the Department of Community & Environmental Sociology. This predates Memorial Union as a gathering place for students, faculty, and alumni, which first opened in 1928.
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Professor Gary Sandefur works with students in a classroom, 1993.
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Students in a classroom, 2020.
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The 1960s saw major protests on campus, including the Black Student Strike and the Dow Chemical protests in response to the Vietnam War, which took place across the street from the building where UW Sociology is housed today. Madison's more recent large-scale protests include the Black Lives Matter protest events in response to George Floyd's death in 2020 and Act 10 protests in 2011. Badgers continue to stand up for what they believe in.
While technology and trends change, our dedication to top-notch research, instruction and service remains the same, year after year.
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Sociology department members at a bookwarming event, 2007.
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Sociology department members and Board of Visitors members at a Homecoming tailgate, 2022.
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Follow us on Facebook and Bluesky
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Chiara Packard's Award Winning Paper
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Chiara Packard is a PhD candidate who will join the University of Utah's Sociology Department as an Assistant Professor in Fall 2024. Her research uses primarily qualitative methods to explore the political and social processes that shape punishment, and how punishment, in turn, reproduces inequality.
One key finding from Chiara's research that she outlines in this paper is that, in particular cases involving substance use or mental health issues, prosecutors often charge individuals or recommend a probation sentence based on the belief that the accused needs supportive services.
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Wisconsin Idea Course Has Another Great Year
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The Wisconsin Idea Course returned this year for the first time since 2020, when it was held virtually. Harry Brighouse, Professor of Political Philosophy and Philosophy of Education, led the course this year.
Over a dozen speakers from across UW-Madison volunteered their time and energy to give lectures every Tuesday evening for students in the undergraduate course and members of the public who attended for free. Some lectures focused on historical perspectives, like Black pioneers on the Midwestern frontier pre-Civil War and the founding of UW-Madison as a land grant University. Other lectures took on more modern topics, like resource allocation during COVID-19 and the climate problem. Some lectures even speculated on the future, including one from Cory Mason, the Mayor of Racine and a Badger who earned his BA in 2000.
Each of these lectures is connected by the common thread of the Wisconsin Idea: that great notion that the work done at the University of Wisconsin should benefit citizens everywhere.
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Recent Impactful Research
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Our sociologists are constantly publishing brand new research. Read up on some of their latest finds!
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Nominations Open for Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award
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The Department of Sociology Board of Visitors Devah Pager Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes and celebrates an alum who has made outstanding achievements in both their careers and communities that have significantly improved the lives of others. Nominees must have either an undergraduate or graduate degree from the UW-Madison Sociology department. Self-nominations will not be accepted. The BoV is seeking nominees from a variety of backgrounds.
To submit your nomination, send a 1- to 2-page letter with the following information to: Janet Hankin, Secretary of the Board of Visitors, janet.hankin@wayne.edu. Deadline for submissions is December 31, 2023.
- Nominee's name
- Nominee’s current job title and company
- Nominee's contact information
- Nominee's degree and date of graduation
- Nominee's career history including a recent resume
- Examples of the nominee's leadership and initiative in their profession; distinguished service to their profession; and exceptional contributions to improving society.
Please include PDFs or links to online articles, press releases, or other internet postings that address all the above criteria.
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End-of-Year Giving
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Pop quiz: which month typically sees the highest level of donations to the Department of Sociology?
The answer: December! The last month of the year is key to the students, staff, and faculty in our department.
You can tailor your gift to a specific cause close to your heart. Undergrad scholarships, grad student support, and our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund are all excellent options. You can take a closer look at all of our funds here.
Of course, we love donations to our Annual Fund, which can be used at the Chair's discretion to fill in the gaps wherever it's needed the most. Whatever amount you have to share, we will appreciate it and put it to excellent use.
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Nur Hidayah Binti Rostam's Wisconsin Idea Fellowship
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For twenty five years, the Morgridge Center for Public Service has awarded Wisconsin Idea Fellowships to outstanding undergrad projects working to address issues identified by local or global communities. This year, sociology major and CAR student Nur Hidayah Binti Rostam received a Wisconsin Idea Fellowship for MyScholarsLab Outreach Project, which she is working on with Muhammad Nazrie Bin Hasan.
MyScholarsLab Outreach Project aims to empower students in rural areas of Malaysia by educating them about tertiary education pathways and scholarships after completing the Malaysian Education Certificate (SPM). Their modules cover pre-university pathways, local and global scholarship applications, resume building, interview skills, and character development activities. Since 2020, they’ve taught over 5,000 secondary school students, with many successfully becoming proud scholarship recipients.
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This newsletter was created by Erin Skarivoda, Tina Hunter, and Eric Grodsky.
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