1025 research outputs found
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Catherine Greathouse
No full textAs a psychology and sociology double major, I did not have much experience with the law and judicial system until the Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society provided me with the opportunity to intern with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). CASA is a nonprofit organization that trains volunteers to advocate for abused or neglected dependent children who have come to the attention of the court. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to identify and express the needs and wishes of the child.
I started my internship CASA in July 2012 and have continued in that position through the summer of 2013. One of the major responsibilities of the CASA volunteer is to aid the child in getting a safe, permanent and loving home as soon as possible. Children can be involved in the legal and social services systems for years. A CASA volunteer is their constant connection through the whole process. As caseworkers, foster homes, schools and other things change, the CASA volunteer is the one person that remains the same in the child’s life during such a difficult time.
As a court appointed party, the volunteer is allowed to gather medical, educational and other information on the child. Among my responsibilities as an intern, I was expected to gather information for CASA volunteers to use in their report to the court. Additionally, I was present for most of the court proceedings, and I accompanied caseworkers on family visits and other meetings regarding the welfare of the child.
My work at CASA—especially my interaction with the families and court system—has provided valuable experience and knowledge and added to the foundation that I’ve been building in the classroom at SU. My education and this experience has allowed me to look at the events playing out in the court room and consider the factors in our society that may have contributed to the events that brought the family to where they are. My experience at CASA allowed me to observe sociological and psychological theories in action.
Working in two different counties, I was able to observe two different court systems along with a variety of service providers and families. It was interesting to observe how the two different court systems operated and how each party involved viewed their role and purpose. Over the past year I was able to identify cycles and patterns within the court proceedings and family dynamics that I believe I would never have had the opportunity to observe without this opportunity. My experience has taught me so much about how laws can protect the rights of children and their families, but it can also hinder them. It was very interesting to see the consequences that families face following the ruling in Family Court. Without the sponsorship of the Arlin Adams Center, I would never have been able to dedicate so much time to this valuable experience.https://scholarlycommons.susqu.edu/adams_scholars/1007/thumbnail.jp
Letting go of legacy services : library case studies
No full textThe last few years have proven beyond any doubt that libraries cannot afford to coast along with the status quo. Just as important as proposing and adding new services is the sometimes unpleasant process of critically examining existing realities and letting go of obsolete or less useful programs. But instead of panicking about budgetary and staffing challenges, libraries can choose a measured, proactive response. The contributors in this practical guidebook take readers step-by-step through approaches they\u27ve used at their own institutions, offering models that can be adapted to a wide variety of settings. After reading this book library directors and administrators will have insights into How planned abandonment strategies grounded in assessment-based decision making can allow libraries to focus on what they do best Common sense solutions to pressure points common across many different libraries, such as difficulties in dealing with data, communicating to internal and external populations, and the ordinary day-to-day pressures of running a library The first steps towards formulating a plan of action, and ways to make evaluation of services a regular part of organizational culture Analysis of each case study, and suggestions for further exploration Through examination of these case studies, librarians can develop a framework that helps lead to more structured thinking about what is vitally important for their own library\u27s future.https://scholarlycommons.susqu.edu/facultybooks/1039/thumbnail.jp
The Interaction of Photoactivators with Proteins during Microfabrication
Get PDFMicron-scale protein cross-linking or microfabrication has been carried out using an Nd3+–YAG laser as the excitation source. Fabrication is carried out by the excitation of photoactivators (Rose Bengal, methylene blue and 9-fluorenone-2-carboxylic acid) with the ultimate goal of creating stable structures that will serve as models for various applications (drug delivery and tissue engineering). Experimental parameters have been adjusted to minimize photodamage and maximize cross-linking efficiency. The higher than ideal photon flux and peak power necessitates the use of high protein concentrations to minimize photodamage. Rose Bengal and methylene blue are binding to proteins with high association constants (Ka ≈ 106 M−1) and both Rose Bengal and both 9-fluorenone-2-carboxylic acid are showing changes to their excited states in presence of proteins at cross-linking concentrations. Molecular docking studies show that Rose Bengal binds close to the tryptophan with ΔG = −6.15 kcal/mol
How Blasphemy Sounds to God
No full textWhat saves us? It’s a question as old—and as urgent—as humanity itself. With this remarkable book, award-winning poet, essayist, and short story writer Gary Fincke opens an exciting new chapter of his career. Structured as a novel-in-stories, How Blasphemy Sounds to God explores our capacity for loyalty and love as it delves into the lives of people on the brink of faith. In prose so pitch-perfect you’ll forget you’re reading, Fincke lays open the hearts and souls of mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, daughters and sons—each in their own way struggling to protect themselves from the chaos of life, reaching for things they only barely know exist…or fleeing those they can’t quite see. Set in the tumult of the nineteen sixties, How Blasphemy Sounds to God explores the lives of average people rocked by the seismic shifts around them: the specter of Communism, the war in Vietnam, the space race, the Kennedys and Camelot, and the many shifting social mores that spark and flash and too often catch fire. Whether it’s a young mother facing her mortality or a wife flaunting her sexual freedom in front of her husband or a father trying to prepare his child for the dangers of life, Gary Fincke handles the fragile lives of his characters with a respect and understanding that will take your breath away. Displaying the same unwavering sensitivity and brilliantly observed detail that brought him two Pushcart Prizes, a Flannery O’Connor Award, a PEN Syndicated Fiction Prize, and many other honors, Gary Fincke has produced a book of heart-breaking depth. Here is a writer at the height of his craft.https://scholarlycommons.susqu.edu/facultybooks/1014/thumbnail.jp
Alissa Reedy
No full textOver the past two semesters, I was pleased to have had the opportunity to intern at the Union and Snyder County courthouses. The position was one I actively sought out based on the assumption that it would help me understand—at a hands-on level—what I might be doing after completing law school. As it turned out, the internship taught me far more than I had originally imagined it would.
As an intern I did a lot of observing. I often sat next to the court stenographer during proceedings and spent much of my time thinking about the specific type of procedure that was before the court. I was interested in what made one case different from other cases in the same category and how these differences might ultimately affect the judge’s decisions. Afterward, I often had extensive discussions with the judge about what I thought of each case and how I might handle a similar scenario. In addition to the observations, I read a lot of case files, which led to asking a lot of questions about various laws and procedures. I also was a filer, photo-copier and researcher on a variety of cases.
Some of the highlights of my internship included my fairly free access to behind-the-scenes conversations between judges, secretaries, lawyers and the district attorney and other members of the court work group. This was the part of my internship where I probably learned the most. Other highlights included serving as a principal organizer of a mock-trial between two local high schools for Union County’s bicentennial. This project consisted of contacting both schools, setting up meetings, and, my favorite part, looking at real files dating back to 1813 (the first year the Union County Courthouse was established). In addition, I greatly enjoyed the excitement of high-security hearings, interacting with coworkers and legal professionals in high-stress situations, and of course, the annual holiday party.
I learned a lot from this internship and could not be more grateful to have had the experience. I learned that, at the end of the day, judges and lawyers and policemen are all just normal folks. I think the position allowed me to become much better at handling myself and my emotions in stressful situations. Most importantly, I learned that, contrary to what I had originally believed, law school is not for me. As I initially approached the internship, I was thankful to have been given the opportunity to gain real-world legal experience that would allow me to beef up my law school applications. Now, I realize the thing I am most thankful for is to know ahead of time—before spending tens of thousands of dollars on law school—that a career in law is not what I want.https://scholarlycommons.susqu.edu/adams_scholars/1011/thumbnail.jp
