Everything Nac

The Department of Human Services and the Center for Digital Scholarship at Stephen F. Austin State University recently published the first edition of the Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice.

This online, peer-reviewed journal publishes reviews and articles based on research, theory development, case studies, and program and intervention applications.

The journal’s mission is to provide practitioners and educators with a forum to report data that substantiate current practices or raise questions about mainstream thinking and practices in education and service delivery within disciplines specifically related to human services.

Dr. Robbie Steward, chair of the Department of Human Services at SFA and the journal’s executive editor, began working on the project in 2014.

“One goal I have maintained is facilitating not only faculty members’ engagement in research and scholarship, but also providing guidance in encouraging undergraduate, graduate and doctoral student participation,” Steward said. “The journal offers a nice balance because it keeps students interested in research and encourages them to collaborate with faculty members in the research process.”

The first issue featured five articles with topics ranging from social work to system changes in education. SFA students from the visual impairment and school psychology programs served as co-authors on three of the published articles. To view the journal, visit http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/jhstrp/.

“The journal provides another forum for students and faculty members to enhance their professional development and it gives them an opportunity to add to the literature related to their specific disciplines,” Steward said.

The journal’s multidisciplinary nature allows for the consideration of a range of manuscript types. Also, the educational and comprehensive feedback distinguishes it from many other publications.

“Our review process has an educational component beyond the typical accept, reject or revise outcome. All authors receive detailed and comprehensive feedback from discipline-associated editorial board members regarding how to strengthen the submitted manuscript regardless of the final decision,” Steward said.

The journal’s editorial board is comprised of professionals experienced in various human service-related disciplines from many locations, including South Korea, New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia and Florida.

“The diversity of the editorial board enhances the journal’s quality and validates the source of the feedback and investment of the editorial board members. This special attention to each manuscript is provided as an educational component for students and faculty members who are beginning their careers as academicians,” Steward said.

The journal will be published twice a year with special issues approved by the editorial board. Students and faculty members working in any field can submit articles to the journal for review.

Steward believes the research opportunities and experience this journal will afford students will be valuable for their careers.

“School is not just about course enrollment and degree completion; it’s about preparing for a career,” Steward said. “Publications and presentations at conferences will help distinguish SFA students from others because these added experiences document our students not only know what they are doing and the reasons for their practices, but also are familiar with the literature and the process of inquiry and critical thinking within their disciplines.”

For more information, contact Steward at stewardjr@sfasu.edu.

In spite of the best and most sincere efforts of many Americans, the state of race relations in the U.S. today needs great improvement. The negative effects of urban poverty, particularly on the African American population, continue to plague the nation.

Those observations by Dr. Dianne E. Dentice, associate professor of anthropology, geography and sociology at Stephen F. Austin State University, show us that the racial themes addressed in the upcoming SFA School of Theatre’s production of “Clybourne Park,” despite improvements, are as timely today as they were at the height of the Civil Rights movement.

“The overall state of race relations in the U.S. is slowly improving, but we still have a long way to go,” Dentice said. “Poverty, urban decay, job and wage stagnation, and education inequality continue to have devastating consequences for young African Americans, especially males.”

The School of Theatre will present “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Feb. 23 through 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for drama, “Clybourne Park” was written in response to the classic “A Raisin In the Sun.” In “Raisin,” an African American family in 1959 Chicago is moving to a white neighborhood, Clybourne Park. The first act of the newer play is set on the same day as one scene in “Raisin,” in the house that the family is buying. The second act is set in the same house 50 years later, with the tables turned – a white family now seeks to buy the house from a black family.

One of the main issues in “Clybourne Park” is the effect that an influx of new residents from a different racial group has on a community and, in particular, on its economics. The play highlights the concern a white homeowner (Mr. Linder) has in 1959 that new African American homeowners will lower his property value and the fears of the African American residents 50 years later who are concerned about an influx of white families and the resulting gentrification.

“Unfortunately (in my opinion), Mr. Lindner’s concerns/opinions about neighborhood integration have not gone away,” Dentice said. “Even though things have gotten somewhat better over the last 50 years, surveys of the American public reveal that African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and gay men are seen as less competent than their white counterparts. One fact cannot be disputed, and that is that African Americans are still the most segregated minority group in the United States.

“Gentrification continues to be a reality – especially in urban areas like Philadelphia,” she said. “It does not always affect only African Americans, however. In cities like San Francisco, middle class white professionals are being displaced by newly minted high tech millionaires. The reality of the situation is that progress is not going to be halted by cities that are struggling to meet their budgets. Poor and working families will continue to be locked out of housing opportunities because they just cannot afford the increased rent that comes with structural improvements initiated by new owners.”

For student actor Terrance Simon, junior theatre major from Houston, the issues addressed in “Clybourne Park” “hit pretty close to home,” he said.

“The conflicts are all too real,” Simon said. “I personally live in a neighborhood that is being gentrified, and I have seen childhood friends have to move out of their homes.”

Another theme in the play addresses “racial anxiety,” or the way the characters communicate sensitively yet directly about race, culture and gentrification. Dentice said many of her students are not fully aware of the history of the civil rights movement and the struggle people went through during those years.

“Even though the content of my classes is often uncomfortable for students of all races and ethnicities, they have to become aware that prejudice, stereotyping and discriminatory practices are still a reality in our society and others,” she said. “It is my responsibility, however, to present the material and discuss how things have changed but still remain the same with regard to racial profiling and mass incarceration of African Americans.

“I think that Americans would like to believe that racial strife is a thing of the past,” Dentice continued. “Some Americans think that there is nothing else to be done and our society is post-racial. A really inconvenient fact is that our country has the highest prison population rates in the world. The majority of prisoners are poor males, many of whom are black.”

The U.S. represents 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of the world’s prison population, according to Dentice.

“It is a costly system that is largely ineffective with high recidivism rates across the board,” she said. “Until we begin to deal with all the variables that cause crime – poverty, decaying inner city schools, high dropout rates and lack of opportunity for minority youth – we will continue to have racial disparities in the criminal justice system that are largely an American phenomenon.”

Simon believes that the play demonstrates “the need for Americans, who live in possibly the most privileged country in the world, to sit down and have true heart-to-heart conversations and stop shunning the subject.”

“With that being said, Bruce Norris has written some brilliant dialogue in this dark comedy,” Simon said. “There is nothing better than going to the theater and getting your own interpretation, and I hope people leave wanting to speak more intellectually on the subject.”

“I think one of the lessons you can take from this play is how to consider social issues from all sides,” said fellow actor Jonee Lewis of Allen, “and how to go about it in a way where you raise awareness and are heard without spewing ignorance. As far as the race discussion, I believe that we have made some progress. I also think that the discussion of race relations will always be uncomfortable, but not impossible.”

Can heightened discussion about race, or even movies or plays like “Clybourne Park,” help to improve race relations?

“I think that the arts can provide positive avenues for open debates about race and other social issues, such as mass incarceration and poverty,” Dentice said. “Plays like ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and ‘Clybourne Park’ represent different perspectives that were overlooked for many years prior to the Civil Rights movement. Writers like James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry and Toni Morrison, among others, not only gave us great literature and play writing, but they also made us think about who we are as a country and what is important to move us forward. They are some of the giants – in my opinion.

“The challenge for our contemporary society is to continue elevating the discussion surrounding race relations in post-Obama America and be really careful not to fall victim to cliché and innuendo.”

Audiences of “Clybourne Park” will not only learn more about race relations, but they will also see examples of “why we as Americans have failed at this subject,” Simon said.

“I believe that Bruce Norris couldn’t have written more realistic people,” he said. “Every single character in this show fails to achieve their goal, and I believe this happens because we all have our minds set on what we believe, and no one wants to actually sit down and listen to what the other is saying.”

Zach Hanks, assistant professor of theatre at SFA and the play’s director, agrees with the premise that plays like “Clybourne Park” are important to perform to keep the discussion on race relations moving forward.

“Pointing out a flaw in another person’s thinking is usually far less persuasive than showing it to them,” Hanks said. “This is why plays like ‘Clybourne Park’ aren’t just important, but are profoundly necessary.”

“Hard data, incontrovertible facts and ironclad arguments not only fail to change people’s minds, they often make those people dig in and double down on the positions they already hold,” Hanks said. “However, show an audience an injustice, make them sit helplessly and bear witness to the pain it causes human beings, and you can effortlessly make people change their minds and clamor to change their world, because you did it by way of their hearts.”

“Clybourne Park” features mature themes, suggestive dialogue, and very coarse language, including some profanity, which may not be suitable for younger audiences. Cigarette smoking is simulated in the production. In other media, this show might be rated “R” or “TV-MA.”

Single tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students/youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu. Tipton-Ford-Lincoln is an annual sponsor of the School of Theatre’s Mainstage Series.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education’s Department of Elementary Education will host a screening of the documentary “Tested” and a Q&A session with producer, director and writer Curtis Chin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, in the Janice A. Pattillo Early Childhood Research Center, Room 212.

The film follows the stories of students hoping to be admitted to one of the top public high schools in New York City, and it explores issues of equal access, stereotypes, affirmative action and the model minority myth. The screening is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

“This documentary provides insight to many critical social issues,” said Dr. Brandon Fox, SFA assistant professor of elementary education. “Opportunity and access directly impact life choices and life chances. For many, these choices and chances may rely heavily on one exam. This film is timely, as many states are considering various approaches to public education.”

SFA students enrolled in ELE 352: Social/Environmental Foundations will have the opportunity to interact with the documentary’s writer/producer/director during class, as well as conduct various assignments related to the film.

“We will engage in multiple explorations and connections to the film. Many students may use data from the film and from our interactions with Curtis Chin to assist in constructing their critical issues research paper, which explores the intersections of a critical social and/or economic issue at the local, state, national or international levels and education,” Fox said. “This research paper is designed to engage students in a process to collect and disseminate data as well as to advocate for a response to the data.”

Fox said students will be able to use this experience as a point of reference for additional assignments. The documentary explores topics covered in the course such as identity, educational history and civil rights.

“I believe that creating a space of interaction between the director and our students provides an extra layer of contextualization for our students to construct knowledge,” Fox said. “Hearing the purpose, goals, successes and struggles behind the making of ‘Tested’ may encourage our students to advocate for what they believe to be equitable and just.”

For more information, contact Fox at foxbrand@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-2409.

Stephen F. Austin State University students will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience while helping people in the community as part of a service learning project offered this fall semester.

Dr. Dusty Jenkins, SFA assistant professor of psychology, is coordinating the project through the Janelle Grum Family Crisis Center of East Texas, a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention and advocacy services intended to prevent family violence and sexual assault.

Students enrolled in Honors PSY153: Human Sexuality will have the option to work with the Family Crisis Center in a variety of roles suited to the students’ interests.

Jenkins said she chose the Family Crisis Center because it deals with many topics covered in the course.

“It’s important for students to be able to apply what they’ve learned in class to real-world experiences when possible,” Jenkins said. “Students who get the chance to go into the field and learn firsthand about issues tend to take away a deeper understanding of course concepts.”

Jenkins said participating in the service learning projects could help the students after graduation land jobs or admission to graduate school while providing a valuable service to the Family Crisis Center and its clients.

“The client demand is often high and having the extra help from trained students can be very helpful to the paid employees,” Jenkins said. “Students often go about their work with a lot of energy and excitement and have fresh ideas and perspectives that they can add. In addition, students might opt to continue volunteering with the agency after the semester has ended. Since nonprofit agencies often heavily rely on volunteer support, working with students is a great way for agencies to potentially expand their pool of community volunteers.”

Amber Watson, primary prevention coordinator for the Family Crisis Center, said the service learning projects are beneficial to all involved parties.

“These learning projects were important to the student because they allow the students to see firsthand what it means to apply their education to work experience,” Watson said. “It is important to our organization to give students the opportunity to learn in a hands-on manner. The students’ work is important to clients because through learning they spread awareness of domestic violence and its impact on families.”

Alexis Willis, a junior from Beaumont, Texas, completed a service learning project this past fall through the Family Crisis Center as part of the class taught by Jenkins. She said she had wanted a project where she could work with the community since she first enrolled at SFA.

“I gained a sense of caring or how to care and help people,” Willis said. “Initially, I went into the project thinking I’m going to help so many people, and it actually helped me as well. I believe in this project and I helped get the word out to many students and parents about the fact that we actually have a family crisis representative on campus.”

Victoria Pentecost, a freshman from Porter, Texas, also worked on the project this past fall through the class. As someone new to the area, the project had an added social benefit.

“Being a freshman, I didn’t have any connections or knowledge of SFA or other areas around Nacogdoches, and I felt that the service learning project would be a great way to get involved,” Pentecost said, adding the experience provided her valuable skills she can use to help other people.

“I was able to learn about the resources available to the students here at SFA, as well as reach out and spread the word about what we do at the Family Crisis Center,” Pentecost said. “I also was trained to become a sexual assault advocate, which taught me a lot of communication skills used in handling delicate situations such as sexual assault and other forms of intimate partner violence.”

Jenkins and Watson said the success of the service learning projects during the course has created a partnership they would like to continue.

“I feel that this service learning project was a valuable experience for the students, organization and clients as well,” Watson said. “I look forward to working with Dr. Jenkins and her students in the future.”