Logan Rice on Student Government, Hands-On Education, and Getting Involved on Campus
Logan Rice, '18
Division
Education & Human Studies
Major
Criminal Justice
Hometown
Trumbull, CT
Pronouns
he/him
Favorite Class
Criminal Law
Post-Grad Job
Client Advisor at Stevens Ford Lincoln in Milford, CT
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I came here as someone who didn't really like to reach out to a lot of people. Within a month at Champlain, I was representing the student body as a first-year Senator in the Student Government Association.
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How did the Upside-Down Curriculum impact your education?
With the Upside-Down Curriculum, you're jumping into your major-related classes right away. In my first year, I also went on a ride-along with a Vermont State Police officer. It was amazing to see another side of law enforcement—the human side you don't often see through the media.
What is it like being a student in the Education & Human Studies Division (EHS)?
We get to know people in the division through the EHS Signature Courses, which allow students from across majors to engage in topics. This semester, we're talking about human trafficking. We get a psychology perspective, for example, in addition to criminal justice. It's very interesting because you get contradicting opinions, and it broadens your view on global subjects.
You were the President of the Student Government Association (SGA). How was that experience?
Becoming SGA President my junior year is a great point of pride for me. The work we did and the tasks we undertook were truly a passion of mine. For example, we executed a project—the Rainbow Crosswalk—where we painted the crosswalk on South Willard Street the colors of the rainbow in honor of our LGBTQA+ community. The work we do truly can make a difference on campus.
Liza Ryan on Interning with the Burlington Police Department, Being a First-Year Resident Assistant, and the Benefits of Small Classes
Liza Ryan, '20
Division
Education & Human Studies
Double Major
Social Work and Criminal Justice
Hometown
Buffalo, NY
Pronouns
she/her
Travel Course
Jordan
Internship
Intern at the Burlington Police Department in Burlington, VT
Favorite Class
Social Work: Differently Abled
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My internship has given me lots of opportunities to see how law enforcement and social work go hand in hand.
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You have a really unique internship. Can you tell us about that?
I'm interning at the Burlington Police Department for my whole senior year. I have mostly focused on creative narratives for our bi-weekly "substat" meetings where we discuss any incidents we've had with individuals involved with substance use or serious mental health challenges. The goal of these meetings is to identify those in our community who need help, and then do outreach to gauge their interest in treatment, but also to let them know we're here, we care about them, and we want them to succeed.
My internship has given me lots of opportunities to see how law enforcement and social work go hand in hand.
What is the best thing about living on campus?
I may be biased because I'm an RA, but the sense of community in the first year residence halls is the best. I'm still friends with people I lived with my first year, and again as a Resident Assistant (RA) of that same hall when I was a junior. I hang out with my residents, and they come cheer me on at hockey games.
What is the best part of the Social Work program?
Social Work is one of the smallest programs at Champlain, and I love it. The small classes are extremely beneficial because we can go through real-world experiences and ask any questions we have. We are also encouraged to go into the field early and often. My third year, I took a job in the Emergency Department at the University of Vermont Medical Center doing crisis work, and I already felt prepared at that point.