Criminology dept. hosts open house in Science II

By RUEBEN CONTRERAS

The criminology department moved into the Science II building back in January, but the celebration for the move waited until Saturday and was marked by an open house.

The ceremony recognized community leaders and faculty of the criminology advisory board. There was an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours, lectures and a reception.

“This is a celebration of the criminology department and the College of Social Sciences,” said Luz Gonzalez, the dean of social sciences.

“We are celebrating the students who want to devote their lives to public service.”

Gonzalez said the criminology department offers quality teaching and cultural leadership for society.

Steve Walker, the criminology department chair, said Fresno State’s criminology department is one of the largest programs on campus, with approximately 1,000 majors.

The department offers a bachelor’s degree with options in law enforcement, corrections and victimology.

“The department is a leader in the criminal justice field and its graduates have assumed leadership positions at the local, state, and federal levels,” Walker said.

Criminology instructor Steve Magarian said the department’s new home would help improve the quality of education.

“It is a tremendous day. We are getting our own home. It is very fascinating,” he said. “The technology in the new classrooms is fantastic.”

Magarian, a former Fresno County sheriff, said that, during his time as sheriff, he was proud to hire and promote Fresno State graduates.

“The quality of education is important,” he said. “Those who take that and use it in their career and community will find out how valuable it is.”

Plans of partnering with other universities are also underway.

Jeffery Gibeling, the dean of graduate studies at the University of California, Davis, said he wants to take the quality of education a step further at Fresno State.

Gibeling said faculty and administration from Fresno State and UC Davis are planning a joint doctoral criminology program for students who want to earn a Ph.D.

Gibeling said a start date for the program is not known. The UC and CSU systems need to weigh in on the idea of the program.

“We are almost there,” Gibeling said. “There are only a few steps left in the process.”

Visitors were taken on tours of the department’s new home. They saw presentations by criminology students. The students presented their research on topics ranging from victimology to criminal behavior.

Lectures by criminology professors were open to visitors, as well.

Criminology professor Candice Skrapec, who had the opportunity to study serial killer Charles Manson at Corcoran state prison, presented the topic of “Who are the criminals among us?” and “The new rological defense: my brain made me do it.”

Skrapec said studies on the brains of criminals are important and need to be done.

“With the use of that knowledge, we will be able to treat the systems of criminals,” she said.

The criminology department office occupies the C wing of the Science II building, but the department uses classrooms in wings A and B, occupied by the college of science and math.

The $22-million Science II building is located on San Ramon Avenue east of the Downing Planetarium.