Welcome to the blog for our Media & Crime course at St. Joseph’s College. One of my goals for the course is to help students identify and analyze the myths and misconceptions about crime that result from a variety of sources. During our first course meeting, one of my own misconceptions about Long Island was identified. I moved to Long Island last summer; prior to that, my knowledge of Long Island was pretty limited and almost entirely based on what I had read, heard, or seen in the media. I’m continually learning about my new community and last night was no different. While I have driven through the Hamptons a few times now, my primary source of information about the Hamptons has been books and television shows. Until I drove through the area myself, I believed all of the Hamptons looked like the set of Royal Pains and Revenge (which is actually filmed in North Carolina).
On the first night of class, we introduced ourselves and one of my students talked about working in one of the busiest courts in New York. I assumed the court was in or near Manhattan but it turns out it is in the Hamptons. After listening to the description of court being held 7 days a week, including evening and night arraignments, I was starting to think the court resembled a favorite show from my youth: Night Court.
One of the things I am most looking forward to this semester is reading and discussing Dave Cullen’s book Columbine. I have read it before and have used it for my Media & Crime class multiple times. Even so, I learn more about the event and students’ perceptions of the event every semester. With the shooting at Sandy Hook still on our minds as we begin the new semester, it will be a timely discussion for all of us.
St. Joseph's College Crime & Media Blog 