Month: January 2020

To Punish or Rehabilitate: Lessons from Comparing US Prisons Across International Lines

January 1, 2020

What happens after someone is convicted of murder? In the most serious cases, the person is given life without parole or a death penalty sentence. Here, he or she is held in strict quarters, likely to never rejoin society. Or the person could receive a life sentence of around 15 years, possibly serve a 21-year … More To Punish or Rehabilitate: Lessons from Comparing US Prisons Across International Lines

Undocumented Experiences: Duquesne’s Oral History Initiative Aims to Share Stories of the Marginalized

January 1, 2020

“You can’t get something like that from another source.” This is how Megan DeFries describes listening to oral histories of slaves sharing their hardships and firsthand experiences in a racist South during the Civil War. As she explains, in the 1930s during the Great Depression, federal writers began a project to document former slaves to … More Undocumented Experiences: Duquesne’s Oral History Initiative Aims to Share Stories of the Marginalized

Purpose Changes Richard Garland’s Path of Violence to Violence Prevention

January 1, 2020

He was a fighter. He belonged to a gang. He didn’t have a traditional family upbringing.  He came from a broken and dysfunctional home with only a grandmother for parental guidance. And at 12 years old, Richard Garland knew his violent and hostile lifestyle would land him in jail. He was ready. Like many inmates, … More Purpose Changes Richard Garland’s Path of Violence to Violence Prevention

South Craig Street: A Small Stretch Filled with Many Wonders

January 1, 2020

By Daniel Priore At first it might seem difficult to find some peace from the constant noise along Forbes and Fifth Avenue in Oakland. Hustling students heading to class and honking traffic on its way to and from Downtown set the daily scene. But, all is not lost for those searching for a nice little … More South Craig Street: A Small Stretch Filled with Many Wonders

Joseph Wilk: A Teen Librarian Making the Library More Than Just a Place for Books

January 1, 2020

by Daniel Priore For years, a young student walked into the Carnegie Library Teen Department in Oakland with a scowl on his face. He hardly talked and usually just plopped himself down at the computers for hours. That didn’t stop Joseph Wilk from being friendly. He always welcomed teens with a smile. One day the … More Joseph Wilk: A Teen Librarian Making the Library More Than Just a Place for Books

Jorden Thornton’s Motto: Drive, Support, Initiative Triumph Over Life’s Gender Stereotypes

January 1, 2020

By Daniel Priore The sun did not rise that morning, or if it did, it was impossible to see past the thick, rolling grey clouds. The snow came down at a steady pace, etching a foreboding frost onto the field. Below-freezing temperatures only made conditions more unbearable as the shaking players prepared themselves for the … More Jorden Thornton’s Motto: Drive, Support, Initiative Triumph Over Life’s Gender Stereotypes