Associate Prof. Andrew Austin (Democracy and Justice Studies) presented the working paper “Prison’s Purpose: Comparing the Nordic and U.S. Correctional Approaches” at the Wisconsin Sociological Association Conference on Oct. 25, 2019. The conference was held at Carthage College in Kenosha. The paper’s theme concerns Associate Prof. Austin’s endeavor to provide policymakers with alternative correctional approaches that de-emphasize punishment and utilize social supports to reduce recidivism, an issue vital to addressing prison overcrowding in Wisconsin. This is the subject of his upcoming sabbatical in the fall of 2020.
Faculty note: Hutchison heads-up a new book series in urban sociology
If you are starting a new publishing house in the UK and want to introduce an innovative book series in urban sociology that will highlight emerging research studies from around the world — who are you going call? Look no further than UW-Green Bay! Prof. and Ray Hutchison (Sociology, Anthropology, and longtime chair of Urban Studies), was sought out by Anthem Publishers to head-up its new book series in urban sociology. The series will publish 3 to 4, 200-page monographs each year. The first members of the editorial board selected by Hutchison include Richard Ocejo (John Jay College, City University of New York), Marta Smagacz-Poziemska ( University of Warsaw), and Tomasso Vitale (Sciences Po, Paris). View publisher information about the series, here.
Thanksgiving? Profs. Austin and Martin share tips to avoid political squabble
“Thanksgiving is upon us, which means some families may be serving up a side of political talk around the dinner table. A contentious midterm election that led to a new governor in Wisconsin and Democratic control of the U.S. House is still not far from people’s minds. So, how do you handle the potential barbs from your uncle or granddaughter without spoiling your appetite? How do you stomach comments from that relative with whom you disagree on everything?” The Green Bay Press-Gazette talks to UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Andrew Austin (Democracy and Justice Studies) and UW-Green Bay Prof. Ryan Martin (Psychology) about civil debate. See the story.
Faculty note: UW-Green Bay Prof. Andrew Austin publishes article
UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. (Sociology) and Chair of Democracy and Justice Studies Andrew Austin published an article titled “How Garrisoning Schools With Armed Resource Officers Normalizes Authoritarianism.” Read the article on Buzzflash.
Associate Prof. Austin: ‘Police in schools does not make them safer’
Associate Prof. Andrew Austin (Sociology & Chair of Democracy and Justice Studies) argues that adding more armed officers to schools is not the way out of gun violence. In his column, “Police in the schools does not make them safer” in the Green Bay Press Gazette, Austin explains that the increase of armed police presence at schools over the years has not eliminated school shootings, but rather contributed to profiling of minority students on campuses. “Once embedded in schools, the law enforcement gaze is turned on the children, bringing biases from the outside inside the building,” he says. Austin also points out, that school shooting drills reinforce student fear, and allow dangerous individuals to plan around it.
Faculty note: Prof. Hutchison publication
Prof. Ray Hutchison (Sociology and Public and Environmental Affairs) has published a paper titled “Empy Space: Historical Memory” in the Springer VS collection Moving Cities — Contested Views on Urban Life. Hutchison’s chapter examines three events from the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 in Chicago — the Market Square rally where Albert Parsons addressed some 20,000 persons, the police attack on the Vorwärts Turner Hall and the Battle of the Halsted Street Viaduct — using historical sources and illustrations as well as contemporary photographs to demonstrate how knowledge of the past has been erased from everyday lived space: there are no historical markers to commemorate these events. If you have never heard of the Great Railroad Strike or the Battle of the Halsted Street Viaduct, that is precisely the point!
Proud Papa: Prof. Austin presents son, Nikolas, with diploma

at UW-Green Bay’s 2017 Commencement
Associate Prof. Andrew Austin’s son, Nikolas, graduated with a degree in Political Science and was quite active in student government. Serving as Student Government Association President in 2016-17, he fought for expanded voting opportunities on campus. “I think that the only really effective way to make sure that everyone has access to voting, which is one of the most important things in our civic participation, is having it on campus,” Austin told the media. His father, Andrew, is a faculty member in UW-Green Bay’s Democracy and Justice Studies and Sociology programs, and was able to present Nikolas with his diploma.
Faculty note: Dalke paper presentation
Senior lecturer Karen Dalke (Sociology, Public and Environmental Affairs) recently presented a paper entitled: “Mustang Denizen: Reimagining the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971” at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK for a conference titled: Horses, Society and the Law: Past, Present and Future.
Faculty note: Karen Dalke co-authored piece published
Senior Lecturer Karen Dalke’s (Sociology, Public & Environmental Affairs) co-authored conference paper entitled National Treasure: Nationalistic Representations of the Finnhorse in Trotting Championships, was recently published in the book, “Equestrian Cultures in Global and Local Contexts.”
Hutchison earns Santander Chair at Portugal’s University of Lisbon
Prof. Ray Hutchison of Sociology has been awarded the Cátedra Santander (the Santander Chair) in the Faculdade de Ciéncias Socialis e Humanas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (the Humanities and Social Sciences at the New University of Lisbon) for the 2016 spring semester. The New University of Lisbon was founded in 1973 following the collapse of the Estado Novo military regime in the 25 de Abril Carnation revolution, and has a strong tradition of innovative work, including interdisciplinary degree programs and graduate research centers. His responsibilities will include mentoring a 10-week seminar on urban studies for graduate students and faculty at CICS-NOVA (Centro Interdisciplinar de Ciências Sociais), as well as a series of public lectures on topics such as “The Invention of the American West” and “Utopian Communities in the US” that are often taught in American Studies programs at universities across Europe. He will also arrange a conference on comparative suburban studies featuring faculty from the Banlieue Network (Paris), Westminster University (London), University of Florence, University of Bologna, and other universities.