Joanna Orban
Staff Writer
I was so excited to graduate high school. I was excited to take classes that interested me, not just classes I had to take, like algebra. One of the best things about college is the fact that you can do just that. Want to learn billiards? Go for it. Jane Austen’s biggest fan? ISU has a class just about her. Another interesting class that ISU is offering this semester is SOC 5592, also known as Guns and Mass Shootings.
Guns and Mass Shootings is a special topics class, meaning the professor developed it and is trying it out this semester to see how the class goes. Because it is a special topics class, it didn’t have to be approved at the university level, rather, it was able to be developed and approved just by the sociology department. Anthony Hoskin, a doctorate in Sociology, worked to develop this class. “I like to, in our criminology program, develop and offer courses when I can that are especially relevant, topical, things that reflect what is going on in the world today.” In fact, Hoskin likes to offer different special topics classes. One of the most popular is his class on serial killers.
I was particularly interested in discussing the Guns and Mass Shootings class with Hoskin as I am an education major, and most mass shootings happen in schools. I was curious to see what Hoskin had to say about this class and why he thought it was a class that should be taught. Thankfully, Hoskin has plans to teach it again. “So far it’s been a popular class. The students are responding well and the discussions are great.”
In developing his Guns and Mass Shootings class, Hoskin approached it in two ways, as two different topics are actually being discussed. First of all, there’s a discussion of guns. Should they be banned? How do the shooters have access to guns? Should parents be held accountable if their guns aren’t secured? These questions are the types that Hoskin wants his students to ask. In order to approach the questions of mass shootings, guns obviously have to be addressed. “The way I’ve designed the course is to go over the research going over gun control issues and the facts of guns and crime,” said Hoskin.
However, guns are only a small part of this class.
While discussing this course with Hoskin, he mentioned how oftentimes mass shootings are lumped into classes about serial killers. Research about mass shootings is still being conducted to uncover the psyche about the criminals and why they commit such heinous crimes. A big part of this class is reading research that has been done on this topic. One interesting facet of this course is the fact that it pulls research from many different types of studies. “It’s really multidisciplinary, the way I teach it. There will be some research that comes from psychology, some from criminology, sociology, and some from other areas as well,” said Hoskin.
This class is one that isn’t offered often. According to Hoskin, no other schools in the region offer a class like this. The unusual class time also influences the number of students in the class. Because it runs from 4:00-6:50, Hoskin believes the number is lower. Still, with twenty students in the class, it certainly isn’t small.
Most of the students in this class are sociology majors with a concentration in criminology. Most are pursuing traditional careers associated with that concentration such as being a police officer. Hoskin has high hopes for what he wants them to learn.
“I want the students to learn the basics but also to ask questions, and through discussions in the class, we come up with possible solutions, ideas and have their heads filled with these types of questions,” said Hoskin.
Sometimes we as college students get stuck in the rut of classes required for our majors. I’m very guilty of this. However, as I talked to Hoskin about this class, I realized that students should take classes that interest them. That’s what college is for. So, if billiards interests you, make time to take that class. And if Guns and Mass Shootings interests you, keep an eye on the course schedule in case it’s offered again. I know I will be.
