In this semester’s SOCI 1002 C taught by Prof. Tonya Davidson, students were tasked with doing sociological research on a social problem on campus, and then developing a feasible intervention to address the problem.
Each tutorial chose the best pitch from their section to be presented in front of the full class.
On April 3rd, we held a “Sociology in Action” ideas competition that was evaluated by a panel of judges: Bernhard Leistle (Chair, Sociology and Anthropology), Laura Storey (Director, Housing and Residence Life), and Meghan Major (Office of Quality Initiatives). The panel thoughtfully adjudicated 12 of the best ideas from the class. Pitches included ideas on how to socially invigorate the quad, a system to quickly report tunnel maintenance issues, and interventions to improve student health in residence.
The judges gave the prize of winning pitch to the team of Avery Craig, Caylum O’Brien, James Hill-Kent, Michael McLaughlin, and Olivia Tousignant. This team’s pitch, titled “Carleton Computer Collection”, proposes a student club to address the environmental issue of e-waste, and the social problem of the digital divide (inequitable access to necessary technology). The Carleton Computer Collection would accept donated old computers, wipe the computers, install basic operating systems, and give the computers to students needing computers.
Congratulations to the winning team! And, many thanks to the judges for their participation (and prizes!).