WSU program earns regional award
Date: 10/24/2012
By Carley Dangona
carley@thereminder.comWESTFIELD — The University Professional and Continuing Education Association awarded the Westfield State University (WSU) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) summer program, with the Innovative and Creative Program Award on Oct. 9.
The residential program is conducted over a two-week period at WSU during the summer, and is part of the Teen U college preparatory program. Students learn the various steps involved in solving a crime, from lab work to courtroom proceedings. At the end of the session, the students work in groups to solve a staged crime scene where they apply their classroom experience hands on.
According to Meaghan Arena, director of Program Development and Outreach for the WSU Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, the CSI instructors Robert Stering and John Sterson created the "skeleton of the program," prior to the college implementing the course.
"Initially, the program was developed with the possibility of being used as a corporate team building tool," Arena explained. "WSU wanted to offer a summer program that built upon the existing criminal justice program and we naturally arrived at the CSI experience."
Stering, a retired 25-year police veteran, author, crime analyst, police consultant and Massachusetts state coordinator for the patrol procedures of the Municipal Police Training Committee, likened the simulated crime scene to mystery theater.
He described the students' reaction to the program. "The most exciting aspect of the program is the enthusiasm of the kids. I never have a problem with the kids not paying attention. They absorb it [the lessons] like sponges," Stering said.
He also highlighted the benefits of the program. "The crime scene is complete with witnesses the students have to interview," Stering said. The students are given a CSI kit and have to measure and process the scene. Within a day or so of the crime scene work, they have to create and draw a sketch of it and complete a report detailing their findings."
Shelby Morawiec, a senior at Norfolk County Agricultural High School, participated in the program this past summer and stated it gave her "a jump start" on her criminal justice career.
"You get to do everything — forensics, lab work, psychology, crime scene processing, etc.," she said. "There was so much to cover, I didn't realize how in depth the process is. We worked the front lines and behind the scenes. The experience helped me understand what my role as a police officer will be and what I can do to assist other departments in solving a crime."
Arena explained the academic value of the program. "It's an interdisciplinary program that includes elements of English, biology, psychology, criminal justice and chemistry and appeals to a variety of interests. We try to build in activities that utilize critical thinking skills, which are vital to success [in all areas of life]," she added.
Morawiec plans to become a K-9 unit officer with the state police. She was recently accepted to the University of New Haven, Conn., where she will start classes in the fall of 2013.
To her surprise, the CSI program included a demonstration by a K-9 unit.
"I've worked with animals since I was 6 and I narrowed it [to working with] dogs. Then, I asked myself how my life could make a difference," Morawiec said of why she wants to be involved in criminal justice.
She added that the experience confirmed her intentions to enter the field.
The next CSI session is scheduled for July 7 to 19, 2013 and is open to students entering their freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school.
For more details, visit
www.westfield.ma.edu/TeenU/westfieldcsi.
