Senior Aleshia Faulstich discusses her experience in a Center for Social Concerns class

 

Notre Dame senior Aleshia Faulstich, a theology major and Catholic social tradition and poverty studies double minor, is involved with many efforts on campus regarding social issues.  In addition to doing two Summer Service Learning Projects (SSLPs) at homes for women in crisis pregnancies across the country, Faulstich is a commissioner for Notre Dame Right to Life.  She is currently taking a Center for Social Concerns course entitled “Rethinking Crime and Justice: Explorations from the Inside Out.”

The Rover caught up with Faulstich to learn about her experience in this class centered on the criminal justice system.

Irish Rover: First, could you give me some basic information about how this course works?

Faulstich: The “Rethinking Crime and Justice: Explorations from the Inside Out” course is team taught by Ed Kelly and Susan Sharpe.  It was created by the Center for Social Concerns [CSC] in conjunction with other inside-out courses throughout the country.  Although it is a CSC course, it is cross-listed under many disciplines (Peace Studies, Psych, Sociology, etc).

Every week, 16 students from Notre Dame (outside students) travel to Westville Correctional Facility and meet for class with 16 inside students (men currently incarcerated at Westville).  All of the students, whether inside or outside, have the same readings and writing assignments.  We work one-on-one with inside students and as an entire class in the large group setting in order to learn and discuss ideas.

Why did you decide to take this class?  How did you hear about it?

I decided to take this course after doing two SSLPs working with women in crisis pregnancies.  Since many of the moms I lived with were formerly incarcerated or had loved ones who were incarcerated, I knew that I could not begin to relate to or understand their hardships and pasts unless I took the plunge and immersed myself into an encounter with the prison system.  Since I intend to do this work after graduation, I wanted to learn more about incarceration so that I could better relate to those that I might encounter in the future.  I heard about the class through friends and through the Center for Social Concerns website.

What is the most surprising thing you have seen or learned so far in the course?

I was extremely surprised by how easy it was to connect with the inside students.  As we made our way through security and inside the gates of Westville on the first day, I was surprised by how nervous I was about what was to come.  I was worried that I would have trouble connecting with the inside students, and I wanted to avoid coming off as an outsider and a privileged college student.  However, the inside students immediately welcomed us and were so open to sharing their stories and their perspectives.  From the first day I could tell that we were already forming a community with a common goal of reform and true justice.

Has this course changed or challenged any of your perceptions of the prison system, and if so, how?

I think this course has opened my eyes to the many injustices that people may face while incarcerated.  A lot of these issues remain hidden to the outside world, so being on the inside has taught me a lot.  Our classes have challenged me to think about alternatives to the current incarceration system that might better speak to the dignity of all involved and have shown me that more effective rehabilitation and educational opportunities are needed inside prisons.

How have your major and minors, especially Catholic Social Teaching, influenced or been affected by this class so far?

Although I am taking this course to fulfill an elective for my poverty studies minor, it is easy to relate issues of this course to all areas of my academic life since my major and minors fit so cohesively together.  We have addressed issues of race, socioeconomic status, and privilege so far in class, which speak to the discipline of poverty studies.  However, in the bigger picture, the Catholic belief in the dignity of the human person is the real catalyst for my desire for change.  When looking at the issues that we find in the current criminal justice system, we must address how the current systematic guidelines and practices speak to or deny dignity to all.

Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your experiences, the course, or the prison system in general?

I would encourage students to think about their stance on the prison system and would challenge all to become more engaged.  It is easy to stand back and say that these issues do not affect us as college students at one of the most amazing universities in the world, but we must take a stand precisely because of the issue of human dignity.  If we stay back and do not take a stand and work in a partnership for change with those inside, who will?

 

Students interested in this topic may consider attending the Human Dignity Lecture entitled “Prison Reform: Problematic Necessity” on Wednesday, October 8, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the McKenna Hall Auditorium.

 

Abby Bartels is a junior in Badin Hall studying political science. She can be reached at abartel2@nd.edu. She also holds fairly regular office hours at Chipotle on Friday nights at 6:00 p.m. and at Kilwin’s at 7:00 p.m.