Episode Notes

Learn about the Supports Laura Discusses

• Contact Laura in the Department of Sociology
• Mental Health Supports at Trent
• Academic Skills at Trent
• Academic Advising at Trent
• Student Experience Portal
• Colleges at Trent
• TUSC (Student Group)

Transcript

Beth: Welcome to the Social Profs podcast with your hosts, Beth Torrens and Kristy Buccieri. This is the podcast where we attempt to turn teaching inside out by engaging in conversations outside the classroom with faculty, community members, and Trent student alumni. Our goals with these conversations are to learn more about the benefits of a criminology or sociology degree and to talk about the ways that students can get more involved at Trent and in the community. We will also do a deep dive with some Trent professors to learn more about their approaches to teaching, what drives their research, and a few fun facts you can only learn when you turn teaching inside out.

Kristy: Who is the glue who holds the sociology department together? Who can you go to if you have questions? Who has a tardis tattoo and loves Dr. Who? Why it’s Laura Strongitharm, our department’s academic administrative assistant. On today’s episode we talk to Laura about how every day bring something new, the supports and services you need to know about and why she’s hoping you’ll drop by OC 221.1 to see her. Laura, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re very excited to have you on our podcast.

Laura: Thanks for having me.

Kristy: We’re wondering if you could tell us what do you do for the sociology department and what does a typical day look like in your role?

Laura: So, I am the Academic Administrative Assistant for Sociology and because Sociology houses the Criminology program too, I’m also the AAA, it’s called, for that degree program as well. And a typical day, there is no typical day, it changes constantly depending on where we are in the cycle of where the year is around the school. So right now, it’s currently summertime so we are hiring for the coming semesters for the fall and winter and looking at doing a program review seeing where we are ministering mandated so it’s just a giant project that we’re working on but yeah typical day doesn’t really exist always always changes.

Kristy: That’s like fun keeps you on your toes.

Laura: It does.

Beth: So as faculty we are certainly well aware of everything you do to keep the wheels on the bus in our department but why should students know who you are and how can you help the students in sociology and criminology?

Laura: So, students should be aware of me because I am the contact person for both degree programs and for the department itself. So, I am the person that you can come to with any general questions or if you’re, so general questions don’t just mean like course related, but like questions for the entire university, questions about connecting to profs, or if you’re not reaching a prof, then you know, then I’m always there. I’m also quite knowledgeable on a lot of like the resources. In the university it’s my job to know what’s happening within the university and be the communication piece between students and faculty and higher administrators and then community members in general. So, I’m an OC221.1. Come talk to me!

Beth: And what a fantastic lead-in to our next question. So what are some of the key services or supports that you think are crucial for students to be aware of at Trent?

Laura: Well, there’s the mental health supports are quite important I would obviously say and then there’s a lot of like academic services and academic skills. These are offered through your college offices, and they can help you with anything from writing essays to proofreading, how to study well, time management. They also have resources for food. They have, this year anyway, they had gift cards for a grocery stores, we’re in OC so Otonabee college and Otonabee college had breakfast a couple mornings a week or one morning a week and Gzwoski College then  just a little bit down from us had the same so it’s a best resource to to know about that’s like underappreciated or under known I guess would be the the colleges and the college offices because they can be your hub for any kind of resources outside of of course-related stuff for department-related information.

Beth: And are there any social supports that you think students should be aware of?

Laura: Please come join us at Tusc. The Trent University Sociology Collective. It’s a sociology student-run group. I only I help as minimally as possible because it’s supposed to be a student run group not because I have no interest in it I’m actually quite proud of Tusc this past year they are sociology and criminology students and they’re said a collective of students and they’re just all interested all part of the sociology or criminology degree program, and have a couple events a year. This past year, they did some study nights and then some student-run research presentations, which were quite cool.

Kristy: Speaking of events and fun things, let’s go after hours for a bit. It is the end of the day, and you’re having a dinner party. You can invite anyone you want, dead or alive. Who do you invite and why?

Laura: So, you asked this question at one of the other, I think. I’ve listened to Stephanie’s and Eric’s professors in criminology. I listened to their recordings. And they had this long list of people. So, I’ve actually been thinking about this question for a while. And I could say the nerdy thing and say, you know, a bunch of authors that are written in science fiction, but the truth is, I would invite my grandma. She died two years ago and before I started this job at Trent, so it would just be me and her, and I’d probably just tell her what’s been happening in my life, and I’d probably have to make her roast beef because that was her favorite. I’m not a big fan of roast beef.

Kristy: So, what would you eat? What would you have?

Laura: Ooh, turkey and stuffing. I might be able to convince her. If the date.

Kristy: You know, I love that answer, Laura. I think that that’s great.

Laura: Thanks.

[Music]

Beth: Okay, so next we have a series of rapid-fire questions. And you can answer in a few words without further elaboration, or you could elaborate if you would like. Are you ready for rapid fire?

Laura: I’m ready

[Music]

Beth: Okay what is your favorite memory from when you were a student?

Laura: Which time?

Beth: Is that your final answer?

Laura: Okay, so I went to Carleton in over 2010, probably being 18 years old and going across the bridge to Quebec and getting drunk.

Beth: Nice! That is an advantage of being that close to Quebec. What’s your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

Laura: Home renovations.

Beth: Nice. What is something that you wish all students knew about Trent’s Sociology Department?

Laura: We are located in OC 221.1. Please come talk to me. Or say hi.

Beth: Hopefully you get an influx of students after this podcast airs.

Laura: Would be good.

Beth: Is there a favorite TV show, podcast, or movie that you have?

Laura: Dr. Who

Beth: Anything Doctor Who?

Laura: Anything. Yeah. I have a giant TARDIS tattoo and if you ever do come into my office, you will notice that there is at least five pieces of Doctor Who art or merch or something in my desk.

Beth:  Maybe we should create a sociology scavenger hut and make that part of it. What advice would you give your past student self?

Laura: It is okay to take a break and if you need a year off take it

Kristy: So, Laura you can instantly have any skill party trick or talent, what would it be?

Laura: Mind reading.

Kristy: Thank you. Yeah. We know you’ve been a student a few times. What course is subject did you not take that you wish you could learn more about now?

Laura: I want to be a criminology student. I’m not by my own ethical principles I’m not allowing myself to be a criminology student so I’m right now taking classes as a gender study student. I think there’s a big problem with me being you know the support staff in it in the department and then trying to go for classes, but I’m actually quite interested in criminology so if I ever leave this position my next BA you know because why not I’ll go back for crim.

Kristy: Yeah, shout out to Criminology. What is the best part about your job?

Laura: Excited students when they come in because they just need to tell somebody that they got like an 80 or a 90 or that project they thought they were going to fail or the exam they thought they were going to bomb and they did amazing on it instead and they come in and they’re just so excited about it and they just need somebody that’s like sitting there and gets it. Best part for sure

Kristy:  I think I know your answer to this one but I’m gonna pose it anyways cat dog fish bird or a lizard?

Laura: Dog 100% you didn’t say possum though so I mean

Kristy: would possum beat out dog

Laura: no yeah absolutely not but possum would be a second.

Kristy; And finally, if you weren’t working in the sociology department, what would you be doing?

Laura: Okay, so we’re in a mystical, magical land, and I’m not allergic to everything. Then I would be a chef. I went to George Brown for cooking and found out I was allergic to fish. And I’m like airborne fish products now can’t even be around. So in a magical world, I could work in a kitchen.

Beth: Well, that concludes the rapid fire and hopefully, again, students come to visit you maybe not with their fish lunch but

Laura: I have an EpiPen. Let’s find out.

Beth: Thank you for joining us on our podcast, Laura.

Laura: Thanks for having me.

[Music]