The Trinitonian - Trinity Life
12/2/05  page 17

New field of study commences at TU
By Valerie Torrez

The urban studies program has undergone several changes since its inception in 1968. Initially a graduate program, in the mid-1980s it became an undergraduate program, and in the late 1990s the urban studies graduate program was completely removed.

Finally in 2003 the Urban Studies curriculum was revised to become what it is today, allowing students to focus on their interests.

Three or four years ago, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Christine Drennon was brought to Trinity to specifically teach urban studies classes to rejuvenate the program.

"Christine Drennon taught extensively and brilliantly in the program, and people became more aware of the program," said Professor of History and Director of Urban Studies Char Miller.

Though there were always students interested in the urban studies program, the number of students majoring in urban studies jumped from three or four, four years ago, to around 16 this year, not including the number of students working on a minor in urban studies.

"What's really great about the major is that we're really close, from the students to the faculty, and we're all really passionate about it even though we have different focuses," said Senior Emma Hersh, an urban studies and sociology double major. "It's a great interdisciplinary mix, and the faculty is incredible."

The distinguishing factor of the Urban Studies program is the variety of disciplines it incorporates, including sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and history.

"Our students are such an interesting group - they're really neat," Drennon said. "They're alternative in a way because they're willing to take a chance. They're kind of independent thinkers and self-motivated because they have to be trained in so many different areas."

The administration's recent support of the program undoubtedly stems from Trinity's prime location within an urban area.

"We are one of the few programs that's actually located within a city," Miller said. "The advantage for us is that we're in a southwest city that is growing rapidly. The city is our laboratory, our library where we go to study."

Trinity's location allows professors in the urban studies program to include beneficial off-campus activities in their courses.

In "Urbanization: Concepts and Realities," a course taught by Drennon that is part of the core curriculum for the urban studies major and minor, students are assigned to ride a bus around town to get to know the city.

"A lot of new majors come from the 'Urbanization' course," Drennon said. "It's the students that do well who are willing to take chances, so grades aren't the most important things. Students who take a bus to the Southside-places Trinity students wouldn't go."

Also part of the core curriculum is the "Sophomore/Junior Tutorial" in which the students are able to network with Trinity alumni to intern with different programs within the city, including Economic Development Department for the city and Cathedral Park, an environmental rehabilitation park.

Hersh, for example, is an intern for Director of the House of Teens Clare Lozano '03 at the Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church.

This semester the club Urban Studs was formed to foster the relationship among the students who share the interest of urban studies.

These growths in the Urban Studies Department have helped establish it as a secure department on campus.