Lecturer uses justice experience in classes


Tuesday, March 24, 1998	Lecturer uses justice experience in classes Editor's Note: This is the eighth story in a weekly series profiling University professors and instructors. This article focuses on Barry Johnson, lecturer in criminal justice. By MAUREEN M. McANDREWS Collegian Staff Writer Even though he said most people don't aspire to work at a prison, Barry Johnson said he's glad to bring 10 years of corrections experience to the Rape and Sexual Violence class he teaches. Johnson, deputy superintendent at Houtzdale prison and lecturer in criminal justice, said he's been working in various types of criminal settings for 10 years. His exposure to sex offender programs and work with both men and women who have killed qualifies him to teach administration of justice classes such as Administration of Justice 423 (Rape and Sexual Violence) at the University, he said.
Barry Johnson, lecturer in criminal justice, discusses test questions with his Administration of Justice 423 (Rape and Sexual Violence) class last Wednesday. Johnson said his experience with the criminal justice system prepares him to teach at the University. (Collegian Photo/Christa Rimmoneau - click for full size image)	Johnson's experience began with an internship as a corrections officer, he said. From that point he stayed in the same line of work and was able to move up rather quickly, he added. Some of his accomplishments include being named "Corrections Professional of the Year" twice, he said. He was also the youngest deputy superintendent ever in the department of corrections. Still, Johnson enjoys teaching at the University because of the interaction with students and the campus setting. "In comparison to a prison compound, a college campus is a very nice atmosphere," he said. Johnson, who has taught part time for five years at the University, said sexual violence and women is often a hard subject to teach. He said during the course of the semester, students may find it hard to keep hearing stories about rape and domestic violence, but he tries to invent ways to keep the subject matter from getting to the students. "As the semester goes on, it gets harder for students to see because rape and domestic violence are difficult to face," he said.
*"Most students aren't jaded yet and you just see so many skeptics in the prison environment"* - Barry Johnson, lecturer in criminal justice	Johnson said he tries to keep students interested by using multimedia resources. These include videos, guest speakers and anything that will vary presentation, he said. He does not like to teach strictly by lecturing, so Johnson also uses group presentations in his class. Also, he tries to tailor the subject more towards college students by discussing issues such as acquaintance rape and the date rape drug, Rohypnol, he said. One aspect of teaching Johnson said he likes best is the ideological view of students. He explained that the freshness of the students and their ability to hope is what keeps him coming back to his teaching position. "Most students aren't jaded yet and you just see so many skeptics in the prison environment," he said.