Challenge - Spring/Summer 2012 - Tiffin University

Tent City Participants
Below are a few testimonials of those
who participated in the Tent City
Project
Monica Rae
Crimmins
Fostoria, Ohio
From taking this
Cultural Competence
class, Monica
said, “This class taught me that it is
not alright to fear a person based on
what the media shows us. We see
splashed all over the news the negative
that makes us fear and misunderstand
those that live in our country
who are not originally from here. I
learned that we are all the same...human
beings no matter what. Extremists
aside, we all need the same thing,
want the same thing and live for the
same thing, peace.”
Monica chose TU because,
“It was one of only three Forensic
Psychology programs in the nation
and had a great reputation…not to
mention, close to home.”
When asked what she will remember
most about her TU education,
Monica said, “I will remember
my classmates and professors. If all
the knowledge from the books were
to seep out of my head, I would still
remember them as the most positive
experience I have had at TU. Without
their guidance, support and the
students acting as a cheering section
for each other, this time would have
been much more than the heart could
bear.”
Monica’s Ideal career goal:
One of two things: State or Federal
Prison Warden
Monica Rich
Clyde, Ohio
According to
Monica, “There
were so many things
I learned during this
class and trying to limit it to one main
thing is difficult. I guess I would have
to say that the one that impressed me
the most was the visit to the Mosque.
I did not know how much their belief
and my religious beliefs were similar.
They believe in only one God but
call him Allah. Our beliefs in regards
to abortion are the same. I found
our differences very interesting. The
reason they separate the women
and men is to avoid distraction from
their prayers and devoted attention
to God. They put their foreheads to
the ground to acknowledge that they
came from dirt and they will return to
dirt when they die. The Imam gave
each of us a Quran and when I have
time I will be reading it to learn even
more about their beliefs.”
Monica chose TU because of the
Forensic Psychology program and
for the easy commute. “I took a tour
of Tiffin University with my daughter
when she was looking at colleges.
She was looking at the Forensics
Program and I found it very interesting
and thought it would be great to do
this kind of work.”
When asked what she will remember
most about her TU education,
Monica said, “The thing I will
remember the most about my Tiffin
University education is how helpful the
professors are. I have found them to
be very helpful, friendly and willing to
help connect you with future employers.
Although I like all my professors,
my mentors are Dr. Liz Victor and Dr.
Steven Hurwitz whom I will stay connected
to after graduation. I was the
oldest in my undergrad classes and
now I am the oldest in my graduate
classes and I find it great that my
experiences and my opinions are welcome.
Tiffin University was the best
choice I made and has been a very
rewarding experience.”
Monica’s Ideal career goal:
“Utilize my degree is to start a program
for teen and pre-teen victims
of crime to help them rebuild their
self-esteem and self-confidence. I
used to work for a juvenile detention
facility and a young man that was
incarcerated there told me his story of
how he had been molested and then
he in turn molested his own brother.
I saw him on the Marshall’s most
wanted list about 2 years ago and
it was for molesting children. He is
back in prison and his brother is now
a sexual predator. I want to break the
cycle so that victims don’t become the
perpetrator.”
Marisa Matas
Newton Falls,
Ohio
From taking this
Cultural Competence
class, Marisa
said, “I come from a
small town where the race is predominately
Caucasian, so, I did not have
much exposure to other cultures. I
am an avid reader, yet a book cannot
compare to real life experience.
What I think this class has taught me
the most was to accept everyone for
whom they are, and those stereotypes
that exist are never true. There is
always another side to the story, we
all are more alike than we think, and
if we could get people to realize this
then the world would be a happier
place. I also learned that sleeping in
CampusScene
SPRING / SUMMER 2012 | CHALLENGE | 27