The Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) meets every Wednesday from 12 – 1 p.m. in room K173. Find them on Facebook at UFV Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA), on Instagram @cjsa.ufv, and on Twitter @UFV_CJSA to stay updated with future meetings and events.
This interview is with Dakota Pope-Kuiper, the CJSA president and second-year criminology student and Bhavneet Parmar, the CJSA treasurer and first-year criminology student.
How did the CJSA form and what inspired its creation?
Pope-Kuiper: It’s been around much longer than either of us have been at UFV, but when we joined the group this past October it was falling apart. A lot of the students beforehand were graduating or studying abroad, so it was really just one person, Liam, holding it all together. But since then we’ve been able to get together an entire five-member executive team and around five new members. Plus we’ve updated our social media and have a Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter account.
Getting 10 members in just a few months is a big accomplishment. How did you do it?
Parmar: I would say excitement. Everyone in the group has such great ideas and a lot of motivation to make this into something bigger than just wanting to put in volunteer hours, but really wanting to grow this club.
Pope-Kuiper: One of the executive members that came after the three of us [Dakota, Bhav, and Liam] is a friend of mine from my classes, so I got her on board that way, then ended up getting another member on board that way too, and then a couple of people found out through social media.
What do you think the purpose of the club is?
Pope-Kuiper: I definitely think our purpose right now is — other than building it — is getting people excited about volunteer work and building that part of your resume. I can’t speak for other majors, but for criminology it’s really important that you volunteer because it looks so good on your resume.
Parmar: When you’re going into a field, whether it’s as a lawyer, or working in social work, or whatever it is, you have to be able to have connections with the community in some aspect. This club is a perfect opportunity to get your foot in somehow. And that makes such a big difference, whether that’s on your resume or just knowing people that can give you more opportunities that way.
Just to clarify, does the CJSA meet and do volunteer work together, or what is it you actually do as a club?
Pope-Kuiper: We mainly plan events, and that is what it’s been in the past. Since we’re rebuilding we can go in any direction we want. One event we’re planning right now is a recruitment fair for a bunch of employers (in the crim field) to come out on Feb. 27 in the SUS building. Right now we’re trying to get people interested in the group that way. We’re trying to rebuild and get people interested in criminology.
We don’t do a lot of volunteer work like you mentioned, but we do stuff just around campus right now.
You mentioned there are five executives and about five other members. How do those other five members benefit from being in the CJSA?
Pope-Kuiper: They definitely benefit from even being associated with it; they get that on their extracurricular activities and can put that on their resume. As executive members get up in their years here, they’re going to graduate, so if you’ve been in there [the CJSA] for a long time you’re more likely to get an executive position later on. And also even having the ins and outs with the faculty members.
Parmar: And I feel like a lot of people don’t know this, but every person that’s enrolled in the criminal justice program is a member of the CJSA. It’s just their choice whether they come out to meetings or not. So everyone is welcome to come to the meetings. They don’t have to let us know; they can just show up.
Pope-Kuiper: By being a criminology major or having a minor in criminology, you have the right to come out and vote for new executive members and vote in elections. You have the right just by being in that program. I think it’s just something that isn’t advertised enough, which we’re working on, but everyone’s welcome!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Illustration: CJSA Facebook Page
