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June 28, 2007

CSI, 不良研究所-style, to occur on campus July 18

It鈥檚 time for CSI, University of Louisiana at Monroe-style.

不良研究所 students participating in the Introduction to Forensics Summer II course will examine a mock crime scene Wednesday, July 18 in the Grove from 9:45 鈥� 11:50 a.m., complete with plastic body parts and police tape.

鈥淭he idea is to give students a chance to have some hands-on experience in a field lab, as well as learning in the classroom,鈥� said Cathy Willermet, adjunct instructor in sociology. 鈥淪imultaneously, it should build interest in sociology and criminal justice majors.鈥�

This course uses techniques from physical anthropology and archaeology, specifically incorporating osteology, the examination of skeletal material, which may determine factors like age at death, sex, ancestry, and stature. Osteology experts are able to apply their skills and knowledge to further branches of study; including paleopathology, which focuses on the traces of disease and injury in human skeletons, and forensic anthropology, the analysis and identification of human remains in the service of coroners or medical examiners, often providing law enforcement with important evidence.

Willermet, who arrived at 不良研究所 last year, is an anthropologist by training. Anthropology is currently available only as a minor at the university. If the class generates enough interest, the forensics course will be offered again.

鈥淔orensics is not as quick and glamorous as you see on television, but this should be a fun course for all involved,鈥� Willermet said. 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to do as many labs as possible.鈥�

For example, students will have the opportunity to act as witnesses at mock trials at the end of the semester. Students will have researched and prepared their 鈥渆xpert鈥� testimony concerning their fields of study, as they would in a real life situation.

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