By Imani Johnson
Staff Writer
Lawyers often get a bad rap—heck, even William Shakespeare once wrote that “first, we should kill all the lawyers.” Contrary to Shakespeare’s beliefs, the members of Alpha Phi Sigma, also known as the Criminal Justice Honor Society, are doing their best to remind everyone how necessary the profession is and how much it gives back to the community.
“[Our] members…enjoy a common interest in our criminal justice system and pursuing social justice for others,” said Marie Palladini, a former federal investigator for the United States Fish and Wildlife Services and an associate professor in the CSUDH Department of Public Administration.
The California State University, Dominguez Hills chapter of the Criminal Justice Honor Society was started in 2008 by Palladini.
“Serving as faculty advisor of the CSUDH Alpha Phi Sigma chapter has provided me an opportunity to continuously interact with criminal justice administration students regarding criminal justice issues, opportunities to serve our local community through chapter projects, and promoting career networking opportunities in the field of criminal justice,” said Palladini.
The organization also gives back to the CSUDH community by organizing potluck lunches, trips to shooting ranges, volunteering, donating food and other resources to the CSUDH food pantry, among other things.
Senior Daisy Alvarado, a criminal justice major, serves as co-president of the chapter.
“I joined the Criminal Justice Honor Society because I like what Alpha Phi Sigma represents,” said Alvarado. “Every semester, Mrs. Palladini plans special excursions related to criminal justice. Outings like a tour of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, as well as the Los Angeles County Morgue.”
The goal of the organization, said Alvarado, is to honor as well as promote academic excellence, community service, educational leadership and unity.
In order to be apart of the chapter, a student must be a criminal justice major and maintain a 3.2 GPA as an undergraduate or a 3.4 as a graduate student.
Every week, rotating between Tuesday and Wednesday, the group meets at 2:30 p.m. in the Social and Behavioral Sciences building [SBS] F117.
“If you are a criminal justice major, I would recommend each and every student to try to join Alpha Phi Sigma,” Alvarado said.
Interested in applying for membership? Contact professor Palladini by email: mpalladini@csudh.edu. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year.
