When Edward Hansen arrived at IUPUI in the fall of 2013, he knew he wanted to get the most out of his first year of college. For him, signing up to live in SPEA’s Justice and Pre-Law Wing was a no-brainer.
“It was a lot easier to meet friends when you not only have them as your neighbors but they’re in your class and so I developed relationships a lot faster than just living in a random living community,” said Hansen, who will graduate with a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety in May 2018 as part of SPEA’s accelerated master’s program.
“You will develop relationships, but if you’re in the SPEA wing, you’re going to develop friendships much faster with other students who share your common interests.”
SPEA’s Justice and Pre-Law (JPL) Wing is a co-ed learning community located in University Tower and offers double and triple rooms for first-year students interested in social justice and pre-law topics such as the legal system, law enforcement, homeland security, and socioeconomics. The JPL wing is one of 12 residential-based learning communities on campus.
JPL residents participate in monthly activities on-campus and throughout the Indianapolis community. Taylor Southwick, one of two resident assistants in the JPL wing, is responsible for planning events that are geared toward JPL residents’ overall campus experience. Southwick recently organized a tour of the IU McKinney School of Law and Pizza with Police, a program to help students understand the role of on-campus cadets.
Given their exposure to campus resources, students are also at an academic advantage if they decide to live on campus during their first year of college.
“Studies show that students who live in major-specific communities on campus overall do better academically,” said Southwick, a sophomore who is working toward her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. “They also get to make those life-long friendships that they otherwise might not make.”
University Tower is also connected to the Business/SPEA building, where most SPEA classes are held, via one of the campus’ several walkways. As a result, students can avoid walking in inclement weather on their way to class or while visiting professors during office hours.
Hansen, who works as an IUPUI Police Cadet, credits his academic and social success to living in SPEA’s JPL wing when he first arrived on campus more than three years ago.
“You’re going to meet people who you would never think you’d ever socialize with and then you become good friends with them, and living on campus allows you to actually invest in the university, instead of just commuting here from a far apartment,” he said. “If you’re living on campus within the wing, you’re going to be socializing with classmates who were also your neighbors and so if you ever need any help, they’re going to be right there.”
Sign up for SPEA’s Justice and Pre-Law Wing
To be eligible for the Justice and Pre-Law Wing, students must:
- Apply for IUPUI housing early through IUPUI Housing and Residence Life. The deadline for guaranteed on-campus housing is March 15. Click here to access the housing application.
- On the IUPUI housing application, in the Residential Based Learning Communities section, select “SPEA’s Justice and Pre-Law wing”
- Identify as a SPEA or pre-Law major such as Criminal Justice, Public Safety Management, Civic Leadership, Management, Media and Public Affairs, Policy Studies, or Sustainable Management and Policy. Exploratory students or students with an interest in Justice and pre-Law are also encouraged to apply.
