As March goes “out like a lamb” and spring blossoms, we bring you the latest happenings at USC Dornsife.
In this issue, discover how states could try to recoup prison expenses from the incarcerated, uncover Dune’s connection to the environmental movement and learn tips to develop healthier social media habits.
🗓️ In 3 days, 3/29: NATO turns 75 next month. Is it time to strengthen, transform or even retire it? Our experts answer these questions — and yours — during a free Dornsife Dialogues event.
NEWS
1 Big Thing: Examining ‘Pay-to-Stay’ Prison Policies
Most states have “pay-to-stay” laws, which let them sue incarcerated individuals for their imprisonment costs. USC Dornsife sociologist Brittany Friedman studies these policies.
Why it matters: An inmate’s reintegration into society could be hindered by the financial burdens from a pay-to-stay policy. A thorough examination of the impact of this policy can help determine whether it serves the broader interests of societal well-being.
When states sue incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals, the result can be crippling debt — sometimes approaching $100,000 — for the individuals and their families.
Because these are civil suits, defendants are not entitled to an attorney and their assets can be frozen or seized.
Some states extend the collection period as much as 20 years after release.
States have been collecting money from prisoners since the Great Depression and recently have used this practice to seize stimulus checks from prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friedman and her collaborators found that states largely enforce pay-to-stay unevenly, often imposing these laws amid financial turmoil as a means to boost the state’s balance sheet.
What’s next: Friedman recently received $1.5 million from the nonprofit Arnold Ventures to launch the Captive Money Lab to further their studies.
The lab will analyze the economic costs and benefits of these policies to examine whether the funds obtained outweigh the costs of state agencies trying to recoup the funds.
Dune, a 1965 science fiction novel and the inspiration for the recent blockbuster movies, depicts a desert planet’s struggle over a precious resource.
Its narrative on ecology and resource exploitation drew from the emerging environmental movement of the time, explains Devin Griffiths, associate professor of English and comparative literature at USC Dornsife.
Why it matters: Works of art like Dune can highlight societal issues like conservation and the importance and benefits of sustainable practices.
In brief: The author, Frank Herbert, invented memorable metaphors to explore growing ecological concerns and the drivers of environmental and social harm.
The novel’s setting, Arrakis, mirrors the ecological degradation seen in Earth’s environments and emphasizes the impact of colonial exploitation.
The concept of the fictional “spice” in Dune reflects real-world resource wars and the environmental costs of exploiting valuable commodities.
Herbert’s exploration of ecology stems from his visits to the Pacific Northwest, where he observed indigenous conservation practices and sustainable resource management.
Fremen, natives of Arrakis, carefully manage the planet’s ecology, mirroring the sustainable practices of Earth’s Indigenous peoples.
Herbert also found inspiration in Leslie Reid’s landmark book The Sociology of Nature, which explained ecology to a popular audience.
The idea behindDune’s contested resource of spice draws parallels to historical disputes over Peruvian bird guano, highly valued in the late 1800s as fertilizer.
The bottom line: Published amid fears of industrial pollution, Dune was embraced by the fledgling environmental movement and became a rallying flag for the new science of ecology.
An environmental activist publication advertised the novel with the tagline: “The metaphor is ecology. The theme revolution.”
The strategies social media companies use to keep users engaged may have negative consequences. USC Dornsife scholars provide guidance to foster a healthier relationship with social media.
Why it matters: The negative effects of apps such as Instagram and YouTube, particularly on young adults, are increasingly raising concerns among experts.
Studies suggest that social media use is contributing to historic-levels of depression in teens, fueling disordered eating and destroying our attention spans, and even inciting violence, says behavioral neuroscientist Ian Anderson ’24, who researches social media.
A powerful tactic called “random reinforcement,” the same strategy used in slot machines, keeps users scrolling endlessly.
Controversial posts generate the most engagement, so apps prioritize them in feeds, often causing harmful or false content to be amplified.
The solution: As many individuals try to reduce their personal or family usage on their own, the experts offer helpful tips.
Create barriers to entry: Turn off notifications, hide or delete social media apps, place the phone in a different room or use a lock box with a timer, and switch to an old-fashioned alarm clock to keep phones out of the bedroom.
Make a healthy swap: Try replacing social media apps with something more productive, like a language-learning app.
Model restraint: Parents can avoid scrolling online for hours while their children are present.
Set aside sacred spaces: Avoid using phones during meals or social gatherings with others.
In her words: “The research shows that if you even have a phone on the table, it’s like a drug. Part of your attention is on that phone and you’re not really paying attention to those around you,” says Albright.
Dean Amber Miller spotlights the unique USC Dornsife undergraduate experience, which combines a traditional liberal arts foundation with skills-based training and hands-on learning.
Dean Amber Miller emphasizes the crucial link between PhD programs and future innovation and highlights the PhD Academy, where students enhance communication, leadership and collaboration skills.
Get your questions answered at this live streaming event, where USC Dornsife experts examine NATO’s evolution from a Cold War bulwark to its current role.
Experience student artwork and projects connecting the arts and storytelling with environmental justice along with highlighted efforts to build sustainable communities in Los Angeles.
