As it is graduation season, almost every school in the nation is celebrating the commencement of its Class of 2019. However, at Washington University, the celebration is unlike every other in the country.
“We’ve created this liberal arts environment in the middle of a prison. You get your books and it’s Homer’s Odyssey and you start talking about the text. You’re the professor and they’re not criminals, not inmates, they’re college students,” said Robert Henke, Comparative Literature professor and director of the program.
The first ten graduates of the Washington University Prison Education Project received their diplomas last week at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center – the state prison for men. The free courses (totaling 60 credits) were all taught by Washington University professors. All of the students earned Associate Degrees.
This summer will see about thirty students enrolled at the prison. Courses include religion and calculus, among others. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, tank an exam, and write a personal essay. Students are also relieved of their prison work duties while they’re enrolled. The prison has a computer room and study hall that hosts a speakers series, reading group, and tutoring.
Graduate Kareem Martin said, “It awakened something in me that needed to be awakened.”
