BCU Student to Participate in Iowa
Sociological Association Competition

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University’s Jason Bring, of Lyons, Neb., has had his scholarly research paper accepted by the Iowa Sociological Association for presentation on April 24 at the 2009 Undergraduate Student Paper Competition at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

Bring, who is a junior criminal justice and political science major at Briar Cliff, will be competing against 21 students from six Iowa colleges and universities. His paper, entitled “Culturally Tailored Prevention Programs for Native Americans: A Symbolic Interactionist Perspective,” suggests that prevention programs should be culturally tailored for Native Americans.

“I am very excited about presenting at this statewide competition,” Bring said. “My paper, which focuses on drug and alcohol prevention and treatment, is a combination of concepts from several of my courses at Briar Cliff.”

Founded in 1959, the Iowa Sociological Association meets annually to hear student papers, panel presentations and a research report by an eminent sociologist.

“I am very happy that Jason will be presenting his work on this level,” said Shauntey James, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, Briar Cliff. “I am honored and proud to be his advisor for this paper. He has a lot to offer the field now and in the future.”

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 24 states and four countries.  Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit briarcliff.edu.