Perspectives From 3 UA Community Members
The Interviews
On June 26th, 2015, President Obama addressed the public from the White House Rose Garden. One of his most memorable lines from that speech was "sometimes there are days like this when that slow steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt" . I listened to the speech on my drive to work and felt elated about the historic 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States on the Obergefell v Hodges case. I asked three University of Arizona stakeholders about their thoughts on the decision. Here are their full interviews (in interview order):
Ali's Interview
Ali Icenogle is an active member of the undergraduate population and has aspirations to create programs for minority women in science. I interviewed Ali in my office (Old Chemistry 201B) on the University of Arizona campus. I asked her if she would like to be interviewed elsewhere, any other place of her choosing, she stated "this is good". We sat across from each other at my desk and began the interview. If you listen closely, you might be able to hear the cicadas and the hum of our office dehumidifier in the background. I interviewed Ali previously, for a department cowbird about why she chose science. Ali's thorough answers and insights made me immediately think of her as a potential interviewee for this community interview project.
Anne's Interview
Anne is a cultural bearer and is influential in several communities, having lived in Tucson for over 40 years. I conducted the interview at a location of her choosing. Anne asked me not to release her full name. I have worked with Anne on several occasions and felt comfortable interviewing her at the location of her choosing. Anne has been an active member of the Tucson community and has worked with UA faculty, staff, and students for several years.
Meredith's Interview
Meredith Larrabee is one of the best advisors I have worked with and is passionate about working with undergraduate students. I conducted the interview at Meredith's office in Life Sciences South. Meredith's office is welcoming and the floor to ceiling windows let you see various campus buildings and the sky (I am jealous). Meredith graduated from the UA and has insight into being a UA student and staff member.
Why did I ask Ali, Anne, and Meredith?
I asked these three women from the University of Arizona to be interviewed because I know they are intelligent, well-respected, and amazing individuals. Furthermore, I have worked with the interviewees before and know that they have perspectives that are relevant to the topic.
These women provided viewpoints from different generations-allowing me to gain insight into the perspective of UA women on the topic of the SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage.
These women provided viewpoints from different generations-allowing me to gain insight into the perspective of UA women on the topic of the SCOTUS decision on same-sex marriage.
Themes
Ali, Anne, and Meredith mentioned Tucson's and UA's liberal/progressive culture. One idea that kept coming up in the interviews was that Tucson has been more accepting of people of different backgrounds-especially when compared to the rest of the state. However, as Anne and Meredith point out, not all parts of Tucson are as liberal or accepting as others. Ali, Anne, and Meredith all felt that the University of Arizona is a welcoming community for all. All interviewees felt that the SCOTUS decision was historical and a step forward. Furthermore, all interviewees felt that the fact that a group of people had to fight for what we consider a basic right...is sad, depressing, and frustrating. The theme of perseverance emanated from the interviews-knowledge that the decision is one part of a continued battle that will ultimately result in what is right.
Moments
There are several highlights in these interviews. I was lucky to be able to interview Ali, Anne, and Meredith. You know that feeling when you are around people who know their stuff? People who are so insightful that you come away from an interview knowing a whole lot more than when you started? This was that case for all interviews. I learned about institutionalized heterogeneity from Ali. From Anne I learned that most countries outside the US view marriage as a legal term and separate from religion. Meredith taught me that we must, in order to make things better, engage with those who disagree with us.
Meredith's passion was evident in her responses. She emailed me with a link about an article on the opposition of the same-sex marriage decision. Meredith asked me to come back for an append to her interview. She wanted to clarify one of her responses and add more to the conversation.
There weren't any difficult or awkward moments. I believe the interviewees responded positively to my questions and felt comfortable. Most of my questions were scripted, but some were unplanned based on the rapport and interviewee's responses. I did modify my questions depending on how the conversation was going. The conversations guided which questions I asked and which were not necessary.
Meredith's passion was evident in her responses. She emailed me with a link about an article on the opposition of the same-sex marriage decision. Meredith asked me to come back for an append to her interview. She wanted to clarify one of her responses and add more to the conversation.
There weren't any difficult or awkward moments. I believe the interviewees responded positively to my questions and felt comfortable. Most of my questions were scripted, but some were unplanned based on the rapport and interviewee's responses. I did modify my questions depending on how the conversation was going. The conversations guided which questions I asked and which were not necessary.
Preparation
The ESOC 300 course prepared me in several ways for this assignment. I learned and used SoundCloud for uploading audio with pictures. I initially used CowBirds for my interviews. However, they were taken down due to their policy--so I had to readjust and used SoundCloud. I felt it was important to include the biographical information in the interviews so listeners could understand, at least a little, of the interviewees's lives. I still have big plans for future cowbirds. I learned that doing interviews requires learning a little bit more about the interviewee for it to have any impact or worth. I used the information about interviews from the Smithsonian Folklife and Oral History Interviewing Guide. The various examples of composite storytelling provided in the course provided the groundwork for my ideas for storytelling.
More...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gay-marriage-and-other-major-rulings-at-the-supreme-court/2015/06/25/ef75a120-1b6d-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gay-marriage-and-other-major-rulings-at-the-supreme-court/2015/06/25/ef75a120-1b6d-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/
My story
Husband to Jennifer. Father to Sophie (7), Zoey (5), Mila (2), and Atticus (10 months). Work at the University of Arizona advising undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry students (CBC Facebook, Instagram). I enjoy listening to NPR- Story Corps, This American Life, and This I Believe (when it was still being aired). I have taught 8th grade science and high school biology. I work with people from all backgrounds and hearing their stories of why they selected science and their careers and goals. I hope that someone wants to hear my children's stories as they pursue their careers.
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