Case brings CSI to the classroom
SAGES seminar gives students a University Circle view of forensics
For immediate release: April 16, 2004
Linking a suspect to the crime scene is prime-time television viewing for CSI fans—and Case Western Reserve University students in a new SAGES seminar.
 This semester, students in "Forensic Sciences: How They Impact Your World"—taught by Case Presidential Fellow James Simmelink from the Case School of Dental Medicine and Katherine Kickel, a teaching assistant from the Case Department of English—are seeing firsthand the science behind the evidence. Half the class time takes place in a real life crime lab at the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office in University Circle (the other half on campus).
 Students also learn the language behind the evidence: Experts have to be able to communicate accurately and persuasively to a jury or judge in the courtroom.
In his class, Simmelink said, "I wanted to balance what they see on television with what really takes place and how that is different from what they see."
"I also tried to take this forensic science education outside the CSI thinking," explained Simmelink.
A transformative experience
 Simmelink is among the first of Case's presidential scholars tapped to teach first and second-year classes under the university's Seminar Approach to General Education and Scholarship (SAGES) program. SAGES, now in its pilot phase, is one of the most innovative educational programs in the country and the cornerstone of the university's vision to transform undergraduate education.
It makes sense that Kickel, an English instructor, teach the communications portion of the class. But why is a person with a doctorate from the Case dental school teaching forensics?
A Case associate professor emeritus of dental medicine, Simmelink works in forensic odontology. Over the years, he has studied the aging of teeth—and has assisted in identifying people by their teeth in approximately 20-30 cases a year when no other means of identification remains.
 Simmelink, who also has published a paper on skull bullet-wound analysis, regularly has been a guest speaker in the evidence classes of Paul Giannelli, professor of law at the Case School of Law. Giannelli, an expert on evidence, was among the lawyers who shared a courtroom view of what makes good evidence during the SAGES seminar.
A forensics center
While the general public sees Case and University Circle as a hub for cultural activities in Cleveland, Simmelink said his course also has showcased the area as home to some of Cuyahoga County's leading forensic scientists. They come from the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, Case campus, University Hospitals of Cleveland, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
"People in University Circle have a tremendous knowledge and advance training in forensic science. Undergraduates never get to encounter it, and graduate students only minimally," said Simmelink.
 He invited experts beyond the crime labs at the coroner's office to talk about their work in the class. Among those experts are P.K. Saha, associate professor emeritus of English and a linguistics expert who testifies about contract language, and Bruce Latimer, a forensic anthropologist from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Latimer was the expert that recently worked on the Cleveland case identifying imported pre-Colombian skulls imported as ceramics.
A coroner's view
Students also experienced the CSI-like crime lab scene in sessions with Cuyahoga County Coroner Elizabeth Balraj, who talked about the duties and responsibilities of a coroner; Jim Wetzel, a forensic photographer; Joseph Felo, who talked about the autopsy; Amanda Jenkins, forensic toxicologist; Curtiss Jones, trace evidence expert; Elizabeth Robinson, a bite marks expert; Linda Luke, DNA paternity analysis; Heather Raaf, pathology forensics; George Geletka, weapons and personal effects analysis; and Sandra Caramella-Miller, grief interventions.
Former Judge Robert Grogan will talk about the judicial system before the class ends.
After the students have heard from the experts, they will begin personal interviews with a forensic scientist in a specific area of interest. Each student also will make a presentation at which time the discussion of evidence and its merits can be debated.
A student's perspective
"One of the things I have learned is that almost every discipline has its area of forensic science," says Patricia Edmonson, who is a second-year art history major from Cleveland Heights. She is interested in researching the art of copies and forgeries.
With her interest in art conservation, she now sees that many of the forensic science techniques also can apply to her field as well—although she realizes, "I don't think that if I went into forensic science that my everyday life would be like that of the (CSI) characters."
About Case Western Reserve University
Case is among the nation's leading research institutions. Founded in 1826
and shaped by the unique merger of the Case Institute of Technology and Western
Reserve University, Case is distinguished by its strengths in education, research,
service, and experiential learning. Located in Cleveland, Case offers nationally
recognized programs in the Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering,
Law, Management, Medicine, Nursing, and Social Work. http://www.case.edu.
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