California State University, Fresno is offering a new course, Victim Services Program Management. This course examines the management techniques and skills needed to operate a non-profit and government based victim service organizations. Students will learn basic principles of creating an organizational mission and board of directors, hiring employees, budgeting, volunteerism, leadership, and motivation needed for efficient and effective service provision. The course explores various technologies and planning strategies to ensure victim and employee safety and the enforcement of victims' rights. Students will also learn how to locate and apply for grants. Finally, those taking the course will learn skills for political advocacy and to bring about organizational change.For more information about the course, contact Dr. Bernadette Muscat at bmuscat@csufresno.edu

JCVVS Executive Committee member Tracy Tamborra, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, was recently awarded a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York/John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Dr. Tamborra's dissertation entitled "Coerced Sex: Does Relationship Status and a Woman's Reputation Affect Perceptions of Coercion and Ascription of Responsibility?"
Congratulations Tracy!

To view a brief biography of Dr. Tamborra go to

JCVVS e-newsletter reviews offer a brief synopsis of research and programs relevant to violence and victim studies. Brevity does not allow for comprehensive analysis, rather key points and observations for further review and consideration. Reviews are provided by persons affiliated by the JCVVS and do not necessarily reflect the position of the JCVVS or the affiliate Universities.

Author: Peter Novick

Title: =09That Noble Dream: The "Objectivity Question" and the American Historical Profession

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1988

Reviewed by: Steven Walker, PhD

This might seem like an unusual book to review for the field of Victimology for several reasons. First, it is 20 years old; however, in the field of history, there has been no work to replace this seminal analysis. Subsequent debates have indicated that either the field has fractured into multiple views or that the limits of objectivity are now assumed among historians. Novik and many others tend toward the latter interpretation.

Second, it evaluates the relationship of the objectivity question directly to the development of the history profession beginning with the formation of the American Historical Association in 1884. However, this evaluation can also be applied to the field of Victimology as we today are pressing for more research to confirm or disprove major assumptions and practices in the field.

The profession of history in the beginning pressed for the objective evaluation of primary sources in order to counteract the antiquarians who were interested in "using" history to prove prior beliefs or to support various national interests. For about 30 years, the goal of objectivity was not questioned. Beginning with WWI until WWII, Beard, Becker, and others questioned whether true objectivity was at all possible and proposed a relativistic perspective in which "Every group is its own historian." Then, between 1945 and about 1965, other historians argued that objectivity was desired and indeed possible. In other words, the history profession went through an identity crisis about their basic validity as a profession. From Novik's perspective, this was a necessary process that led to a more mature and less na=EFve profession.

As applied to the field of victimology, the field is developing more graduate and doctoral programs and expanding the breadth and depth of its research. Indeed, it is producing its own research instead of using research from psychology, sociology, and other fields. Novik's book would suggest that the field needs to believe in unquestioned objectivity to create a body of knowledge-which can then itself be questioned.

Since victimology arose from the social sciences, there is a much stronger commitment to objective research than in history. In fact among many historians, there is a distinct distrust of history written through statistical analysis. Thomas Kuhn would say that even those in the "hard" sciences commit themselves to a paradigm in the face of contrary evidence. The field of victimology/victim services has already done that in several areas, and, as Kuhn noted, later changed its analysis of victim motivation or behavior in light of overwhelming research, i.e., created new paradigms.

Dr. Steven Walker of CSU Fresno recently participated in Puerto Rico's second Victims' Assistance Academy. He notes several unique aspects of their academy:

More than any other Academy to date, the level of involvement of allied professionals was outstanding: lawyers, doctors, psychologists, social workers, etc. The core faculty included a psychologist, a lawyer, a medical doctor, and a victim advocate. These allied professionals are seldom found as students and/or faculty at State Academies. This was a very diverse Academy in all aspects: profession, type of agency, type of services, gender, etc. This was a real strength of this Academy.

Because Puerto Rico is so small, almost all the participants and faculty either knew each other or had heard of each other. This familiarity increased the interaction and the cohesion throughout the week. This led to the next unique aspect: the level of debate and constructive criticism. There appeared to be almost nothing that was off limits. Extremely difficult, controversial issues were debated. Differences were accepted openly and with good humor. Many Academies never reach this level of openness and acceptance--while others arrive at this point very late in the week.

Finally, the professionalism and commitment of the Academy's leadership, while it may not be entirely unique, was outstanding. Dr. Sierra, the VOCA Director, and Mr. Rosado, the Director of Extended Education for the University of Puerto Rico, were directly and deeply involved in the Academy all week. They and their staff members left nothing to chance and were constantly checking on details. Again, this level of active commitment by VOCA and Continuing Education administrators is not often seen.

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