For criminal justice majors, many people talk about the FIC. But what exactly is the FIC? The FIC stands for the Forensic Investigation Center. The FIC provides a different approach to learning the aspects of the criminal justice field. It allows students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the field.
My name is Brittany Miller and I am a sophomore criminal justice major. I want to share what the FIC house is and how beneficial it is to have this facility accessible. In this blog, I will be giving a brief history and an overview of its facilities.
History of the FIC
- Used to be the home of George I. Black and Laura F. Marshall in 1908
- George and Laura then divorced in 1922, and then sold the house to John Hamberger.
- After living in the house for less than a year, John then sold the house to Ralph and Effie Potter.
- Ralph and Effie both passed away in the home, Ralph passing on September 15, 1930 and Effie on July 12, 1961
- The house was then sold to the Gannon TKE (Tau Kappa Epsilon) Fraternity. The TKE brothers lived in the house from 1963 to 2012.
- Gannon then bought the house which then became the Forensic Investigation Center in 2014
The FIC includes a forensic laboratory, interrogation room, Firearm Training Simulator, mock crime scene area, and a classroom. These allow students to learn a variety of different skills such as: interview techniques, evidence collection, surveillance, deception detection, and many more.
Personally, I have used the Firearm Training Simulator with my Intro to Criminal Justice class. It provided real-life scenarios that could happen while you are in the field. I needed to have quick reflexes and to be aware of my surroundings. It was a really cool experience. If you have the opportunity to use the Simulator, I highly recommend it!!
For more Information on the FIC, contact Dr. Julia Mack (mack009@gannon.edu) or
https://www.gannon.edu/Academic-Offerings/Humanities-Education-and-Social-Sciences/Undergraduate/Criminal-Justice/Forensic-Investigation-Center/