NGU offers class on serial killers
Alyssa Waller, Staff Writer and Photographer
A not-so-typical class offered here at North Greenville University is a class focused on serial killers called special topics: serial killers, which is taught from a biblical worldview. Since this class is a special topics class, it is only offered every two to three years. This is the second time the class has been offered since there was a good response to the class the first time it was offered.
Staci Rollins, program coordinator for criminal justice and legal studies (CJ&LS) and assistant professor of CJ&LS at NGU teaches the special topics: serial killers class.
Special topics: serial killers was created because students had an interest in serial killers and the topic about them always came up in conversations. When the class was first offered, Netflix had started offering the Ted Bundy confession tapes and the Ted Bundy movie. Rollins said, “It seemed to be prevalent in pop culture.”
The class starts off with a basic definition of what a serial killer is, as well as the difference between serial killers and mass murders. Another thing discussed in the class is what a serial killer really is. There is discussion about how serial killers are treated by the court system, how they are caught and how they are investigated compared to other crimes.
Students present on serial killers as well. Rollins said, “More of the class is examining them as a whole and how we grapple with that in a society from a biblical worldview.”
One thing the class finished talking about was the idea that there are some individuals who have been serial killers and that we as a society made serial killers into monsters. They talked about Sawney Bean, who lived in a cave in Scotland. Bean and his family would kill and cannibalize travelers who passed by. Rollins said, “That brought about the myth of the werewolf — the idea that there is someone waiting out there.”
The class had tied Sawney Bean to King Nebuchadnezzar , who at one point was banished to live in the wild like an animal. Rollins said, “It is interesting to see that some of our modern monsters really are based off actual serial killers.”
Students with any major can take the class, not just CJ&LS majors. Students should take the class if they are fascinated by how society is so interested in criminal investigations and dark aspects of the world. Rollins said, “I think students should take the class because it is a good way to step back and think about how we process that information.”
Rollins added, “I think it is a good class for students who are interested in the topic — to look at it from a different aspect — not at the idea that there’s evil out there and it scares us and it’s fascinating, but more of how we cope with that.”
The class will be offered again, but as of right now it is a special topics class. Rollins said, “Once we have offered something as a special topics class a few times, we typically put it into the regular rotation. So it probably will be offered every two to three years.”
Rollins said she thinks her students enjoy the class. She said she doesn’t think they signed up for it knowing it’s going to be as heavy as the course is. Rollins said, “When you come in at 8 o’clock and you learn about serial killers over and over again, it really starts to weigh on your conscience.”
One thing Rollins said she enjoys talking about is how the criminal justice system treats serial killers. She said, “We see them as the pinnacle of evil, and yet our criminal justice system treats them the same as any murderer.”
Riley Minks, a sophomore CJ&LS major, said she decided to take the class because she loves Rollins. Minks added, “I don’t want to say that I like learning about serial killers. I don’t know, I find it interesting.”
Minks said she likes that there’s so much class discussion, even though she doesn’t typically like discussion in class. She said she’s excited for the class in general.
Minks added that she would encourage some students to take the class. She said she would encourage students who are interested in the topic to take it, but not students who aren’t interested. Minks said, “The class is extremely heavy and the discussions are extremely heavy.”
Minks said her favorite thing she’s learned about so far is Sawney Beam. Minks looked more into it after class and found that Sawney Bean murdered over 5,000 people. Minks said she thought it was something cool and interesting they have learned so far.
Kylie Nester, senior CJ&LS major, said she hopes to do something with investigation. She is open to investigating anything — mostly crime scenes, homicide or something like that.
Nester said she decided to take the class because it’s an interesting, real topic that probably doesn’t get spoken about enough. Nester said, “It’s also a different perspective. It’s not just us looking in, it’s us on the inside looking out.”
Nester said she likes how the class doesn’t just talk about the actual murders. The class also talks about the serial killers’ mental health, past life, early childhood and what could have lead them to this part of life. She said she hopes to learn more about how serial killers did what they did.
Nester said she would encourage others to take the class. She added, “It’s every eye-opening and encouraging, especially for this line of work.”
The class is also a heads up for what criminal justice people will be getting into. So far the class has talked about Jim Dunbar, Ted Bundy and other serial killers who many people know about. They’ve also talked about the ones who less people know about.
Even though it is a darker topic, Nester said no one dreads going to the class. Nester added, “It is a really good class. Mrs. Rollins is really good with it.”
