TCNJ

2 The College of New Jersey Magazine TALK UP SMALL BLESSINGS Learning about the new doula initiative that trains students to think critically about how race, power, and privilege function in the health care system struck a chord ("Baby steps," spring 2024). When I was pregnant, my biggest source of anxiety was the baby's well-being, which was exacerbated when we went for our childbirth class and saw a mom and baby in distress. In that moment, I realized how dangerous childbirth could be. I also recognized my privilege. I was aware of the maternal mortality rates and the disparities among white women and women of color. Reading the feature made me feel pride and hope. Pride in my alma mater for doing something about the issue, and hope that those disparities will begin to shrink as the concerns of women of color are taken more seriously, as cultural competency becomes equally as important as medical competency, and as more people are tuned in to these challenges. JESS GILL '06 OFFICIAL RECOGNITION It was great to read "Talking shop with cops" (spring 2024). Many of us took our education and experiences into different law enforcement careers, and we bettered the communities and departments we served. I started at the Westfield (New Jersey) Police Department just two months after graduation from TSC in 1980. I retired as chief in 2012. I am still in touch with quite a few of my criminal justice classmates, and they, too, have excelled at their departments. JOHN PARIZEAU '80 While I admire and support the law enforcement personnel highlighted in the spring issue, I am appalled there was just one woman officer featured in the story. This embodies a narrow- minded and stereotypical view that law enforcement personnel should not be women. It is an insult to all of the female graduates of this institute of higher learning. JUDI MADIGAN '74 Editor's note: There are many outstanding females in law enforcement who have gradu- ated from TCNJ. We invited several others to be part of the feature, but because of their roles in their departments, they were not permitted to participate. U.S. Capitol Police Ryan Parker '19 and Joe Martorano '21 DO YOU LIKE WHAT IS IN THESE PAGES? Let us know your favorite stories and why at magazine@tcnj.edu.

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