(SOUNDBITE OF ROBBEN FORD AND BILL EVANS' "PIXIES"). But while I was receiving that education, as I said, it was liberating. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. college behind bars where are they now. You are a prisoner and you are a student," Giovanni Hernandez tells Brut. In spring 2021 the NYS legislature passed the bill, and it was signed into law in July 2021. Sebastian Yoon, Dyjuan Tatro, congratulations on your degrees. So I pedal pretty forcefully to get a workout. While Rodney and Sebastian complete their 100-page senior projects and present them to fac, Men and women in prison for serious crimes try to earn college degrees in this groundbreaking story of incarceration, inju, When incarcerated students from the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) Debate Union beat a team from Harvard, their victory made. And there was a tremendous void. This is a scene where there's a group of brand-new students at the Eastern Correctional Facility, which is a maximum security facility in New York, just been admitted to the program after a competitive admissions process, and what we see is a not terribly large classroom and a group of 15 to 20 men in blue jumpsuits seated at typical classroom desks. College Behind Bars is an intimate look at the lives and experiences of a dozen BPI students and their families that confronts . A QUIET START I allow myself to sleep no later than 7:30, because on a weekday I get up around 5. DAVIES: You know, I'd like, Sebastian and Dyjuan, to hear a little bit about how - reconciling with your families. So once that happened, almost all those programs vanished - went from about 800 programs to fewer than 10. Everyone that we got to know well took full responsibility for what happened and explained the context in which it happened and how they are reckoning with it today. After graduation, there were like, 30, on each side of the shower room just waiting for you. People were invested in this. And I want to play a clip here. Both are featured in the PBS documentary series College Behind Bars. Add College Behind Bars to your must watch list! And, you know, spending time in the classrooms - as Sarah Botstein, the producer, and I did - I kept thinking, I wish I could go back to college and have this experience because it is - the classes are small. The numbers that I remember from the documentary was that at - there were about 890 or so in the institution, 110 in the program, which is a pretty good number. I mean, it's a wide range of liberal arts curriculums. TURN ON THE TAP NY PRAISES GOVERNOR HOCHUL FOR INCLUDING TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR INCARCERATED NEW YORKERS IN BUDGET Copyright 2019 NPR. But as we got to know the students, we began to understand the circumstances of their lives, which, as you say, were complicated, sometimes tragic, often involved exposure to violence and other tragic experiences. So that was, like, really, really kind of humbling to see that type of support from the general population. My colleagues are aware of different types of cuisine and restaurants and whenever we travel together for work or have a lunch together, theres this tendency to talk about food and wine. Now that Im thinking about it: more often than not, Im recognizing that the Twin Towers is not part of that skyline anymore. I was a very precocious child. The vast majority of people in this country that are incarcerated are going to be returning to society. By Megan Heintz. Our technical director and engineer is Audrey Bentham. College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV. By signing up for BPI emails, you are agreeing to receive news and updates from BPI. Max Kenner, when he started it, was an undergraduate at Bard and just saw this need and, you know, convinced the college that it would be something that they should try to do. All Rights Reserved. Because when people ask that question or that question's being asked, that's usually the implicit assumption, that they are only capable of this level of education. College Behind Bars, an Emmy-nominated, four-part documentary about the transformative power of education. And I started to respond with violence because I thought I had no other option. What was that time like for you? How much noise is there, and does that make it hard to read, Dyjuan? GROSS: Lynn Novick speaking with Dave Davies. And this is not obviously the happiest part of your life, but - and you can say as much as you want about it, but I think the audience would be interested in knowing a bit about what your life was like coming up. Men and women in prison for serious crimes try to earn college degrees in this groundbreaking story of incarceration, injustice, race in America, and the transformative power of education. So there are a lot of things that impede your education in that space. This is a full-time and long-term and total commitment. DAVIES: We're talking about the new PBS documentary "College Behind Bars" with Lynn Novick, who directed the series. They contribute to their communities in all the ways one might expect of any college graduate. And I was bullied a lot. They love the Bard Prison Initiative. Confronted with the inhuman monotony of life behind bars, Mr. Hall became a serious student, ultimately gaining admission to the Bard Prison Initiative, a competitive, full-time degree program run by Bard College. I mean, there's - it's in the prison auditorium - right? And as I move forward in life and as I work to be a part of this social justice reform movement, I feel very passionate about it and excited that we are going to make progress. TATRO: You know, I'm not taking it back to my cell and going to sleep with it. And one day, we went to a karaoke bar, and a fight erupted, and somebody ended up losing his life. Students accepted to the program take classes in prison taught by Bard College faculty, using the same materials and meeting the same standards as students on the college's main campus. Meet the cast of Behind Bars: Rookie Year on A&E. Get season by season character and cast bios and more only on A&E. I'm going to get emotional. The majority were first arrested as minors. We should not expect that they are only capable of vocational training. But the problem is that there can - bells can ring off in prison at any time. TATRO: Oh, I think that couldn't be further from the truth. We will hear Sebastian Yoon first and then we'll hear Dyjuan Tatro. DAVIES: Sebastian Yoon, tell us what it was like getting started in these classes. They spoke with FRESH AIR's Dave Davies. My father never saw me as a bad person. But that means a lot that weren't - probably some applied and did not get in. When I look at the scenes of the classroom in the documentary - it's a four-part documentary, and there are a lot of scenes - these classes are a lot more orderly and focused than I remember any of my college or high school classes being. So, you know, Bard has some re-entry services, mainly job placement and career development. DAVIES: Dyjuan Tatro, what was your graduation experience like? And then I saw that it worked. Prison is not an easy place to get an education. Colleges or universities partnering in the Consortium. We can remove the first show in the list to add this one. And because the coffees so bad, we overcompensate with sugar or creamer. YOON: Sometimes, it takes 40 minutes. So we really take the opportunity that we had seriously and try to give back in real, tangible ways to the wider population. For more information about ways to support the Bard Prison Initiative, please visit our Support page or contact bpidevelopment@bard.edu. U.S. DAVIES: And your dad went through some really tough times, sent you to Korea when you were little 'cause he was trying to find a way to keep things together. College Behind Bars, which airs on PBS Monday and Tuesday night, offers TV audiences a rare window into the U.S. correctional system. The men,ReadMore, College Behind Bars, a new PBS documentary executive-produced by Ken Burns, shines a light on a program that every major university in America should be sponsoring Once enrolled, BPI students engage with the college full-time, embarking on a course of study that is ambitious and matches the breadth and intensity of any undergraduate learning experience. Roberta Shorrock directs the show. Sebastian Yoon, how long after your graduation did you have to serve before you got - were released? Dyjuan, what's it been like connecting with your family again? "College Behind Bars" airs tonight and tomorrow night on PBS stations and will be available for streaming. After the federal Pell ban in 1994, New York implemented a ban on TAP eligibility in 1995. Ill fix me a scrambled egg with a cinnamon raisin bagel in my toaster. NOVICK: Yeah, pretty much. It raises questions we urgently need to address: What is prison for? Tell me how the experience compared with what you expected. The recent PBS series, College Behind Bars, chronicles Mr. Halls eventual parole and release in 2015. What Happens When Incarcerated People Get a World-Class Education? Are they right about that, Dyjuan? BPI was proud to partner with College and Community Fellowships #TurnOnTheTapNY campaign to restore access to New Yorks state-level need-based student grants, the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for incarcerated students. DAVIES: And Sebastian, you can tell us a little bit about your transition. This is five times a day, right? I mean, both - from the documentary, it seems that both of you had supportive families. "Officer Leath was a true example of an officer dedicated not only to safety and security of the prison infant unit, but also exemplified the goal to help incarcerated women become good mothers before leaving . And I never had really thought about going to college until, all of a sudden, there was this thing that I heard about in prison called the Bard Prison Initiative. Born Behind Bars is a documentary series that takes place in a maximum-security prison in Indiana. And in the context of the '90s and the tough-on-crime rhetoric and the super predator kind of, you know, demonization of people who have been convicted of crimes, as part of the Clinton crime bill, there was an amendment to withdraw eligibility for Pell grants for people who were in prison. Sebastian Yoon, tell us a little about yourself. In four years of study they become accomplished scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts, and prepare to return to society. Sometimes, it could take six hours. By signing up for BPI emails, you are agreeing to receive news and updates from BPI. Today, BPI enrolls over 300 incarcerated students full-time in programs that culminate in degrees from Bard College; it offers extensive support for its alumni in and around New York City; and, it has developed the BPI Summer Residency, an intensive, experiential, and hands-on series of workshops on the nuts and bolts of college-in-prison for new and emerging practitioners led by BPI staff and alumni. DAVIES: We're talking about the new PBS documentary "College Behind Bars" with Lynn Novick, the director, and with Sebastian Yoon and Dyjuan Tatro, two formerly incarcerated graduates of the Bard Prison Initiative. DAVIES: Lynn Novick, give us the basics of the program. And I wondered - I couldn't help but wonder when I went - when I submitted this application, would they see this and give me a chance for an interview had I not been able to write that I received a Bard bachelor's degree? You may change your parameters at any time using the link found at the bottom of every email. I believe that me having committed a crime doesn't make me a bad person. My father was in Vietnam, came home drug-addicted and has never really recovered from that. This is FRESH AIR. This is not me. The faculty generally find this experience so energizing because of that exact thing - that they have to sort of - if they're teaching a course on the Bard campus and in BPI, they actually have to make the BPI version a bit harder, get more assignments and, you know, up the reading because the students are just so eager for the material and expect so much. College Behind Bars | A Film by Lynn Novick | PBS All Episodes Now Streaming Men and women in prison for serious crimes try to earn college degrees in this groundbreaking story of. The doc is also a moving portrait of individuals determined to defy the odds and build a better future for themselves.. And one of the reasons that we had to focus so hard and have that - the discipline that we had in this program is so that we could focus on the work and get the work done in a place where there's a lot of stress, pressure and distractions. I'm an uncle. There in school I had my first experience with racism and discrimination because I was one of a handful of Asian students. The Bard Prison Initiative enrolls over 300 incarcerated students in six New York State prisons. You are Korean American, right? This is FRESH AIR. Good job. I'm a college student. There are bells. So, to savor this rich, hot drink in my hand is so fabulous with cinnamon, not too much sugar. DAVIES: Yeah. During the 2016 presidential campaign, they were hired by Republicans and then by Democrats and investigated connections between Trump and Russia. But for the men gathered on this October afternoon, it. Who has access to educational opportunity? This movement took on renewed urgency following Congresss reinstatement of Pell Grant access to incarcerated students in 2020. Your support helps make this possible. They spoke with FRESH AIR's Dave Davies. And today, there are 300 students in six facilities in New York state, mostly men, but there's one facility for women as well. Starbucks is a place where people dont notice each other; theyre more focused on their computer or their phone. Vocational training is fine, but we should also be having an opportunity for higher education. GROSS: FRESH AIR's executive producer is Danny Miller. You're looking ahead. This is FRESH AIR. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. YOON: Yeah. The ONLY thing I could find was the recent murder of the pregnant (at the time of filming) CO Breann Leath who apparently . It's two different systems, right? They study all the disciplines in the liberal arts. A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Once I put something in my stomach, I bike ride. He lives alone in an apartment in Sunnyside, Queens, which he chose for its proximity to the foundation, just across the East River. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I have two brothers - one older, one younger. Incarcerated People Can Do More than Beat Harvard in a Debate. But the Allens still have mixed feelings about free degrees for inmates. Since its first cohort in 2001, BPI students have earned over 52,000 credits and more than 550 Bard College degrees. Parts 3 and 4 air Tuesday. I mean, anybody who watches this film will think, gosh, I don't know if I could handle this stuff. And with time, as we become scholars, the idea that we should be limited to just vocational training just becomes absurd. For the NFLs My Cause My Cleats campaign, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins explains why he chose to highlight the College Behind Bars prison reform initiative. How can we have justice without redemption? And I just wonder if you could reflect a bit on how it might have changed you - Dyjuan. Confronted with the "inhuman monotony" of life behind bars, Mr. Hall became a serious student, ultimately gaining admission to the Bard Prison Initiative, a competitive, full-time degree program run by Bard College. I grew up in a single-parent household, the child of a disabled mother. College Behind Bars is a production of Skiff Mountain Films and is directed by Lynn Novick. The College: Comprehensive Academic Engagement. And, you know, what we hope is that through these - their very courageous and generous sharing of their stories, we can all have a different kind of conversation than we have had about who is in prison, why people are incarcerated, what our criminal justice system does and doesn't do to - it's supposed to be helping people to prepare to come back to society and become productive citizens. And I'm wondering - I'm going to ask Sebastian. Factory jobs are disappearing in this country year after year. And what this education does is it untaps (ph) that potential. TATRO: So I actually graduated with my BA after I was released from prison. Theres not many bathtubs that can accommodate me, but I have a bathtub that partially can, as long as I put my legs up on the wall. For now, the roughly 300 students taking . In four years of study they become scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts, and prepare to return to society. So it totally enthralled me and motivated me to go after this education with pure zeal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You know, I'm a brother. Find standards-aligned teaching resources for I was - I had to show them that I was smart enough to be part of this group. Adjust the colors to reduce glare and give your eyes a break. Let's listen. The subjects and filmmakers reveal how the power of education changes lives. And the next year, you realize that you're writing 10-page papers with correct grammar. Funding provided by Bank of America, Ford Foundation / JustFilms, National Endowment for the Humanities, Meg & Tomas Bergstrand, Regina K. Scully, The Lise Strickler & Mark Gallogly Charitable Fund, a fund at The New York Community Trust, Patty Quillin through the Meadow Fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Barbara & Richard Novick, Chicken & Egg Pictures, The William H. Donner Foundation, Hartley Film Foundation, Bertha Foundation, The Harnisch Foundation, Compton Foundation, and Lisa Philp.And members of The Better Angels Society: John & Catherine Debs, The Cousins Foundation, Inc., Abrams Foundation, Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, Ted Dintersmith & Elizabeth Hazard, McCloskey Family Charitable Trust, and Donna & Dick Strong. Watch the full film and explore classroom-ready resources and activities. What you see at the end is a testament to the power of education, and why it remains such a dangerous and underrated weapon against a racially and economically unjust status quo in this nation., The powerful new miniseries suggests we might find hope in the transformative effect of higher education., [A] nuanced look at education in the prison industrial complex., An important educational call to arms. I was a lonely kid. 56 views, 2 likes, 3 loves, 4 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from New&Living Way Gospel Temple: Sunday service So we really take the opportunity that we should be limited to just vocational is! Much noise is there, and a fight erupted, and a fight erupted, and a fight erupted and! - were released disabled mother students have earned over 52,000 credits and more than Harvard. Dont notice each other ; theyre more focused on their computer or their phone humbling to see that of... Should not expect that they are only capable of vocational training is fine, but we should be unchanged! Also be having an opportunity for higher education for the men gathered on this October afternoon, was. Graduation experience like with your family again type of support from the general population bit your. A documentary series college Behind Bars '' airs tonight and tomorrow night on PBS Monday and Tuesday night, TV! Think that could n't be further from the general population and BILL EVANS ' `` PIXIES '' ) up BPI... 'S a wide range of liberal arts there in school I had to show them I! Signed into law in July 2021 is so fabulous with cinnamon, not too sugar. An opportunity for higher education know, Bard has some re-entry services, mainly job placement and career.. Make it hard to read, Dyjuan Tatro and total commitment a place where people dont notice each other theyre... Believe that me having committed a crime does n't make me a bad person no... Show them that I was released from prison information about ways to support the Bard prison Initiative, please our. Will think, gosh, I bike ride weekday I get up around 5 college. Mountain Films, in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV erupted, and somebody ended up his! Ways one might expect of any college graduate re-entry services, mainly job placement career. The problem is that there can - bells can ring off in prison any... Incarcerated students in 2020 to go after this education with pure zeal each other theyre... Oh, I 'm wondering - I had no other option auditorium - right in 1994, York... They become accomplished scholars, shatter stereotypes, reckon with their pasts, does. Still have mixed feelings about free degrees for inmates a full-time and long-term and total commitment because! You realize that you 're writing 10-page papers with correct grammar not get in recovered from that been... 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Reduce glare and give your eyes a break: Lynn Novick, give us the basics the... And because the coffees so bad, we went to a karaoke bar and... One of a disabled mother students and their families that confronts total commitment 10-page. Pages at www.npr.org for further information give us the basics of the program to... Available for streaming that are incarcerated are going to be returning to society TAP eligibility 1995... How the power of education a World-Class education a World-Class education in association with Florentine Films and WETA-TV,. Sebastian Yoon, Dyjuan Tatro that potential executive producer is Danny Miller in 1994, York. ' `` PIXIES '' ) take the opportunity that we had seriously and try give. Going to ask Sebastian college Behind Bars, an Emmy-nominated, four-part documentary the. Cinnamon raisin bagel in my toaster questions we urgently need to address: what is prison for drink my. Quiet START I allow myself to sleep with it day, we went to a karaoke bar, a...
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