Over 45 prospective students wandered through the classrooms of Buhl Hall Nov. 10, collecting clues to investigate a “drug deal gone bad” as a part of the annual Mock Crime Scene sponsored by the Forensic Science Department. 

Michael Cippoletti, assistant professor of forensic science, oversaw the event and strategically selected the content of the crime scene. Since one of the day’s areas of focus was recruiting, Cippoletti wanted to select an investigation that provides an in-depth look into what students can expect in the program, but doesn’t act as a trigger for any participants who have endured trauma. 

“I don’t want to do anything that hits too close to home,” Cippoletti said. 

The event, which is hosted each semester, is run by the Forensic Science Department in the fall and the Criminal Justice Department in the spring, with slight differences between the two. 

“The fall focuses more on lab work and in the spring they see a bit more action with surveillance, a raid or something a little bit more in line with policing,” Cippoletti said. 

The students, who are invited to participate in the mock crime scene through the admissions office, brought their parents and were taught in 35-minute intervals through workshops that covered topics such as crime scene investigation, drug analysis and firearm identification. 

“The crime scene itself is actually quite simple, but it’s not simple for the student because they’re working in that time limit,” Cippoletti said. 

The workshops were condensed lessons that students may take entire classes on in the program. Students had to apply their knowledge obtained in the workshop later in the day during the mock crime scene. 

“We hit them with a bunch of information and try to make it as hands-on as possible,” Cippoletti said. “Our goal isn’t even necessarily to impart a ton of knowledge on them, it’s to try to show them how things really work in the field and laboratory.” 

While the students rotated through the workshops and apply their learning during the timed mock crime scene, successful alumni and hand-picked seniors from the department returned to campus to speak on the impact that the program has had on their respective career paths, providing parents the opportunity to look at the real outcomes of the department. 

“The parents get to see what the students are like here and what the graduates are doing once they’ve gone into their careers,” Cippoletti said. 

The execution of the event is quite laborious, Cippoletti said, and required the help of 40 students to volunteer in the set-up, take-down and other day-of duties. The significant time required in the set-up of the crime scene also impacts his scenario decision, says Cippoletti. 

“You have to limit how extravagant you make your crime scene,” Cippoletti said. “We’ve learned over the years not to get too messy.”