SOC 119
Sociology 119 (SOC 119) is the largest Race and Ethnic Relations class in the United States. Join Dr. Sam Richards and over 700 students in the largest lecture hall at Penn State University in conversations with students and international guests about the world we live, the cultures we're surrounded by, and the ability to question the "invisible strings" of society.
Latest episodes
May 9, 2025 • 1h 2min
25SP Class #24: Our God | Conversation About Religion
Sam invited six student volunteers to the front of the classroom. Two are Jewish, two are Muslim, and two are Christian. Sam and the students explore their religious beliefs, comparing the similarities and differences.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 8, 2025 • 2h 12min
25SP Office Hours #19: AMA with Office Joe Ivankay
Retired LA Police Officer Joe Ivankay joins Sam and Alijah to talk about his experiences in more detail. The conversation starts with Joe answering questions from the live stream chat, but that quickly ends as Sam and Alijah are filled with questions.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 7, 2025 • 1h 3min
25SP Class #23: Experiences Matter | Personal Experiences with Discrimination
Sam invites three groups of volunteers to the front of the classroom to talk about their experiences with discrimination. The first guest is Irvin Moore, a student who was in prison for over 50 years. The second set of volunteers are future law enforcement officers. The third group is a racial minority in America, Chinese Americans.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 6, 2025 • 1h 10min
25SP Class #22: One Policeman's Story | Mental Health in Policing | An Open Discussion
Sam invites Retired LAPD Officer Joe Ivankay to talk about the day that changed his life and his struggles with mental distress following that event.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 5, 2025 • 1h 47min
25SP Office Hours #18: Canceled for Cultural Appropriation
Sam and Alijah spend this Office Hours answering questions and comments from the live stream chat that happened during the two previous classes.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 5, 2025 • 1h 6min
25SP Class #21: Harmony | Korean, Japanese and Chinese Cultures
Sam invites a Chinese, Japanese, and Korean student volunteer up to the front of the classroom to talk about cultural harmony in East Asia. How do they do it? What does it mean? Do they really have harmony?Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 4, 2025 • 1h 10min
25SP Class #20: Watch Your Language | Freedom & Censorship
The Trump administration has put together a list of words that are being scrubbed from the U.S. Government's vocabulary. Sam invites two groups of students and asks them to put up "Stop Signs" every time the words are spoken in the classroom. Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 4, 2025 • 1h 54min
25SP Office Hours #17: Conversation about the Military with ROTC Students
Sam and Alijah welcome two ROTC students to continue the conversation from the previous class. The topic revolves heavily around DEI and merit, but does go into other things like misconceptions the general public has about the military. After the ROTC students leave, Sam, Alijah, and Jeff continue the conversation and also hit on some breaking news.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 3, 2025 • 1h 5min
25SP Class #19: Achievement Through Merit | U.S. Military Culture
Sam welcomes three students who were in the military or are part of Penn State's ROTC program, as well as an instructor for the Military, Lt. Col. Mark Kormos (who's son is currently taking the class). The conversation revolves around DEI, nepotism, and merit within the United States Armed Forces.Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
May 3, 2025 • 1h 19min
25SP Office Hours #16: Sam's Return from Korea
Sam does a special Friday Office Hours Live Stream where he talks to the community about his trip to Korea. For the photos and videos, go to the video on YouTube!Learn more about the class: https://www.soc119.org/liveWatch live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/soc119/live
