• Agenda o Recognize Awards • SPA • OSA • Committees o Budget • Review o Nominations o Next Years Committees o Session Planning o New Business • Requirements for paper/book submissions • Social Media • Division identity/merge? • Clustering budgets • Clustering newsletter • Session reductions/Reallocation • Award winners recognized for their accomplishments o Student Paper Award – “Relational Colonialisms and a Turn to Place Based Epistemologies” by Sione Lister, PhD Candidate at Arizona State University • “Committee members applauded the paper for its novel eorts to challenge fundamental assumptions in social scienti.c inquiry and “unearth new ways of knowing in an ever-changing world.” Among the strengths of the paper noted by the committee members was its interdisciplinary reach, deft critique of dominant approaches to theorizing, and bold attempt to introduce of a new way of theorizing social problems. One member of the committee argued that this paper, by oering a framework that aims to foreground indigenous ways of theorizing, constitutes a “standout work with the potential to shift how sociology conceptualizes colonialism.” The committee shared the view that, among all of the submissions, this paper best re.ected the kind of critical, socially engaged work that aligns with the mission of the Society for the Study of Social Problems.” o Outstanding Article Award – “Crisis Feminisms: How Convenient Forgetting, Feminist Ambivalence, and Racial Gaslighting Maintain the Status Quo.” By Ghassan Moussawi and Victoria Reyes • From the abstract: The article offers an interrogation of feminist issues for feminist sociologists. It introduces the concept of ‘crisis feminisms’ as a theoretical tool to unpack how and why feminist practices and processes re-enact epistemic violence and maintain the status quo, despite rhetorically declaring otherwise. Three mechanisms are examined: convenient forgetting, feminist ambivalence, and racial gaslighting. • “Moussawi and Reyes’ article takes a risk and delves into uncertain territory, while simultaneously explaining its logic and criticism of conventional sociological theorizing. The article offers a compelling analysis of the state of epistemic violence within theorizing and within academia, providing explanations for the (re)production of epistemic inequalities via a critical examination of performativity and politics in feminist scholarship and commitments. Among its contributions, it adds an interesting position on the relationship between time and the creation of memories that different actors may develop around the same event. The article offers suggestions for theorists and scholars to incorporate these perspectives into their practice and research, across a wide range of sociological topics. Overall the article animates a strong and innovative critique of the structure of academia, that is uncompromising in its criticisms while offering pathways forward for scholarship aligned with praxis.” o OSA Honorable Mention: “Mourning for Strangers: Black Women, Sequelae, and the Digital Afterlife of Police Violence” by Shannon Malone, Shantel Gabriel Buggs and J’Mauri Jackson. • Committee members were thanked for their service • The budget was reviewed by members • Cash award to the Division’s student paper competition • $200 • Plaque for the Division’s outstanding scholarship award winner + shipping (if needed) • $80 • Stipend for social media manager / newsletter editor • $170 • Division-sponsored reception at the annual meeting • $150 • Total • $600 o Membership numbers were discussed. The division reviewed membership tends and potential recruitment strategies. Additionally, we discussed the importance of session attendance by members. • Nominations o A new chair will be elected this year – members were encouraged to self-nominate. • Next Years Committees o Members volunteered for the graduate paper award and book award for the coming year. • Session Planning o The division reviewed next year’s theme and discussed potential cosponsored sessions. Members agreed to maintain our New Directions in Social Problems Theory session and discussed the possibility of an invited session. Some of the cosponsored sessions discussed included partnering with the Global, Teaching Social Problems, Crime and Justice, Mental Health, and Sports/Leisure divisions. • New Business o Awards • The division reviewed the criteria for the outstanding paper award and coauthorship, agreeing that agree to change it to state that only one author needs to be a member at the time of submission, but that if award, the expectation is that all will be active members to receive the award. Additionally, problems surrounding multiple submissions by a single author were addressed. The division agreed to change the language to state that if there is more than one submission by the same author, a letter must be submitted to describe why each article fit the award criteria and justification for submitting two or more articles. • Following council of division chairs discussions regarding faculty letters for student paper awards, the division voiced concern about this practice as the rank of the letter writer may influence the committee’s decision, and that there are complexities surrounding student/faculty relationships and imposter syndrome that may deter students from requestion a letter. • The division discussed and agreed to adding a new award for junior faculty and mid-career scholars. o Social Media • Problems with Twitter were discussed and the division agreed to delete our Twitter account and more to Bluesky o Division identity/merge? • Members discussed our division’s identity and possibility of merging with another division. All agreed that SPT hold a unique space within the organization. A broader discussion occurred regarding membership and importance of recruitment and continue to create a welcoming space for members and graduate students, particularly in the current climate. o Clustering budgets & newsletters • Members were open to the idea of clustering newsletters, proposing that our organization could create its own version of footnotes. o Session reductions • Regarding larger conversations within the organization, members discussed session allocation. One primary concern was that reducing sessions will lead to membership decreasing, thus perpetuating the financial problems SSSP is currently trying to rectify. Additionally, limiting sessions may make acceptance more competitive. o Members discussed the possibility of changing where conference are held and voiced that it would be beneficial to hold the conferences at cheaper venues in less expensive cities. Another suggestion presented was providing members with discounted guest passes to increase membership. o Workshops – Writing & Job Market session & Journal Submission/Review • Members discussed the possibility of hosting a workshop and potentially doing a mini conference in the spring.