Zach Olsons Blog

John Gonsler a really good guest speaker, can keep a conversation going and could tell stories all day.

Gonsler grew up in Flint Michigan, Graduated from Michigan State University. Was a police officer in Flint Michigan where the scherrif was “dirtier then a pigs dick.” Then became a correctional officer in a medium level prison for a couple of years.

Was one out of 25 people that the Unabomber wrote back too. He was penpals with the Unabomber for about six months and thinks he only wrote back to him because he would ask questions about stuff that were interesting towards him “Until I pissed him off.” Pissed him off because he would ask questions that he didn’t want to answer.

During his time has a correctional officer, Gonsler has many of stories to tell about his time there. The stories go all over the place, and mostly are just about what his inmates did on a daily basis. he seen a prisoner bench press 405 pounds 5 times and Gonsler even said “I used to be a power lifter and I never seen anyone do 405.”

Gonsler then wanted to get into teaching and he only interviewed by 2 schools who were just starting up there criminal justice programs and one of them was Morningside. When asked what his favorite part about being a professor so far he explained that “teaching the intro level classes because the kids seem to have more interested and engaged in the intro classes.” Gonsler was also asked what he would change about criminal justice in our world and he explained “we are the most incarcerated country in the world.” Also added “65% of prisoners end up going back to prison.”

To sum things up that was one pretty interesting guest speakers you could’ve sat down and listened too. When asked one of the people in the room clarified and also said “Gonsler is one of the most interesting people to interview on campus.”