Kathryn Madden has been attending Clapham School since 2021 when she was entering Class 9. Her senior thesis explores how returning to traditional notions of justice, law, and duty is key to meaningful police and justice system reform. Next fall, she will attend Hillsdale College to study physics, chemistry, or psychology. In the conversation that follows, Kathryn discusses her choice of topic, her research and writing process, and what she looks forward to about the defense.
Question: What is your thesis about?
Kathryn: My thesis covers the topic of what practical police reform looks like in today’s society.
Question: Why did you choose to write about this topic?
Kathryn: I have been very interested in law enforcement for my entire life and believe that I am going to have a career in this field, and so not only is it just a relevant topic for today’s changing political climate, and for how building community works, but for me personally it changes my perspective on—when I am able to begin this career—how I’m able to best serve and protect the people while maintaining good authority and using the power in a just way.
Question: What has surprised you in your research process?
Kathryn: How little variety there is when thinking about police reform. There is a lot covering the idea of police reform in a very political sense, and so during my research I have not found a lot of variety of non-political ideas about how to go about bettering police departments.
Question: Why do you think that is?
Kathryn: I think it’s due to the fact that this topic has become such an emotionally and politically charged topic that when someone is thinking about this topic and looking for a solution for it, they’re being driven by emotions or by the politics behind this issue. And while that’s an important aspect to consider, you have to also look at it from the perspective of, “How do the police department and the community surrounding them work together to fix this problem rationally?”
Question: How have your research findings impacted you personally?
Kathryn: My findings have changed how I approach any sort of research-heavy and in general political topics. What I mean by this is I am now able to look at a problem and have a better perspective on it, a perspective that’s broader, that takes into account good things and bad things, issues and a wide variety of solutions to those issues. And so I’ve gained a lot of insight into how to handle these situations and how to think them through.
Question: How was the process of writing the thesis?
Kathryn: It was a long process, but it’s been rewarding. It’s definitely pushed me to really reevaluate how I write about things. It’s allowed for a lot of growth to happen, and it taught me how much I love researching.
Question: What do you hope people will take away from your thesis?
Kathryn: That even with emotionally and politically heavy topics, you can always find a balance somewhere that leads to a rational solution to an issue, whether that issue has been here for a thousand years or for twenty years.
Question: What are you looking forward to about the defense?
Kathryn: I am interested to hear what outside perspectives (the panelists) have to say on the research I’ve done and the conclusions I’ve come to, and to challenge me to think about them further, and take my thoughts to another level.
Question: How will you celebrate when you complete your thesis defense?
Kathryn: I will go home and take a nap.