EIU Media Relations

EIU Student from Sullivan Wins Statewide Writing Competition

Kirsten Taylor, an Eastern Illinois University student from Sullivan, won first place in the freshman/sophomore division of the 2013 Illinois Sociological Association Undergraduate Student Paper Competition.

Taylor was one of the three Eastern students, who won awards from the competition. Others included Elijah D. Slifer, of Stewardson, with first place in the junior/senior division and Sheldon Aaron, of Bloomington, with third place in the freshman/ sophomore division.

Her paper was titled "Internet Inequality: How the Web is Reinforcing and Creating Inequality.” Throughout her paper, she used the sociological theories of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim to help explain the consequences of internet inequality in our society.

Taylor, the daughter of Kevin and Dorothy Taylor of Sullivan, is a junior psychology major with a sociology minor at Eastern. After entering into the competition last year as a sophomore, Taylor competed against students throughout the state from public and private universities.

The requirements for entry included a written paper from an undergraduate sociology course and a paper of 5,000 words or less. Awards for the competition will be handed out at the Illinois Sociological Association’s yearly conference.

The Illinois Sociological Association is a statewide association focused on educating and stimulating research, discussion, interaction and service among students and professors engaged in sociological study and teaching.