Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Majors  & Minor: 

  • Sociology major (Honors & Law, Justice, and Social Change subplan)
  • History of Art major
  • Science, Technology & Society minor

Campus Organizations: 

  • South Asian Awareness Network (SAAN)
  • United Against Inequities in Diseases (UAID)
  • Uncover: A/PIA

Let's get to know Sivanthy...

What inspired you to major in Sociology?

I took SOC 100 in my first year and I really enjoyed the class. As I have lots of privilege and opportunity in my life, I wanted to understand why and how injustices came about in society. SOC 100 gave me a good foundation of such knowledge. As a Sophomore, I wasn't sure of what I wanted to major in but I knew that I wanted to take more Sociology classes. Later, I got a letter from the Sociology department encouraging me to pursue the major. I was really interested in the Law, Justice, and Social Change sub-plan so I decided to declare the Sociology major.

What advice would you give to students considering a major in Sociology at UM?

You should definitely do it! This department has empowered me and my friends who are also Sociology majors to be more politically and socially active. The faculty of the Sociology department are so helpful so don't be afraid to talk to them or to ask for help! There are also so many unique opportunities in this department especially if you are interested in research. What other department can say that they let students hold weekly video conferences with the UN headquarters in New York?

What classes have you most enjoyed? Why?

I especially liked SOC 475: Medical Sociology and SOC 465: Sociological Analysis of Deviance. These classes really opened my eyes to how deeply we have socialized what we consider to be "normal". I'm also currently taking SOC 350: Human Rights and the United Nations which is phenomenal! Through video conferences, this class gave the opportunity to directly speak to and to learn from various UN leaders and defenders of Human Rights.

Have you participated in an internship or research experience?

Yes, I was part of UROP last year. In the winter, I also look forward to starting a long term research project for an Honors thesis.

What do you hope to do after graduating from Michigan?

I would like to go a school of Public Health and pursue an MPH in Health Education.

Where is the best place in Ann Arbor to get late-night study food?

Definitely Pizza House! Sometimes, you just need cheesy bread or feta bread at 2 AM.