Splash Biography



ETHAN RODRIGUEZ-TORRENT, Yale alum, advocate for gun policy change



Major: East Asian Studies (China)

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: 2013

Picture of Ethan Rodriguez-Torrent

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Ethan is a 2013 BA/MA graduate of Yale (East Asian Studies: China). Originally from Southbury, CT, he now lives and works here in New Haven, designing games for the puzzle room venue Escape New Haven, which he co-founded. Ethan has volunteered his time with Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Connecticut's largest gun policy advocacy organization, and worked occasionally with Everytown for Gun Safety (formerly Mayors Against Illegal Guns) and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He has testified at gun policy hearings in the Connecticut state capitol and given educational presentations in Hartford, Bridgeport, Southbury, and New Haven.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

H4191: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Spring 2020 (Apr. 11, 2020)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


E4073: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Sprout Spring 2020 (Feb. 15 - 29, 2020)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


H3984: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Fall 2019 (Nov. 16, 2019)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


H4013: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Fall 2019 (Nov. 16, 2019)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


E3864: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Sprout Fall 2019 (Sep. 28 - Oct. 12, 2019)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


E3541: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Sprout Spring 19 (Feb. 16 - Mar. 02, 2019)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


H3298: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 27, 2018)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


H3480: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Fall 2018 (Oct. 27, 2018)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and sociology. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data and their own preconceptions.


H3114: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Spring 18 (Apr. 07, 2018)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and rhetoric. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data the use of rhetorical devices.


H3251: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Spring 18 (Apr. 07, 2018)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and rhetoric. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data the use of rhetorical devices.


C3044: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Sprout Spring 18 (Feb. 17 - Mar. 03, 2018)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public health, history, sociology, media studies, and political science -- and the opportunities and challenges that come with getting involved in a single-issue political campaign.


H2894: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Fall 17 (Nov. 11, 2017)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and rhetoric. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data the use of rhetorical devices.


X2662: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Splash Spring 17 (Apr. 08, 2017)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public policy, criminology, and rhetoric. Students will be encouraged to discuss problems and propose solutions, and will be taught to critically examine data the use of rhetorical devices.


C2477: Shot Down: How Smart Gun Laws Save Lives, and Why We Still Don't Have Them in Sprout Spring 17 (Feb. 11 - 25, 2017)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course in gun policy that will touch on topics in public health, history, sociology, media studies, and political science -- and the opportunities and challenges that come with getting involved in a single-issue political campaign.


H1640: Shot Down: How smarter gun laws can reduce violence, and why we still don't have them in Splash Summer 15 (Jul. 25 - 26, 2015)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course that will touch on topics in public health, history, sociology, media studies, and political science -- and the opportunities and challenges that come with getting involved in a single-issue political campaign.


H1302: Shot Down: How smarter gun laws can reduce violence, and why we still don't have them in Splash Fall 14 (Nov. 08, 2014)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course that will touch on topics in public health, history, sociology, media studies, and political science -- and the opportunities and challenges that come with getting involved in a single-issue political campaign.


H709: Shot Down: How smarter gun laws can reduce violence, and why we still don't have them in Splash Fall 13 (Nov. 09, 2013)
What makes America the most violent developed country in the world? What role is played by the ease of access to guns? Why have certain gun policy proposals gained the support of over 90% of Americans, but failed to pass in Congress? This is a crash course that will touch on topics in public health, history, sociology, media studies, and political science -- and the opportunities and challenges that come with getting involved in a single-issue political campaign.