The University Record, October 2 , 1995 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., Derrick Bell Jr. and Kimberle Crenshaw will deliver keynote speeches at “Toward a New Civil Rights Vision,” a symposium Oct. 13–14 at the Law School sponsored by the Michigan Journal of Race and Law.
Organizers say the symposium is both pertinent and timely, given recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that affect affirmative action and voting rights, state initiatives designed to eradicate state-sponsored affirmative action and voting rights, and the ongoing congressional debate on welfare reform.
The symposium will explore the impact of contemporary legal and social issues on civil rights jurisprudence and attempt to provide a framework within which the evolution of civil rights jurisprudence can be discussed. The program will feature paper presentations, talks and debate on affirmative action, welfare reform, voting rights, criminal justice and immigration policy.
Crenshaw, professor of law at New York University School of Law, will speak at the 9:30 a.m. plenary session on Oct. 13. Higginbotham, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, will speak at a 7:30 p.m. banquet Oct. 13. Bell, professor of law at New York University, will give his address at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 14.
Panel discussion topics include:
n The “New” Welfare Debate: Reform or Rhetoric.
n Crime, Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty: Blacks and Browns on Trial.
n Voting Rights: The Right of Minority People to Elect a Representative of Their Choice.
n The Role of the Media in Shaping the Affirmative Action Debate.
n Affirmative Re-Action: New Perspectives on the Affirmative Action Debate.
n Immigration Backlash: Can We Not All Get Along?
The Michigan Journal of Race and Law was founded last year by U-M law students. It has a two-fold purpose:
n To provide a forum in which students of color may further their professional and writing abilities.
n To establish a critical legal publication that serves as a forum for the exploration of race issues.
Advance registration is required by Oct. 6. The symposium is free to U-M faculty, students and staff. The banquet is $30. There are varying fees for others. For registration information, send e-mail to [email protected]. Registrations may be faxed to 764-6043. Telephone inquiries may be directed to Hardy Vieux or Ross Romero, 763-6100.
