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A Fishbowl Discussion: The Status of Our Civil Rights

Date of Event: September 11, 2013

About the Discussion: What do recent legal decisions say about the status of minorities in our country? Discussants consider Supreme Court rulings on the Voting Rights Act and Affirmative Action, the federal court decision against the "Stop-Question-Frisk" program in NYC, and the acquittal of George Zimmerman. They also weigh in on the overturning of the provisions in the Defense of Marriage Act and the legalization of same-sex marriage in many new jurisdictions. Issues of immigration and undocumented aliens also arise. What do these cases say about where America is headed as an inclusive society? And do these cases matter most in our attitudes toward diversity, or are they merely distractions to other more important measures?

Featured Participants: Selina Gallo-Cruz, assistant professor of sociology; Greta Kenney, coordinator of Diversity Leadership & Education; Jacob Love '14, who worked on civil rights during his Washington Semester; and Chuck Stanley, associate director for Residence Life & Housing. Thomas M. Landy, director of the McFarland Center, moderates.

This discussion is co-sponsored with the Diversity Leadership Team, the Office of Multicultural Education and Human Resources.

Watch the video below or download it free from iTunes U.