A Fireside Chat
The Office of Equity and inclusive Excellence (OEIE) in conjunction with the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice (CCRRJ), Incarcerated Persons Legal Support Program (IPLSP), and Pitt Legal Income Sharing Foundation (PLISF) is inviting you to a Fireside Chat on the book Death in Custody: How America ignores the truth and what we can do about it.
The authors Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., MD, and Jay D. Aronson, PhD will share highlights from their book, which tell the stories of individuals who have died in law enforcement custody and chronicles the efforts of activists and journalists to uncover the true scope of deaths in custody in the United States. Pitt Law faculty members, Professors SpearIt, Sheila Velez Martinez, and Anjali Vats, will also offer reflections on the book, and the US criminal legal system.
When: Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Time: 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Barco Law Building, Room 107
3900 Forbes Ave,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Click here to register for the event.
Professor SpearIt's Pittsburgh Book Launch Events
SpearIt will be discussing his newest book titled: "Muslim Prisoner Litigation - An Unsung American Tradition." There will be a moderated conversation with Pitt Professor, Brock Bahler (Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Department of Religious Studies). Afterwards, the audience will be able to ask questions about the book and related topics!
About the Book: Since the early 1960s, incarcerated Muslims have used legal action to establish their rights to religious freedom behind bars and improve the conditions of their incarceration. Inspired by Islamic principles of justice and equality, these efforts have played a critical role in safeguarding the civil rights not only of imprisoned Muslims but of all those confined to carceral settings. In this sweeping book—the first to examine this history in depth—SpearIt writes a missing chapter in the history of Islam in America while illuminating new perspectives on the role of religious expression and experience in the courtroom.
When: Wednesday October 4th
Time: 6-8 pm
Where: William Pitt Union Lower Lounge
3959 Fifth Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Please Register here.
*SpearIt's book will be available for purchase and free food will be available
Hosted by Pitt’s Honors College, Center for Race & Social Problems, Center for Civil Rights & Racial Justice, & Office for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Additional Launch Events
Hosted by the Department of Theology, School of Law & Elsinore Bennu Think Tank for Restorative Justice
Date: Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Time: 4pm
Where: Duquesne University Power Center Ballroom
Hosted by Pitt Religious Studies
Date: Thursday October 12, 2023
Time: 5:30pm
Where: 501 Cathedral of Learning
Pitt Law School
Date: Wednesday October 18, 2023
Time: 4 – 6pm
Where: ALCOA Room
Register for the October 18 event here.
1L Registration LCLD Mentoring Program
To support diverse law students, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) is launching the Success in Law School Mentoring Program in Pittsburgh. Mentees will be paired with experienced lawyers and can participate in LCLD events and programming. Register on LCLD’s website.
ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (LEPPC) - Fellowship Program Fall 2023
The Criminal Justice Section of the ABA is requesting application for the 2023 Legal Education Police Practices Consortium Fellowship program. The ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (LEPPC) has been formed to contribute to the national effort to examine and address legal issues in policing and public safety, including conduct, oversight, and the evolving nature of police work. The Consortium leverages the ABA’s expertise in developing model police practices and that of participating ABA-accredited law schools to collaborate on projects to develop and implement better police practices throughout the United States.
Fellows with the Consortium regularly conduct research related to their campus, local, and state police agencies as well as sheriff’s departments, highway patrol, state attorneys, government officials, and civil rights and legal aid organizations. Assignments will be undertaken under the guidance of a designated member of the law school faculty and the ABA LEPPC Director.
Students interested in applying should contact Professor SpearIt for more information.
Great Place to Work CEO: ‘It’s time to acknowledge why diversity makes us uncomfortable’
“The word “diversity” is being hijacked and weaponized. For some, at best, diversity means discrimination. At worst, it means darker or “different” people will get the job or promotion because of their skin color or difference. If you can describe what diversity means to you in an unwavering way, go for it.
If the word diversity is uncomfortable for you to use because you know it provides comfort to some and fear within others, I would acknowledge to your people why it makes you uncomfortable. Then state what you believe in, including how different beliefs, experiences, skills, and personalities are needed to drive innovation. Ask your DEIB leader for help on the message that will move your company forward from a business performance point of view.”
Read the full article here.
Implicit Bias, Course Evaluations and Staff Performance Evaluations
Implicit or unconscious bias refers to the information, attitudes, and stereotypes that affect how we process information subconsciously. Implicit biases surface when situations trigger mental reactions that influence our behavior. Implicit biases are not related to our conscious intentions, yet they can affect the way we evaluate an individual’s performance, form judgments, and evaluate the quality of our experiences and interactions.
Click here to view the Implicit Bias and Course Evaluations Guide which is intended to support students interested in intentionally disrupting implicit bias when completing course evaluations.
Click here to view the Implicit Bias and Performance Evaluations Guide which is intended to support faculty and staff interested in intentionally disrupting implicit bias when completing staff performance evaluations.
University of Pittsburgh's Anti-Racism Resource Toolkit
Pitt's Division of Student Affairs stands in soldiarity with our Black-identifying students and students of color and against systemic racism, police brutality, and injustice in any form. As part of our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students, we are educating ourselves on the history of race in the United States of America, learning best practices in how to hold conversations about racism, and taking immediate, actionable steps toward change.
The above toolkit is designed to meet you where you are. Some content is specifically aimed toward our Student Affairs staff, and some content is offered for our students. Some content addresses the concerns and trauma of Black-identifying students and staff, and some content addresses the concerns of White students and staff. Some of us are deep into the conversation about social justice, and some of us are just learning about these concepts. Wherever you are--start where you are today.