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Contact: Kathy
Johnson
“In
these times of assault on affirmative action and
declarations of ‘no child left behind,’ this
conference offers a scholarly venue to examine
the continuing issues, unintended consequences,
and enduring legacy of the Brown v. Board decision.”
--
Deneese Jones,
chair,
UK President’s Commission on Diversity
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LEXINGTON,
Ky. (Feb. 25, 2004) -- The University
of Kentucky President’s Commission on Diversity
(PCD) and African
American Studies and Research Program (AASRP) have
planned a special event in commemoration of the
50th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme
Court decision in the case of Brown vs. Board
of Education of Topeka (KS). That ruling struck
down racial segregation in public schools and
paved the way for civil rights in America.
The
conference “Education Beyond Brown:
Future Perspectives” is scheduled for 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, and 7:45 a.m. to
2 p.m. Friday, March 26 in the UK College of Law
building.
On
Thursday, March 25, the 10th annual Black Women’s
Conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
in the UK Student Center. Sponsored annually by
the AASRP, this year’s theme is “African-American
Women and the Historic Brown Decision: Looking
Backward, Going Forward.”
All
conference sessions are free, however registration
is requested. There is a cost for lunch on Thursday.
More information and the full schedule of events
are available on the PCD
Web site. Information about the Black Women’s
Conference also is available at the AASRP
Web site.
The “Education
Beyond Brown” conference events
on Wednesday include an opening session at 9 a.m.
in the UK College of Law Courtroom featuring keynote
speaker Robert Hemenway, chancellor of the University
of Kansas and former chancellor at UK. His speech
will be followed
by the presentation of the 2004 Presidents Awards
for Diversity. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. will
make the presentations.
The
Black Women’s Conference events on Thursday
include lectures and panel discussions throughout
the day as well as a luncheon. William Turner,
interim president at Kentucky State University,
will present the Doris Wilkinson Distinguished
Lecture at
5 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.
The
events on Friday include morning breakout sessions
in the College of Law building and a luncheon symposium
at noon in the UK Alumni House featuring Mildred
Robinson, the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable
Foundation Professor of Law at the University of
Virginia. She is writing a book showcasing the
voices of those most impacted by the Brown decision.
“In
these times of assault on affirmative action and
declarations of ‘no child left behind,’ this
conference offers a scholarly venue to examine
the continuing issues, unintended consequences,
and enduring legacy of the Brown v. Board decision,” said
Deneese Jones, chair of the UK President’s
Commission on Diversity.
Breakout
sessions will look at primary and secondary education,
higher education, education for individuals with
disabilities, the “new generation,” and
societal perspectives.
“It
is important to explore all these perspectives
because Brown addresses core issues of citizenship
and equal access far beyond the boundaries of public
education,” Jones said.
For
more information, visit the Web sites or call the
PCD office at (859) 257-3493.
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