Social Justice Series Draws National Leaders

TUCSON - A UA and community sponsored speaker series will offer free and open to the public talks on social justice issues in Arizona.

Social justice issues will take center stage at the University of Arizona this week during a speaker series featuring civil rights activist and philosopher Cornel West.

"Who Draws the Line? Social Justice Perspectives on Diversity" is sponsored by various on and off campus entities and is free and open to the public.

On Tuesday, March 29, Rinku Sen, a leading figure in the racial justice movement, will present "Reframing Immigration: Racial Justice and Women of Color in a New America" at the UA's Gallagher Theater at 6 p.m. The 30 minute talk will be followed by a question and answer session.

Sen is the publisher of Colorlines.com, a daily news site offering analysis and solutions to today's racial justice issues. She also is executive director of the Applied Research Center, a think tank on racial justice and activism. She is an expert on race, feminism, immigration, economic justice, philanthropy and community organizing.

On Friday, April 1, West, an American philosopher, civil rights activist, author, actor and critic, will present "Borders to Democracy" from 7-8:30 p.m. at Centennial Hall.

West is a professor in the Center for African American Studies at Princeton University. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned his doctorate from Princeton. His best-selling book, "Race Matters," a searing analysis of racism in American democracy, has become a contemporary classic, selling more than half-million copies to date.

During his talk, West will critically examine diversity issues, offering a unique assessment of the broader implications surrounding race and immigration in the U.S. and a unique perspective into the highly contested, timely issues facing Arizona.

The opening hour of the event will feature West's insights, followed by a question and answer session.

This speaker series is possible because of collaborative efforts in Southern Arizona and several UA departments with a major contribution by the Tohono O'odham Nation.

"The sponsorship by the Tohono O'odham Nation was pivotol. They felt strongly about putting together an educational effort to gain national insights to issues facing Arizona," said Amanda Tachine, program director of Native American Student Affairs at the UA.

Sponsors include: The Tohono O'odham Nation; African American Student Affairs; Asian-Pacific American Student Affairs; Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs; Native American Student Affairs; Student Service Fee; The University of Arizona BookStores; Women's Resource Center; Office of the President and the Dean of Students Office.