Fitness classes page 6 & 7 Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Indiana’s Oldest College Newspaper
vol. 164, issue 28
Dr. Brown-Dean delivers Walker Horizon Lecture, explains how to “commit to action” BY ALEX WEILHAMMER news@thedepauw.com
Even though the 58th annual Grammy awards started 30 minutes earlier, over 90 people filled the Watson Forum yesterday evening to hear from Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean instead. Brown-Dean, associate professor of political science at Quinnipiac University, visited Greencastle on President’s Day to deliver a lecture titled “Beyond Ferguson: Reimagining Race and Social Justice in the United States.” This lecture, as part of the Walker Horizon Lecture series during Black History Month, focused on the ills of the criminal justice system and the consequences of criminal disenfranchisement. Associate Professor of Political Science Clarissa Peterson delivered Dr. Brown-Dean’s introduction. “Each year, I spend all year long waiting for Black History Month,” Peterson said. She explained that she always tries to find the most brilliant scholar to talk to our campus. Peterson called Brown-Dean “an expert on political dynamics surrounding the criminal justice system.” When Brown-Dean took to the podium and thanked Peterson, she also acknowledged President Casey for “doing something about these issues.” “The fact that you are here over watching the Grammys is incredible to me,” she said. 2015 was a challenging year for Brown-Dean. She shared her story of visiting Selma, Ala. and the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of Bloody Sunday. On March 7, 1965, civil rights
demonstrators were attacked by police with billy clubs and tear gas. Brown-Dean showed a picture from her visit of a man extending his arm in the air. She explained that this man was crying heavily, so she asked if anything was wrong. This man, a veteran, told her he had marched on Selma and he has scars from when dogs attacked him that day. Brown-Dean said that he wasn’t bitter, but that he was there “to pay tribute to those who couldn’t be there.” “The blood of martyrs soaked into that pavement, and I left Selma inspired and encouraged,” Brown-Dean said. She later summarized the story of Martese Johnson, an honors student at the University of Virginia from the south side of Chicago. A gruesome picture of his bloody face was projected on the screen. He was arrested on March 18, 2015 outside Trinity Irish Pub by liquor control agents on charges of public intoxication and obstruction of the peace. These charges would later be dropped and Johnson would file a $3 million lawsuit against the Virginia Department Dr. Khalilah Brown-Dean speaks Monday evening in front of a packed crowd at the Watson Forum. An Associate Proof Alcoholic Beverage Control. Brown-Dean joined Johnson and fessor of Political Science at Quinnipiac University, Brown-Dean, gave a lecture titled “Beyond Ferguson: Reimagining others on a silent march to the UVA Race and Social Justice in the United States.” ZACHARY TAYLOR / THE DEPAUW president’s house. She commented color were always told that you need away from becoming a hashtag.” The “Law and Order Approach” on Johnson freezing in fear upon see- to respect police in a certain manner.” Brown-Dean buttressed her argu- that Brown-Dean discussed began ing the police cars during the march. “People think we live in a post- ment with extensive statistical analy- under the Nixon administration. During his arrest, Johnson report- racial society and we don’t,” Fears sis of the criminal justice system, Drugs became “public enemy numedly said, “But I go to UVA! But I go added. “It was nice to see her ad- proudly calling herself a numbers ber one” and this sentiment created to UVA!” dress that issue, and I’m happy to see geek. Several slides of her lecture a foundation for the United States to When he saw those police cars, that there’s a diverse audience there feature long-term graphs and cross- embrace stronger law enforcement. “Martese realized that degrees don’t to recognize that that’s what happens racial examinations. All of this data matter,” Brown-Dean said. to black kids on campus and at a na- is studied to determine how much “I appreciated that she talked tional level. ACTION progress we have made as a country about respectability politics,” said ju“Ferguson is everywhere,” said since the Civil Rights Act and the Votcont. on pg. 5 nior Sarah Fears. “Most students of Brown-Dean. “We are all one step ing Rights Act.