September 19, 2008
This past weekend, six members of the St. John’s law faculty
participated at the 2008 Northeast People of Color Legal
Scholarship Conference [NEPOC] held at Boston University School of
Law. This conference gathered almost one hundred legal
scholars from around the country to discuss the themes of Education
and the Economy: The Real Lives of People of Color.
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Professor Leonard Baynes spoke about the declining numbers of
minority students in law schools across New York State and how the
challenges extend beyond the LSAT to include the internalization of
fear and the lack of confidence of potential minority
applicants. Professor Rosemary Salomone discussed the
changing approaches to English Language Learners in primary and
secondary schools and the troubling implications under the No Child
Left Behind Act. Professor Cheryl Wade presented on how the
black middle class suffers from the continuing denial of racism in
the workplace in corporate America. Professor Elaine Chiu
moderated the panel on K to 12 schooling and also chaired the
planning committee of the conference. In addition, Professors
Melinda Molina and Victoria Brown-Douglas attended the
conference.
Last but not least, Professor Baynes received the prestigious
Haywood Burns-Shanara Gilbert Award for his outstanding
achievements as a teacher-scholar-activist. As one of the
founders of NEPOC more than a decade ago, Professor Baynes was
especially lauded for his efforts in mentoring law faculty of color
and in running the Ron Brown Summer Prep Program here at St.
John’s.
Through the Ron Brown Center for Civil Rights & Economic
Development, St. John’s has been an integral part of the Northeast
People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference for the past six
years. Our participation reflects our institutional
commitment to diversity in legal education and scholarship.
For more information about the conference, please contact Professor
Elaine Chiu at chiue1@stjohns.edu or visit
the conference website at www.bu.edu/law/nepoc.