KU News Release

Symposium to examine reparations as means of dealing with racial disparities

LAWRENCE — Legal scholars from the University of Kansas and other distinguished universities will tackle the tough questions surrounding slavery reparations at an upcoming gathering on campus.

The Kansas Law Review’s 2008 symposium, “Law, Reparations and Racial Disparities,” will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at the Stinson Morrison Hecker Lecture Hall in Green Hall, home of KU’s School of Law. The symposium is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.

Through a series of panel discussions moderated by KU faculty, the scholars will explore what law can learn from empirical research on racial disparities in wealth, health, education and the criminal justice system. They also will assess whether legal reparations for slavery can be a viable means of dealing with persistent disparities.

KU presenters for the symposium:

• Ronald Caldwell Jr., assistant professor of economics
• Derrick Darby, associate professor of philosophy
• Stacy Elmer, doctoral student in philosophy

Other presenters:

• Roy L. Brooks, University of San Diego School of Law
• William Darity Jr., Duke University
• Adrienne Davis, Washington University School of Law
• Daniela Ikawa, Public Interest Law Institute/Conectas Human Rights
• Kevin Outterson, Boston University School of Law
• Ruth Peterson, Ohio State University
• Cassia Spohn, Arizona State University
• Bruce Western, Harvard University

Papers presented at the symposium will be published in the Kansas Law Review, Volume 57, Issue 4, April 2009.

Symposium sponsors have applied for 6.5 hours of continuing legal education credit in Kansas and Missouri. Those wishing to receive credit may register at the door and obtain materials; there is no charge. To confirm credit approval before the symposium date, contact Todd Rogers at (785) 864-9257 or tarogers@ku.edu.

Sponsors for the symposium are the School of Law, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Hall Center for the Humanities, the Institute for Policy and Social Research and the departments of economics, public administration and sociology.

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