University of Richmond Will Host Hate Crimes Panel
July 29, 2005
A panel of experts will discuss hate crimes from historical, religious, sociological, legal and law enforcement perspectives Sept. 7 at the University of Richmond.
The program, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Brown-Alley Room of Weinstein Hall.
Panelists will include the Rev. Dr. Daphne Burt, chaplain to the University of Richmond; Dr. Sarah Jane Brubaker, assistant professor of sociology at Virginia Commonwealth University; Richmond law dean Rodney A. Smolla; and Special Agent Judy Sykes, of the Richmond FBI.
Burt has extensive experience advocating for victims of violence. She has worked in many contexts to build bridges and community among groups of diverse faiths and beliefs. A member of Lutherans Concerned, she has led “Stop the Hate” vigils on college campuses.
At VCU, Brubaker is director of a post-baccalaureate certificate in gender violence as well as the Sexual and Domestic Violence Resource Center, funded through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. Her current research focuses on violence against transgendered persons, the impact of relationships on adolescents’ sexual decision-making, and connections between the body, sexuality and gender identity.
Smolla is dean and George E. Allen Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. He has written numerous works on constitutional law issues and speaks extensively on the topic. He served on the First Amendment Advisory Board to the Media Institute. In 2002 he received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
Sykes, who has been a special agent for 19 years, serves on the Civil Rights Squad with the Richmond FBI, where she investigates abuse of power, human trafficking and hate crimes. She previously has investigated crimes against children, primarily on the Internet, organized crime, white color crime and crimes involving drugs. Most of the hate crimes she investigates are ones in which the motivation is based on bias against race, religion or ethnic natural origin. The FBI has no federal jurisdiction to investigate hate crimes motivated by a sexual orientation bias.
Video clips telling the stories of victims of violence also will be shown. A reception will follow the presentation.