2016 Recorded Lectures

"The Death Lottery: How Race Impacts the Death Penalty in Ohio"

Presented: Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 - a panel discussion moderated by Margery M. Koosed.

Two thirds of murder victims in Ohio are African-American, yet two thirds of those who have been executed in our state had white victims. This panel brings together individuals with direct experience with the aftermath of murder, providing context to a newly released report examining racial and geographic disparity in the application of Ohio's death penalty.

PANELISTS

  • Kwame Ajamu & Wylie Bridgeman, Cleveland area brothers who, together with their friend Ricky Jackson, were wrongly convicted and sentenced to be executed for a crime they did not commit.
  • Judge Stephen L. McIntosh, who served as the Vice-Chairman of the Ohio Supreme Court Joint Task Force on the Administration of Ohio's Death Penalty. A former prosecutor, McIntosh is a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge.
  • Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan Jr., Executive Director of Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation, a national organization working to end the death penalty. Sullivan's sister Jennifer was murdered in Cleveland in 1997 - a crime which remains unsolved.
  • Moderator: Margery M. Koosed, a noted expert on Ohio's death penalty system, is Professor Emeritus at The University of Akron School of Law.

"John Brown: Martyr or Madman?"

Presented: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016

Dave Lieberth of the Summit County Historical Society presents "John Brown: Martyr or Madman?"

"Panel Discussion: Race and Local Politics, Akron Style"

Presented: Friday, Feb. 5, 2016 - a panel discussion

While the discussion about race and politics usually focuses on national politics, this panel discussion will talk about racial issues in local politics with direct reference to Akron, Summit County, and Northeast Ohio. In addition to providing their perspectives the panelists will include the audience in the conversation. The panelists are: Eddie Sipplen, 2015 Republican Akron Mayoral Candidate; Emilia Sykes, Democratic Ohio State Representative, 34th House District; and Mark Turner, Executive News Editor, Akron Beacon Journal.

"Dr. Helen K. Qammar Memorial Lecture
'Race, Education, and the Law - From Brown v. Board to the Present'"

Presented: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016

The first annual Dr. Helen K. Qammar Memorial Lecture welcomes Dr. Qammar's son, Shammas Malik.