Center for Study of Race and Race Relations Gains Momentum

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 27 Aug 2001 17:43:16 +0000

Law Graduate Desta Meghoo Joins CSRRR Center for Recent UF law graduate Desta Y. Meghoo- Peddie has joined the Center for the Study for Race and Race Relations (CSRRR) in the newly created position of Assistant Director. Meghoo is a member of the law school’s recently formed Community Relations Committee, and received the Hazel Land Outstanding Black Female Law Student Award from the Black Law Students Association in April. Center Director Rahim Reed will be on leave this year as he serves as Associate Executive Vice Chancellor of Campus Community Relations at the University of California-Davis. Meghoo will coordinate the Center’s activities in his absence. “This is a challenging opportunity for me,” said Meghoo. “I never realized how many people call upon the Center for help and guidance, from students to government officials. I am excited at this opportunity for me to make a difference in this important area.” The Center’s mission is to create an interdisciplinary academic institution designed to explore issues of race and race relations, promote racial tolerance and understanding, interracial dispute resolution, racial equality and racial healing. CSRRR seeks to achieve its mission through research and development and promotion of university, regional, state, national and international projects to influence policies on racial issues. “Our Center develops, encourages and sponsors projects and course offerings at the Levin College of Law that enhance students’ understanding of racialism, social inequality and the law,” said Reed. “These activities are not exclusive to the law school. We also interact with other colleges and departments throughout the University of Florida.” The Center encourages and welcomes faculty from various departments with an interest in racial relations to become an affiliate faculty member of the CSRRR. It also promotes and sponsors interdisciplinary research on current racial relation issues as they impact areas such as Education, Economic Development, Health Care, the Media and the Criminal Justice System. It seeks to foster expertise among faculty, nationally and internationally renowned scholars, community activists and similar institutions by encouraging scholarship, organizing symposia and conferences, hosting renowned speakers, presenting training and education for the public and private sector, providing resources and data for research and development, and publishing articles. CSRRR is actively developing partnerships with public institutions such as the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Florida Office of the Attorney General, in order to bring together the intellectual talents and academic research assets of the Center with the experience and expertise of professionals actively working in these areas. These partnerships develop better training techniques and methods, generate new supporting data for strategic planning, and facilitate creative effective solutions to specific problem areas. The Center is presently working on a Web site, video lecture series, the annual spring conference, and will be represented at the United Nations World Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa, Aug. 30- Sept. 7 by Meghoo and Assistant Professor Sherrie- Lynn Russell-Brown. The UN Conference will help create strategic alliances, present an opportunity to gather new data, inspire new areas of research and scholarship, and establish the Center as a viable source of information and resources for issues pertaining to racial relations.

UF Law School, Trial Lawyers Assist South African Advocates

wsmitty@ufl.edu — Mon, 27 Aug 2001 17:41:14 +0000

As the result of a connection between a UF law professor and a colleague in South Africa, that country’s legal system took a significant step forward with a 10-day session in trial advocacy training this summer delivered cooperatively by the law school and Florida Trial Lawyers Association. UF Professor of Law Winston Nagan, who organized the session, said the project was made possible by combined efforts of the Florida Trial Lawyers, which waived tuition; the U.S. government, providing travel and per diem; and UF, which supplied housing. “This was really an experiment that arose out of discussions I had in Capetown (South Africa),” Nagan said. “Lawyers there are looking for ways to effectively transform the legal profession to fit the country’s new Constitution.” Lawyers from England, where they are referred to as barristers, have come to UF in the past to participate in the trial advocacy program. But for South Africa lawyers, known as advocates, this was a first. Six barristers from England and 11 South African advocates participated. The lawyers took part in clinical sessions dealing with opening arguments, leading and cross-examining witnesses, and closing arguments. Essentially, they were learning how to try a case, and their instructors from the Trial Lawyers Association are among top lawyers in the state. “The advice and criticism provided by the trial lawyers was quite impressive,” said Anwar Albertus a South African advocate who helped organize the sessions with Nagan. “Their work was exceptional. The instructors are obviously good lawyers and good teachers. Both skills are necessary for a successful trial advocacy course.” One of the junior South African advocates said she learned more in the 10 days than she did in many years back home.That was one of many positive responses, Nagan said. “Some of the students told us it was a brilliant program and many of them said that it far exceeded their expectations.” Albertus said because of the training’s success, plans already are underway for a follow-up. “We want a contingent of Florida trial lawyers to come to South Africa and offer a similar course to that which was done in Gainesville,” Albertus said. “Practitioners who would participate in the program stand to get a tremendous amount of technical skill.”

FlaLaw » 2001 » August » 27

Center for Study of Race and Race Relations Gains Momentum

UF Law School, Trial Lawyers Assist South African Advocates