RALEIGH — Campbell Law School’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA) is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events surrounding issues of diversity, equity and racial injustice prominent in our society today. BLSA members say they drew inspiration from the efforts taken by many within the legal profession to create a space for open and honest discussion of difficult topics that affect everyone, whether directly or indirectly.
With the recent popularity of “When They See Us,” a Netflix special featuring the Exonerated Five, also known as the “Central Park 5,” BLSA took the opportunity to develop this innovative five-week program, organizers say. BLSA invites Campbell Law students and members of the Raleigh community to participate throughout the month with the first event kicking off at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, with a screening of the Ken Burns documentary “The Central Park Five” at Alamo Drafthouse. The following three weeks, BLSA is hosting speaker panels covering various issues such as criminal justice, due process and legal ethics and professional responsibility.
To close out Black History Month, Campbell Law is thrilled to welcome “Exonerated 5” member Yusef Salaam for a night of open dialogue aimed at jump starting local debate on the issues of false confessions, press ethics and bias and other disparities in America’s criminal justice system. The event, which is by invitation only to those outside the law school, will take place at 4:30 p.m. on March 5. Campbell students, faculty and staff interested in attending must RSVP by Saturday, Feb. 28, at the following link: An Evening with Yusef Salaam.
Robyn Sanders, the Public Relations Chair and Event Coordinator for BLSA, shared her excitement about the program, which is the result of a lot of hard work and planning. “I am incredibly proud and excited to bring such a historic event to Campbell,” Robyn stated. “I’m encouraged by the sense of commitment from the administration and student body to embracing transparent dialogue about the ways in which we all have a responsibility to promote and preserve justice and fairness in the legal system.”
BLSA and Campbell Law would like to thank sponsors Smith Anderson, Ellis Winters, Smith Debnam Law and the City of Raleigh as well as individual sponsors Stephanie Gibbs, Mary Katherine Kurth, Gerald Roach and Issac Thorpe for their support.
Sponsorships are still available. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can contact David Bohm at bohm@campbell.edu.
The following sponsorship levels are available:
Platinum – $5,000
- 4 reserved seats to the March 5 event
- Opportunity to promote your organization
- 2 signed copies of Word of a Man: My Right to Be by Yusef Salaam
- 2 entries to win an intimate dinner with special guest Yusef Salaam, the Executive Board and Event Planning Committee of BLSA, and the Dean of Campbell Law
- VIP sponsorship and an invitation to a future BLSA event
- Sponsor recognition on social media and in the event program
Gold – $2,500
- 3 reserved seats to the March 5th event
- 1 signed copy of Word of a Man: My Right to Be by Yusef Salaam
- VIP sponsorship and an invitation to a future BLSA event
- Sponsor recognition on social media and in the event program
Silver – $1,500
- 2 reserved seats to the March 5th event
- Sponsor recognition on social media and in the event program
Bronze – $500
- 2 reserved seats to the March 5th event
- Sponsor recognition in the event program
Be sure to follow Campbell Law’s social media accounts during the month of February for important updates and information about these upcoming events. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Robyn Sanders at rnsanders0903@email.campbell.edu.
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 4,200 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2019, Campbell Law celebrated 40 years of graduating legal leaders and 10 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.