DALLAS /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in collegiate history,
The Symposium for Hate Crimes and Violence on Campus will bring
together key administrators, student services professionals, faculty
and students to discuss and take action on hate crimes and violence
issues on college campuses.
(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020110/TOLERANCELOGO )
In 2000, university campuses across the United States reported a
total of 555 hate crimes to the FBI, an increase of 38 percent over
1999. The breadth of the problem may be much broader, however. A
recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center found that only one in
five hate crimes are reported to the FBI. As many as 2,200 victims of
campus hate may have been overlooked in 2000.
"Hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents on college campuses can
only be addressed if campus communities become knowledgeable about the
scope and seriousness of the problem," said Shane Windmeyer,
coordinator of STOP THE HATE!, a project of the Association of College
Unions International and organizer of the event.
To inspire change, the Symposium will focus national attention on
hate crimes and bias-motivated violence throughout the higher
education community and will offer participants the opportunity to
exchange ideas and to formulate action plans for implementation on
their campuses and communities at-large.
Dynamic speakers and performers headline the Symposium. Morris
Dees, co- founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, will give the
opening keynote address "The State of Hate on Campus." Arun Ghandi,
grandson of Mahatma Gandhi will deliver powerful closing remarks
challenging participants "to be the change we wish to see."
Singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll from the Matthew Shepard Foundation
will perform her song "What Matters" in memory of Matthew Shepard and
other victims of hate. Additional highlights include five renowned
keynote speakers, an action planning seminar for college campuses,
"The Slam Against Hate," and a "Best Practices" panel of experts
geared to implement change on campuses.
To register, visit
http://www.symposium.stophate.org/; discounts are available before
April 30, 2002.
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020110/TOLERANCELOGO
AP Archive:
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
Source: Southern Poverty Law Center
Contact: Shane Windmeyer of STOP THE HATE!, +1-704-277-6710, or
stophate@acuiweb.org
Website:
http://www.tolerance.org/
http://www.symposium.stophate.org/
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