1. BreeaWillingham, aformerSaintBonaventureUniversityassistantprofessor of journalismandmass
communication,will returntocampus Friday to presentalecture,“Race,Crime andthe American
Injustice System.”
Her talkwill be inthe WilliamF.Walsh Science Centeramphitheaterat3 p.m.
Recognizinghertopic'spossible controversy, Willingham,acriminal justice assistantprofessoratSUNY
Plattsburgh,saidshe anticipates backlash.
“I hope there are some people whogetpissedoff,”saidWillingham,whotaughtatSBU from 2005 until
2011. “Those are the people whoneedtohearthis.”
Willingham,whoholdsadoctorate inAmericanStudies fromthe Universityof Buffalo, saidshe hopesto
attract campus communitymemberswhoare “genuinelyinterested insocial justice andingenuinely
makinga change in the criminal justice system.”
As a takeaway,Willinghamsaidthatstudentswill learntotake off their“blinders”torecognize racismin
theirownlives.
“People have toknowwhatracismlookslike. Theyhave todisownandworkagainsttheirprivilege and
use it to assistinthe social justice issue,”saidWillingham.
“It’snot goingto happenovernight,”saidWillingham.“Bitbybit.Ithas to start withthe individual.”
Willingham’spresentationwill be the firstof more thantwodozenprograms scheduled thisacademic
yearto promote positive discussionsaboutrace at SBU, accordingto a Universitypressrelease.
Calendareventexample:BreeaWillingham, acriminal justice assistantprofessorat SUNY Plattsburgh,
will talkon“Race, Crime andthe AmericanInjustice System,”Friday,3p.m.,WalshAmphitheater.