Wittenberg Pre-Law Association Welcomes Accomplished
Speakers To Highlight Third Annual Witt Law Day April 15
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Assistant Professor of Political Science Heather Wright introduces a speaker during the 2008 Witt Law Day.
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Springfield, Ohio — For the third straight year, Wittenberg's Pre-Law Association is hosting a spring event that focuses on the free exchange of ideas that epitomizes a liberal arts education.
Themed "Human Trafficking: International, National & Local Perspectives" and co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science, the Department of Sociology and the Women's Studies Program, Witt Law Day 2009 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15. This year's event features presentations by Kathleen Davis, national training coordinator of the Polaris Project in Washington, D.C., and Selene Edmunds, director of LexisNexis Cares Global, which supports the company's works in support of anti-trafficking efforts.
"Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world," said Assistant Professor of Political Science Heather Wright, who serves as the Pre-Law Association's adviser and the university's Pre-Law Adviser. "What most of us don't realize is that trafficking is not limited to foreign environments. People are exploited and abused here in the United States every day, even in Ohio.
"We are grateful to Polaris and LexisNexis for their help in raising awareness about this issue and for their efforts to put an end to modern day slavery. We look forward to learning more about what we at Wittenberg can do to help."
Davis, a Wright State University graduate, will make the keynote address at 7 p.m. in Bayley Auditorium of the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center, 315 Bill Edwards Drive. The founder of the Ohio chapter of the Polaris Project, Davis works with legislators, local and federal law enforcement, social service providers, coalitions and taskforces to address the scourge of human trafficking. She is also director of the Partnership for Human Freedom, a contemporary slavery program at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Edmunds' presentation will follow the one by Davis, with time for a question and answer session with both speakers immediately afterward. Wittenberg students and faculty members will also have the opportunity to dine with the speakers.
New this year is a screening of the movie Holly at 7 p.m. Monday, April 13, in Room 262 of the Kuss Science Center. Set in Cambodia, Holly illustrates child prostitution through the non-sexual, complex relationship between a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl, Holly, and 40-year-old American, Patrick.
Organizers of this year's Witt Law Day are Pre-Law Association executive board members Andrew Tomko, class of 2009 from North Olmsted, Ohio, Manny Lamarre, class of 2009 from Miami, Fla., Sara Wheeler, class of 2010 from Bucyrus, Ohio, Collin Murdock, class of 2011 from Westerville, Ohio, and Anna Bencriscutto, class of 2011 from Oro Valley, Ariz.
The Pre-Law Association was created to provide students interested in attending law school or pursuing a career in law with resources to help them succeed. In addition to Witt Law Day, the organization hosts practice LSAT sessions with peers, workshops to help with applications, community service projects, a film series and law school visits, including a trip to the University of Toledo in 2007 to hear United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia speak.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Wright at (937) 327-7992 or via e-mail.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo By: Robert Gantt
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