Butler University’s Communication and Media Studies Department Presents:
Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza: “How Queer Justice Could Dissolve White Supremacy Culture”
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 | 6:00 PM | Virtual Event via Zoom Webinar | BCR Credit
Made possible by the generous support of Andre Latia and Chuck Bright and the NEH/Frederic M. Ayres Fund | Cosponsored with Indy Pride, Inc.
What is queer justice? When we imagine a transformational path toward accountability and healing, we often need to look to alternative ways of being. Queerness offers ways of being that allow for wholeness and complexity; methods distilled from living on the margins. When we leverage queer ways of thinking, doing, and being, we can create conditions for healthy, relational modes of justice making and equity to emerge. Queer justice opens up more possibilities and points us away from the harms of white supremacy culture. When we learn this kind of justice work, we build and steward new realities in which transformation and resilience are central.
Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, PhD, is a non-binary Transgender and queer Latinx activist scholar. Their dynamic and inspiring presentations explore the Intersections of queer justice and anti-racism, working to dismantle supremacy cultures and displace the toxic culture of whiteness. They are passionate about gender justice as human rights work, and bridging differences within our communities, campuses, and churches. Dr. Robyn is the author of Activist Theology, published by Fortress Press (2019), in its second printing, and is also available on Audible. This searing and personal book bridges the gap between academia and activism, bringing the wisdom of the streets to the work of scholarship, all for the sake of political liberation and social change for marginalized communities. Robyn is currently at work on their second book, Becoming Embodied: a Vision for Democracy. Trained as an interdisciplinary scholar, they are the founder of the Activist Theology Project, a collaborative project based in Nashville, TN, working to incubate sustainable change for social healing. They are also a Visiting Scholar at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Visiting Professor at Duke University Divinity School. Robyn was named one of 10 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2018 by the Center for American Progress.
The stories of investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell have helped put four Klansmen and a serial killer behind bars. His stories have also exposed injustices and corruption, prompting investigations, state reforms, and the firings of boards and officials. He is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, a longtime member of Investigative Reporters & Editors, and a winner of more than 30 other national awards, including a $500,000 MacArthur “genius” grant.
His memoir for Simon & Schuster, Race Against Time, follows him on his journey as he pursues unsolved murder cases from the Civil Rights Era. The book, which reads like a detective story, has already drawn the praise of Pulitzer-winning historians and others. Author John Grisham raved after reading Race Against Time,“For almost two decades, investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell doggedly pursued the Klansmen responsible for some of the most notorious murders of the civil rights movement. This book is his amazing story. Thanks to him, and to courageous prosecutors, witnesses and FBI agents, justice finally prevailed.”
After working for three decades for the statewide Clarion-Ledger, Mitchell left in 2019 and founded the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit that exposes corruption, malfeasance and injustices, investigates cold cases, empowers citizens and raises up the next generation of investigative reporters. This event is free and open to the first 500 attendees.
The Office of the Provost and the College of Communication Present
Wendi C. Thomas: “Pursuing Dr. Martin Luther King’s Dream of Justice Through Journalism”
in Celebration of Black History Month With generous support from the NEH/Frederic M. Ayres Fund
Wendi C. Thomas is the editor and publisher of MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, a nonprofit newsroom in Memphis focused on poverty, power and public policy. As part of ProPublica’s 2019 Local Reporting Network, her investigation into a nonprofit hospital that sued thousands of patients led to the hospital erasing at least $11.9 million in debt for more than 5,300 defendants. She is also part of ProPublica’s 2020 Local Reporting Network. Previously she was metro columnist and assistant managing editor at The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal. She’s also worked for The Charlotte Observer, The (Nashville) Tennessean and The Indianapolis Star. Thomas was a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.
In 2019, Thomas received the National Association of Black Journalists’ Best Practices award. In 2018, she was named Journalist of the Year by Journalism and Women Symposium. She was inducted into the Scripps Hall of Fame for commentary in 2008. She’s a proud product of the Memphis City Schools and a 1993 graduate of Butler University.
CCOM Distinguished Lecture
Marshall Curry: “Telling Other People’s Stories: Perspectives from a Documentary Filmmaker”
Marshall Curry is a three-time Academy Award nominated documentary director, cinematographer, and editor. His work has won top awards at Sundance and Tribeca and has twice been nominated for Emmys. His films include Street Fight, If a Tree Falls: a Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Racing Dreams, Point and Shoot and A Night at The Garden.
CCOM Distinguished Lecture
NPR’s Eric Deggans: “Building Bridges, Not Walls, Explaining the Media’s Confusing Coverage of Race, Gender and Difference”
Born in Washington D.C. but raised in Gary, Indiana, Eric Deggans is NPR’s first full-time TV critic, crafting stories and commentaries for the network’s shows, including Morning Edition, Here & Now and All Things Considered, along with writing material for NPR.org. He also regularly appears on NPR podcasts such as Code Switch and Pop Culture Happy Hour. In addition to his work for NPR, Deggans serves as a contributor and analyst dissecting media issues for MSNBC and NBC News.
Andrew Cohn Presents Night School
Monday, February 20, 2017 | 7:00–9:30 PM | Schrott Center | BCR Credit
Co-sponsored by the Heartland Film Festival in collaboration with the Butler University College of Education
Andrew Cohn is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and screenwriter living in New York. His most recent film, Night School, premiered at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival and was supported by a MacArthur Grant. He is the Director of the documentary Kid Danny for ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 series. His first film, Medora, went on to win an Emmy for PBS’ Independent Lens series. He is currently directing a concert documentary about famed-Detroit rapper Danny Brown, entitled Danny Brown: Live at the Majestic.
An Evening with Filmmaker Stanley Nelson Jr.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 | 7:00–9:30 PM | Schrott Center | BCR Credit
Co-sponsored by the Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series
Stanley Nelson received the 2013 National Medal in the Humanities from President Barack Obama this past July, and is also a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow. Nelson’s latest film, Freedom Summer, premiered at Sundance in 2014 and was broadcast to rave reviews in June, 2014, the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Summer of 1964. His previous film, Freedom Riders, premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally in May 2011 on PBS to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, and received 4 Primetime Emmys.
Women in Sports
Thursday, February 23, 2017 | NOON–2:00 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
Co-presented in partnership with Butler Athletics
Val Ackerman is the Commissioner of the BIG EAST Conference, a U.S. Division I intercollegiate athletics conference featuring 10 nationally prominent colleges and universities—including Butler University.
A Visit with Alumnus Brandon Gaudin: Voice of Madden NFL, Play-by-Play Broadcaster for Fox Sports/Big Ten Network
Thursday, February 23, 2017 | 6:00–8:00 PM | Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall | BCR Credit
Co-presented in partnership with Butler Athletics
Brandon Gaudin ’06 is the Play-by-Play Voice of Madden NFL for EA Sports, beginning with the video game’s “Madden 17” rendition. On television, he broadcasts college basketball, football, and baseball for Fox Sports 1 and the Big Ten Network. On radio, he is the lead national college football announcer for Westwood One Sports. He also broadcasts select NFL games and the Men’s NCAA Tournament for the network.
Not Gay: The Homosexual Ingredient in the Making of Straight White Men
Monday, February 27, 2017 | 5:00–7:00 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
Sponsored in part by the NEH/Frederic M. Ayers Fund and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies Program
Jane Ward is Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies at University of California, Riverside (UCR), where she teaches courses in feminist, queer, and heterosexuality studies. She is the author of Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men (NYU Press, 2015) and Respectably Queer: Diversity Culture in LGBT Activist Organizations (Vanderbilt University Press, 2008)
Diversity In the Media is Important But It Is Not Enough
Tuesday, February 28 | 5:00–7:00 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
As a producer and editor for CNN’s health, medical, and wellness unit and a writer/producer for CNN.com Jen Christensen ’94 writes and produces stories and interactives for the web and helps manage the page and develop strategy for social media. As an editor she also helps shape the editorial direction of the unit vetting medical studies, doing in-depth data analysis and creating futures planning documents. She also works as a television producer creating segments and has worked on documentaries for Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Elizabeth Cohen.
Do I Sound Gay?
A Film Exploring Identity
Tuesday, February 28 | 7:00–9:30 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
David Thorpe is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker. His feature documentary, Do I Sound Gay? premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 (Runner-up, Audience Choice Award). In 2015, IFC Films/Sundance Selects released Do I Sound Gay? to widespread critical acclaim.
Finding a Place for Justice in Journalism
Wednesday, March 1 | 6:00–8:00 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
Wendi C. Thomas ’93 is an award-winning independent journalist based in Memphis. Her work focuses on economic and racial justice. Thomas writes for The Christian Science Monitor, The Undefeated, and is a senior writing fellow with the Center for Community Change.
Keeping Hinkle, Hinkle
Thursday, March 2 | 5:00–7:00 PM | Johnson Room | BCR Credit
Sponsored in part by Indiana Landmarks and Storytelling Arts of Indiana
Sally Perkins performs stories of all sorts—historical, personal, folk, wisdom, and ghoulish—to audiences of all ages. She has received several commissions to create and perform historical stories on Hoosier characters like John Dillinger and May Wright Sewall, as well as Hoosier locations like the historic Indiana Landmarks Center.
