Cultural Initiatives

Cultural initiatives and outreach

Celebrating Diversity-Cultural Month

Since the spring of 2006, the Office of Diversity Initiatives has been working to provide law students and the community at large with a wide range of cultural programs that address many different forms of diversity.

Our programs raise awareness of issues that adversely affect the community including: homelessness, domestic violence, wrongful convictions. Additionally, we have presented lectures on a variety of issues affecting the African American, Latino and other minority communities.

School Lectures

"South Africa's Democratic Transition"-A lecture by Justice Richard Goldstone, Former Justice, Constitutional Court South Africa, Former Chief Prosecutor, UN International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, Former Chief Prosecutor, UN International Criminal Tribunal Rwanda

"Nation Building: Lessons from the South African Experience"-A lecture by Professor and Diversity Director, John Simpkins on his experiences in assisting the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

"A New Iraqi Constitution"-Lecture by Professor and Diversity Director, John Simpkins.

Law School Events Supported By Our Office

• BLSA's Color of Justice Program, 2006, 2010
• BLSA's Annual Minority Reception, 2006
• BLSA in conjunction with the Office of Diversity's "What I Wish I Would Have Known" Q & A session for incoming students, 2006
• CLE on Legal Issues Affecting Heirs' Property, 2006
• BLSA's First Annual Black History Reception, 2007
• BLSA's First Annual Black Tie Affair-"Reflecting on a Journey. Focusing on a Lifetime." Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Honorable Donald W. Beatty, Associate Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court, 2007
• BLSA's 3L  Farewell-A Celebration of BLSA's graduating members-2007,2008, 2009
• The Honorable Julian Bond - Guest Speaker - 2009

Community Events Supported By Our Office

• Annual International Food and Dance Day-2009, 2010
• NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet-2006, 2007
• Trident Technical College's Upward Bound Shadow Day Program-2006, 2007
• Annual Charleston Progressive Academy Lunch Buddy Program
• South Carolina State University's Constitution Day Program, 2007
• Annual American Indian Festival - The Inter-Institutional Diversity Committee-collaboration with the College of Charleston, Trident Technical College, The Citadel and the Medical University of South Carolina-2008, 2009, 2010
• Annual Minority Law Day
• Morris Brown AME Church Education Expo - 2010
• Wilson High Mock Trial Workshop - 2009
• Charleston School of the Arts Mock Trial  Workshop- 2010
• Richland School District One Career Celebration - 2010
• "Stand Against Racism" - YWCA - 2010
• "Job Shadow Day" - 2008, 2009, 2010

Read more about our 2010 events

To view our scheduled events, visit our events calendar or contact Celeste Palmer at 843.329.1000.