Cal U will conclude its annual celebration of Black History Month with an interactive online event for students at 6 p.m. Feb. 23.
“DefEx Online — The Defamation Experience” inspires participants to examine preconceived notions about race and diversity. The event is open to Cal U students only.
Participants will watch a courtroom drama by award-winning playwright Todd Logan that explores race, religion, class, gender and the law. Viewers become the jury, virtually delivering a verdict in the case. Expert facilitators will lead a discussion following the deliberation and verdict, inviting the audience to engage in a civil discourse to examine bias and preconceived notions.
“I went through the hour-and-a-half movie experience at a conference I attended, and the conversation was so rich in terms of perceptions and attitudes,” said Sheleta Camarda-Webb, Cal U’s interim Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer.
“All the nuances involved in how people see others who don’t look like them and how they make certain assumptions made for a very moving conversation. I think it will be a good opportunity for self-examination for our students.”
DefEx Online and California University of Pennsylvania
When: Feb 23, 2021 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsce-gpjItHdWw3DxBRuHzxUejNnsU5Z0u
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
EVENT FORMAT - One Time Event
Open meeting - 10 minutes before the scheduled start time for early arrivers.
Preshow - We will screen share a short video preshow that will loop until 5 minutes after the scheduled start time to give people time to join the meeting.
Intro - 5 mins after start time, the Facilitator comes in with a brief intro. Then intros the Organization's contact to make welcoming comments.
Film - We screen share the film and we all watch it together for 75 mins.
Deliberation - After the film, we stop screen share and the judge comes in to poll and deliberate with the audience for a verdict. Approx 15-20 mins.
Discussion - After the verdict, the Facilitator comes in to have a post-show discussion with the audience and engage in deeper conversations about issues raised in the trial and other social issues. Approx 30 mins.
Closing - We bring the Organization contact back for closing remarks. We close out the event.