Faculty First Year Seminars 191LEG01 - Do You Know Your Legal Rights?

Do you know your legal rights? Exploring the law through an equitable and inclusive lens, will examine several core social justice issues facing our society today as well as basic human rights principles pertaining to the law, including, First Amendment Rights; basic legal jargon will be discussed as well as the courtroom experience with an emphasis on the role of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and other major players in the courtroom proceeding; implicit bias in the judicial system; the inequities in the issuance of bail; access to services and mental health treatment after incarceration; the lack of housing and employment opportunities for individuals involved in the justice system; and the concepts of microaggressions and their deleterious implications, including a discussion of racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism. Students will also learn about various services and programs on campus and with the goal that they will become involved on campus in clubs that interest them, thereby encouraging them to exercise their leadership skills and become involved in social justice initiatives on campus.

First year (Fr or Soph)