FRS 002P — Sec. 001 — (2 unit) — CRN 76184 — T 5:10 – 7:00 pm — 2064 King Hall
Current Developments in Civil Rights

Instructor: Cruz Reynoso, School of Law

Description: This seminar is based on the work of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. The seminar will begin with a look at the agency itself: its historical beginnings, its structure, and its powers and jurisdiction. The class will cover current civil rights issues on which the Commission has recently held briefings or hearings, including voting rights, civil rights concerns of Arab-Americans after 9/11, the rights of American indigenous populations in Alaska, Hawai'i and South Dakota, affirmative action in higher education, and police-community relations. We will also be reading from this year’s campus community book, Anna Deavere Smith’s Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, and incorporating into our discussions some of the issues it raises. The goal of this seminar is to increase awareness of the civil rights issues encountered by diverse populations and the role of the federal government in securing and protecting those rights. There will be additional focus on developing critical writing skills.

Format: Class meetings will be on Tuesdays from 3:10 - 5 p.m., falling on January 11, 18, and 25; February 1, 8, 15, 22; and March 1, 8 and 15. There will be 10-20 pages of assigned reading each week. Students will complete eight weekly response papers of 1-2 pages in length, to be based on their readings, in addition to a final paper of 6 pages. Readings for the seminar will be taken from the Commission's reports, statements and other publications, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith, and other short articles. The final paper will be due on the last day of class. Grading: Grading will be as follows: 5 points for each response paper (for 40 total points), 25 points for the final paper, and 35 points for class participation.

About the Instructor: Professor Reynoso has taught at the School of Law (Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall) since 2001, where he holds the Boochever and bird Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality. His career has also included positions in academia, private practice, public service, and poverty law. He served a combined 11 years as a Justice on the California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and currently serves as the Vice Chair for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Professor Reynoso’s academic interests include legal ethics, remedies, appellate advocacy and civil rights.