Expert comment from the University of Pennsylvania Colorado Transgender Murder Conviction
Note for TV and radio: The University of Pennsylvania has a satellite uplink facility with live-shot capability and an ISDN line.
April 23, 2009
Expert: Tobias Barrington Wolff Professor of Law University of Pennsylvania
Credentials: • Researches and teaches constitutional law, conflict of laws, sexuality and law
Quotes: “It is the first time in the United States that a conviction has been secured under a hate crimes law for the murder of a transgender person. Angie Zapata was targeted and brutally killed because of her identity as a transwoman. In arriving at their verdict, the jury rejected the argument that this kind of murder could somehow be less blameworthy because of the criminal's ‘panic’ over the identity of the victim. Instead, the jury's verdict represents a judgment that hate crimes like these harm not just victims and their families but whole communities.”
“This case illustrates the need for hate crime protection at the federal level. Many states do not recognize the bias-motivated murder of a gay or transgender person as a hate crime, and many more do not have the resources to prosecute these difficult crimes properly. Congress will have the chance this session to vote on hate crimes legislation and President Obama has pledged to sign those protections into law. The need for such reform is clear.”
In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.
From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.
