Law School’s Environmental Law and Policy Review Hosts Annual Spring Symposium
Environmental Justice The day's first panel asked "What is environmental justice?" Panelists included: Ryan Fitzpatrick, U.S. Department of Transportation; Danny Gogal, EPA Office of Environmental Justice; Alice Kaswan, University of San Francisco School of Law; and Patrice Simms, Howard University School of Law. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice Ross Natividad J.D. '16, ELPR Editor-in-Chief, opened the day-long symposium. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice Dean Davison M. Douglas praised ELPR's initiative in coordinating the symposium and bringing the salient issues to the attention of those in attendance. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice The second panel, "EJ Where We Live, Work, and Play," featured Dr. Lenneal Henderson, The College of William & Mary; Dr. Erica Holloman, Greater Southeast Development Corporation; Virginia Ruiz, Farmworker Justice; and Mike Walker, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice Rosemary E. Hambright J.D. '16, ELPR Symposium Editor, took care of administrative matters and introducing panels during the day-long event. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice The first afternoon panel on "Grassroots Leadership" featured Sharonda Williams-Tack, Sierra Club; Dr. Andrea Simpson, University of Richmond; and Dr. Nicky Sheats, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance. Photo by David F. Morrill
Environmental Justice The final panel took a farther-reaching view with "International Environmental Justice." Panelists included: Maryann Nolan Chong, U.S. Agency for International Development; Upasana Khatri, EarthRights International; and Jesse Worker, World Resources Institute. Photo by David F. Morrill
On February 26, Volume 40 of the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review (ELPR), together with the Virginia Coastal Policy Center, hosted the spring symposium “And Justice for All: Current Developments in Environmental Studies.”
The event focused on increasing awareness of environmental justice issues and delineating legal means of ensuring environmental justice both domestically and abroad, and featured speakers from academia, government, and non-profits.
Dean Davison M. Douglas, in opening remarks, praised ELPR’s initiative in coordinating the symposium and bringing the salient issues to the attention of those in attendance.
Panel subjects during the day-long event included: “What is environmental justice?” “Environmental Justice Where We Live, Work, & Play,” “Grassroots Leadership,” and “International Environmental Justice.”
“We want to inspire everyone who attends to be more mindful of the critical issue of environmental justice,” commented Rosemary Hambright J.D. ’16, ELPR Symposium Editor and chief organizer of the event. “Our goal was to feature speakers from different levels of involvement, from the grassroots level to the federal government, to raise awareness and stimulate insightful conversations.”
Panelists such as Daniel E. Gogal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Justice, Alice Kaswan of the University of San Francisco School of Law, and Dr. Erica Holloman of the Southeast CARE Coalition of Newport News highlighted the historical context and modern developments of environmental justice affairs in the United States.
Remarks from the panelists and questions from the audience emphasized the critical importance of immediate involvement and tangible solutions to the challenges being faced in the environmental justice arena.
About The William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review
The William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review is a student-run legal journal devoted to the discussion of relevant and timely issues in environmental law and policy. It provides professionals, practitioners, and William & Mary law and policy students with a forum for the exploration of environmental law and policy issues through research, critical analysis, editing, and writing. Articles from the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review have been cited by several U.S. District Courts.
About William & Mary Law School
Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America's oldest law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.