Kean Students Offered Perspectives on Human Rights and Law Enforcement
UNION, N.J. – Two events at Kean University’s Miron Student Center on Friday, December 8, challenged students to expand their worldview. Human Rights Awareness Trivia explored the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and a screening of Cop Shot: The Aftermath gave Kean students first-hand accounts of the dangers of police work.
Sponsored by the Human Rights Institute and the Center of Leadership and Service (CLS), the trivia event was part of the commemoration of Human Rights Month. Students were encouraged to read a popup display of 17 of the 30 United Nations articles of human rights, and then asked to relay their meaning to the event coordinator to receive a free Human Rights Institute water bottle.
“This activity was an opportunity for students to learn and reflect on their own freedoms, and to recognize that those rights are not guaranteed to everyone around the world,” said Sara Compion, Ph.D., director of Kean’s Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and interim coordinator of the Human Rights Institute.
The other event, hosted by the student group KeanSAFE, featured a screening of the documentary, Cop Shot: The Aftermath, followed by a question-and-answer session with three police officers who were shot in the line of duty. Sergeant Kenneth Hogan of the Irvington Police Department, Patrolman John Sole of the Totowa Police Department, and Deputy Chief Anthony Woodson of the East Orange Police Department shared their experiences.
“KeanSAFE hopes that providing an inside look at the line of duty educates those considering a career in criminal justice and builds a stronger sense of trust between college students and law enforcement,” said Justina Vicioso, student president of KeanSAFE.
For more information about KeanSAFE, email keansafe@kean.edu.
For more information about the Human Rights Institute at Kean University, including its upcoming conference, email humanrights@kean.edu.
Margaret McCorry
University Relations
(908) 737-0583