Can justice be blind to race, class and gender? "Blind justice?: Race, Class and Gender in the American Judicial System," is the topic of this year's University-wide speech contest.
This year's contest ties in with "Picking Cotton" by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Ronald Cotton and Erin Torneo, the book selected for the 2010-2011 Eagle Reading Experience.
"We want students to talk and learn about social injustice based on color, race and class," said Minnie Forte-Brown, coordinator of speech communication in the English and mass communication department.
"Our audience will get information that will help them learn about injustice from the viewpoint of some of the best public speakers within the University," said Forte-Brown.
The English and mass communication department has hosted the University speech contest for the last 20 years.
The contest started in 1991 with students competing in former professor Nancy Coey's English classes.
The contest became University-wide a few years later, it moved from the Farrison-Newton Communications Building to different locations on campus.
Qualifying rounds will be held Feb. 15-17.
For this session, students will present a 6-8 minute persuasive speeches related to the topic.
Qualifying rounds will reduce the competitors to six finalists.
The contest is open to all undergraduate students.
Interested students need to sign up by Friday, Feb. 4 in the department of English and mass communication, room 305, or by e-mail to Minnie Forte-Brown at mforte@nccu.edu.
The contest final competition will be held March 17 at 6:30 p.m. in B.N. Duke Auditorium.
The winner receives a $300 cash prize.
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