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“The only box you have to think outside of is the one you create yourself. If you don’t create a box, you’re just free to think.”

S. Brian Jones is ���ҹ�����’s first assistant dean for diversity and equity in theater and media arts, and he’s on a mission to empower students to think beyond the mainstream power structures in Hollywood and New York.

In addition to overseeing the ���ҹ�����’s Storytelling for Equity and Inclusion Fellowship, Assistant Dean Jones is working with faculty to develop a new major: writing for diversity and equity in theater and media arts. “I have a lot of experience in programming and outcomes. I wanted to make sure that we were creating something that would go beyond the status quo and actually move things forward.”

"We can guide underserved and underrepresented communities to see their own power, find the audiences they resonate with, go out and source the money, and then take their work all over the globe.”

Jones is looking at how this program can do more to meet the needs of 21st-century students. “Diversity and equity have become big buzzwords, and everyone comes to those words with a different perspective. What I don’t want to happen is for people to get caught up in having to figure out what those words mean.” As faculty members have been exploring the kind of citizen artist this program will serve, Jones has been reaching out for input from a variety of top industry professionals.

In theater and media arts, opportunities are passed on through connections—and people coming up in the business scramble to get a seat at the tables of power. “I want this major to prepare students to excel—and also to invert the power structure. Look at artists like Sara Jones or Tig Notaro: They didn’t try to fit into mainstream standards. They went out and made something successful, and then Hollywood came to them. That only happened because they were able to see the value in themselves. That’s what this program could do.”

“We can teach students how to find their authentic voice and also how to understand the business side of the business—how to write a grant and apply for fellowships—while also being able to distinguish between opportunities that move them toward their goals versus the ones that get them off track. We can guide underserved and underrepresented communities to see their own power, find the audiences they resonate with, go out and source the money, and then take their work all over the globe.”

Premiering nationwide this Friday, The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain, is a socially conscious drama thriller based on the true story of a case that Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professors Randolph McLaughlin and Debra Cohen have worked on for ten years. The law school is located in White Plains, the very city where the dramatic events took place.

In 2011, Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder, was killed during a conflict with police officers dispatched to check on him after his medical alert device was mistakenly activated. The film recounts the excessive and brutal force executed by the police in their response to this non-threatening situation and provides a lens for society to reflect on the reform needed in policing tactics and our social justice system.

“This film is a tremendous opportunity to help not only bring the case into national focus, but to highlight the important issues – how police respond to aided calls versus criminal calls, how they police in African-American communities, and how they are trained to diffuse situations involving people in mental health crisis,” said Professor McLaughlin. “What was done was a text book ‘not to do’ if their intention was to de-escalate the situation and provide assistance.”

According to McLaughlin, when the police arrived, Mr. Chamberlain was asleep in his bed and made more than 60 attempts over the course of an hour and twenty minutes to explain that he did not call for help, did not need help and did not want to open his door. “When we heard the audio recording, we were shocked at the inhumanity demonstrated by law enforcement,” said Adjunct Professor Cohen. “Mr. Chamberlain had no agency over his own fate.”

The husband and wife legal team of McLaughlin and Cohen co-chair the Civil Rights Practice Group of Newman Ferrara LLP in Manhattan. They were asked to join the case by colleagues and fellow Haub Law alumni Mayo Bartlett and Wali Muhammad in 2012. A $21 million civil rights lawsuit was filed in federal court against the City of White Plains and several police officers.

The couple were compelled by the outrageous circumstances of the case and the resolve of Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr. to find the truth about his father’s death. “Kenneth has channeled his anger and grief into creating a movement to reform police practices and provide other families with the support they need,” said Cohen. “I thought of my own father at that age who had cognitive challenges, and what that would have been like. I was certain he wouldn’t have been treated the same in this situation.”

The legal fight for justice has spanned over the past ten years, with a case currently still pending in federal district court in White Plains. Less than one year into legal proceedings, a grand jury declined to vote for an indictment, causing an uproar in the community and among social justice advocates. Another letdown came in 2017 when the district court dismissed most of the claims contained in a new lawsuit and excused several of the original defendants, including police officers. Following four-years of pre-trial motions, in 2020, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, restored claims of unlawful entry and non-lethal excessive force. Professors McLaughlin and Cohen are now preparing, with the legal team, for trial and hope that with the need for police reform gaining traction across the country, justice for Mr. Chamberlain Sr. can finally be achieved.

“No matter how hard you work as a lawyer it’s almost impossible to convey a victim’s point of view when a voice can’t be heard and they can’t testify for themselves,” added Cohen. “This film shows us the perspective of the man who is on the other side of the door and gives him a voice that we hope can inspire change.”

The film, which will be available , was produced and directed by David Midell, along with acclaimed actor, director and producer Morgan Freeman as an executive producer. Actor Frankie Faison plays Mr. Chamberlain Sr. in the film, which won the jury and audience awards at the 2019 Austin Film Festival where it debuted. Visit the Killing of Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain for more information.

About Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ���ҹ�����

���ҹ�����’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law offers J.D. and Masters of Law degrees in both Environmental and International Law, as well as a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) in Environmental Law. The school, housed on the University’s campus in White Plains, NY, opened its doors in 1976 and has over 9,000 alumni around the world. The school maintains a unique philosophy and approach to legal education that strikes an important balance between practice and theory. Haub Law launched its Environmental Law Program in 1978, and it has long been ranked among the world’s leading university programs, with a current #1 ranking by U.S. World and News Report.

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The Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies (GCELS) at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ���ҹ����� successfully submitted and advocated for the adoption of groundbreaking motions to strengthen human rights and environmental protections at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, which took place in Marseille, France from September 3 to September 11, 2021. Haub Law is one of only two law schools in the United States that is a voting member of the IUCN. Decisions made at the conference have wide-reaching implications for environmental law and policy around the globe.

“GCELS’ work with IUCN is guided by the paramount need to strengthen environmental rule of law and ensure human rights and environmental justice for communities most affected by climate change and environmental degradation,” said Haub Distinguished Professor of International Law and GCELS Co-Director, Smita Narula. “Our environmental law program puts what we teach into practice, both locally and globally, to drive real, impactful change.”

A delegation from Haub Law School, including students, alumni, faculty, and staff, joined some 6,000 other world leaders and decision-makers both virtually and in Marseille to influence the global conservation agenda and guide IUCN’s workplan for the next four years. GCELS’ motions ensured that the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network called for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, promoted urgent measures to help prevent future zoonotic diseases, and upheld the right to food sovereignty under the landmark U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas. GCELS also helped usher in a historic renunciation by IUCN of the colonial Doctrine of Discovery which for centuries has undermined Indigenous Peoples’ sovereignty and rights. View details of these GCELS’ motions and of the work of student delegates in the Haub Law team.

“The recent IPCC science assessment that climate change is already producing irreversible damage and calling for urgent action to phase out fossil fuels, demands immediate actions. Our Climate Motion calls for exactly that,” said Dean Emeritus and GCELS Co-Director Professor Richard Ottinger.

Commenting on the significance of the peasants’ rights motion, Geneviève Savigny of the international peasants’ movement La Via Campesina said: “The vote on this IUCN motion shows the growing recognition of the positive role of peasants and Indigenous communities in the conservation of biodiversity. Public policies must promote food sovereignty and peasant agroecology that works with nature, not against it.”

Student members of the Haub Law delegation played a crucial role in drafting, submitting, and negotiating for the adoption of these and other motions. Since Spring 2019, and in the lead up to the Congress, dozens of Haub Law students and alumni have worked closely with GCELS’ Co-Directors and LLM Fellows and with Professor Nicholas Robinson and Professor Victor Tafur to advance environmental justice and strengthen environmental rule of law globally through the IUCN.

Student Haub Scholar Madison Shaff, who worked on the zoonosis motion, said “Our goal was to strengthen the health of the environment, and in turn, to prevent future pandemics. It has been a wonderful experience to be a part of something with such monumental impacts.” Student Haub Scholar Christopher Sudol, who worked on the motion renouncing the Doctrine of Discovery, added “I am honored to have helped draft and negotiate a motion that the Chair of the World Commission on Environmental Law, Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin, recognized as ‘one of the most important motions approved by IUCN, ever.’”

Professor Achinthi Vithanage, Associate Director for Environmental Law Programs, expressed her gratitude to the students and commented, “I am thrilled by the outstanding contributions made by our current and former students to the development of international environmental law and policy, especially their tenacity in navigating the new normal of virtual negotiations.”

University Professor on the Environment and Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law Emeritus, Nicholas A. Robinson, notes, “[t]he Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ���ҹ����� is a thought-leader and change-maker in the global transformation to a sustainable world. At the IUCN WCC, equity and justice, for people and for nature, is advanced. It is time for action and I am proud that Haub Law continues to have such active participation in this endeavor.”

This year, leading up to the Congress, a two-day symposium was held entitled Peace with Nature: Laws for Ecological Resilience. Many Haub Law students, alumni, and faculty were featured panelists.

The Lubin School of Business Surveys New York City, Westchester, Rockland and Long Island Businesses

Businesses Remain Optimistic, but Challenges Remain

NEW YORK & PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. (September 15, 2021) -- A majority of businesses surveyed in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island say they will be stronger after the pandemic, and half of respondents reported being optimistic about the future of business in New York, according to a recently released ���ҹ����� Business Poll.

While many businesses reported that they were negatively impacted financially and had to implement new procedures such as remote work, most respondents feel that they learned important lessons that ultimately improved their business.

In particular, 65% of respondents said that their businesses will be stronger after the pandemic, in part, because many used the crisis to develop new and improved products or business skills to help them survive.

“The responses from business owners and managers are telling and very hopeful,” said Professor Kathryn Winsted, director of Lubin's Center for Student Enterprise and the ���ҹ����� Business Poll. “The resiliency showed by many businesses during the pandemic was inspiring, and there is much to be gained by studying how businesses adjusted, adapted, and found new ways to make things work. Many business leaders expressed growing appreciation for the need for work/life balance and the importance of employees’ well-being.”

The results of the ���ҹ����� Business Poll were announced at The Business Council of Westchester’s Board of Director’s fall meeting. The poll, a partnership between ���ҹ�����’s Lubin School of Business, and , recently surveyed approximately 300 business leaders. The poll was conducted by email and by phone by students at ���ҹ����� Connect, one of Lubin’s five student-run businesses in the Center for Student Enterprise at ���ҹ�����. Read the full report here and watch a video about the ���ҹ����� Business Poll.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about business and how businesses respond to crises,” said Liang Lin, a senior management major who is general manager at ���ҹ����� Connect. “It was also very helpful for us to learn how to communicate effectively with business leaders.”

“The feedback from businesses on how they managed their respective operations is as interesting as it is helpful to the business community,” said Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. “We are incredibly gratified to be working with ���ҹ����� and The Business Council of New York State on this poll, and expect it will continue to provide valuable information and insights on issues that matter to businesses in the region as we continue to rebound from the pandemic.”

The announcement comes as The ���ҹ����� Business Poll is readying to conduct its next survey, which will focus on return to work, business sentiment, real estate, employee concerns, customer relations, and other issues of interest. Business interested in participating in the next poll can email pacepoll@pace.edu.

“Many of New York’s employers are still struggling as the state’s economy continues to rebound,” Ken Pokalsky, vice president, The Business Council of New York State Inc. “The Business Council found a great partner in ���ҹ����� to better understand the needs of businesses, particularly in the downstate region, so we can see first-hand just how much the pandemic continues to impact them even during the recovery process.”

In this first poll, lessons learned during this difficult time included the importance of being more flexible and open minded about implementing new procedures and ideas, improving technology, and taking advantage of the long-term possibility for remote work. Businesses also learned the importance of constructing emergency protocols to help them be better prepared for future extraordinary situations.

Other findings included:

• Nearly three-quarters of responding businesses said that they were not forced to close down in March 2020.
• Only 28% said that they had to shut down at some point during the pandemic. The majority of responding businesses who had to close for a period during COVID said they closed for less than 6 months. Less than 20% had to close for longer than six months.
• Nearly 60% of all participating businesses said that they had been negatively affected financially due to the pandemic. However, nearly one in five indicated that their financial situation improved since the start of the pandemic. Of those businesses that were negatively affected by the pandemic financially, just over a quarter said that their revenue declined by more than 50%.
• Just 39% of responding businesses said that they had to lay off or furlough employees due to the pandemic; 61% said that they kept their workforce the same or even increased it. Of those companies that laid off or furloughed employees, a little over half said all or most would be refilled. Nineteen percent said they would keep the positions empty for at least another year.

More than half of the businesses expressed that they are optimistic about the future of businesses in New York City and the surrounding areas over the next few years. Only a quarter are pessimistic about it and believe that businesses will struggle to recover.

In general comments, many respondents shared their concerns about the future of businesses in New York City due to challenges from the pandemic. Nearly a quarter mentioned that they think that changes are needed in local government and that they are worried about what the economic future in the city will look like without those changes. Many participants also discussed company improvements resulting from the challenge of the pandemic and said they were better prepared now to face future challenges.

The top recovery need expressed by business leaders who responded was assistance in locating new employees with specific skills or experiences, with nearly a third of respondents citing this as a need. Second was financial assistance for cash flow, with nearly a quarter stating that this was a need.

When asked about disadvantages of running a business in or near New York City, 41% said that the cost of running a business was the biggest disadvantage. Taxes were the next biggest concern with nearly one in five saying that New York City’s taxes are too high. Excessive government regulation and long commutes were other items of common concern.

The ���ҹ����� Business Poll is the University’s first, and complements its strengths as a school with a rich history of excellence in business education. Founded as a school of accountancy in 1906, ���ҹ����� has one of the largest internship placement programs in the New York metropolitan area, and a combined job placement rate is nearly 90 percent. The Lubin School of Business recently maintained its dual accreditation for both business and accounting by AACSB International, an elite distinction shared by fewer than 2 percent of business schools in the world offering business degree programs.

The ���ҹ����� Business Poll is part of Lubin’s continued commitment to experiential learning, scholarship, and excellence, noted Lawrence G. Singleton, dean of the Lubin School of Business.

“The partnership with The Business Council of New York State and The Business Council of Westchester is about learning real challenges facing industries,” said Singleton. “It complements our curriculum and further bolsters ���ҹ�����’s place in the business community. We’re excited about this ongoing endeavor and eager to be part of its continued success.”

About ���ҹ�����

���ҹ����� has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. ���ҹ����� is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, ���ҹ����� has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. ���ҹ����� has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. or on the ���ҹ����� News website.

About the Lubin School of Business at ���ҹ�����

Globally recognized and prestigiously accredited, the Lubin School of Business integrates New York City’s business world into the experienced-based education of its students at ���ҹ�����’s suburban and downtown campuses, implemented by one of the region’s largest co-op programs, team-based learning, and customized career guidance. Its programs are designed to launch success-oriented graduates toward upwardly mobile careers.