State - Lecture to discuss: Are corporations citizens?

Are Corporations Citizens? A divided U.S. Supreme Court seems to have decided so; now an event presented by Wayne State University's Center for the Study of Citizenship addresses that question with a lecture by Joel Gora, professor, Brooklyn Law School, and nationally known expert in the area of campaign finance law. Gora will speak on the new effects of this summer's United States Supreme Court decision in the landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, in which the court held that corporate spending on electoral campaigns is a First Amendment right that cannot be limited. His lecture title is "The Supreme Court's Citizens United Decision: A Victory for the First Amendment--and for Democracy." The speech will be followed with a panel discussion moderated by Linda McKissack Beale, WSU law associate professor, with panelists Steven L. Winter, Walter S. Gibbs Professor of Constitutional Law at WSU, and Juliette Okotie-Eboh, senior vice president of public affairs for MGM Grand Detroit. "Joel Gora has a uniquely informed view of the controversial Citizens United decision, which appears to extend the individual constitutional rights of citizenship to corporations. His lecture is certain to bring forward compelling new ways for us to view citizenship, and to challenge us with new questions about the role of the corporate citizen," said Marc W. Kruman, director, Center for the Study of Citizenship, who also serves as chair of the Department of History at Wayne State. Gora has been a member of the Brooklyn Law School faculty since 1978 and teaches constitutional law, civil procedure and a number of other related courses. He also formerly served as associate dean for Academic Affairs (1993-1997 and 2002- 2006). He is the author of a number of books and articles dealing with First Amendment and other constitutional law issues. His most recent book is "Better Parties, Better Government," which he co-authored with financial market expert Peter J. Wallison. "Bringing speakers of this caliber and quality to Wayne State is one of the important contributions of the Center for the Study of Citizenship in our missions of fostering citizenship studies and promoting an engaged citizenry," said Kruman. The event, which marks Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium of the Wayne State Law School, located south of Palmer Street and west of Cass Avenue. Parking is available immediately across Palmer. Admission is free and open to the public. The lecture is sponsored by the Wayne State University Law School and Irvin D. Reid Honors College, Forum on Contemporary Issues in Society (FOCIS) and Joseph A. Ritok. While the lecture is free, those planning to attend are asked to register online at http://specialevents.wayne.edu/constitution-citizen-day-lecture. Published: Mon, Sep 13, 2010