Marc Mauer of The Sentencing Project, a nonprofit prison reform group, says the United States is an "incarceration nation." In a lecture at Denison University at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Slayter Auditorium (200 Ridge Road), Mauer will address issues of racism, disenfranchisement and social inequality within the criminal justice system. The event is the fourth convocation of this year's "Hum/an/imal: Where We Meet" series, hosted by the McGregor Connections Initiative.

Mauer has published in several scholarly journals, including The Review of Policy Research and Criminal Justice Ethics, and edited the book series "Americans Behind Bars." Mauer's focus on the dehumanization of individuals within America's prisons has garnered significant attention as The New York Times contended that his work will "set off alarm bells from the White House to city halls -- and help reverse the notion that we can incarcerate our way out of fundamental social problems."

The year-long McGregor Connections Initiative series investigates the biological, social, ethical and metaphorical relationships between human and nonhuman animals. The remaining fall semester speaker is Peter Singer, a bio-ethicist and author of "Animal Liberation," on Nov. 29. The Department of Art will stage an exhibition of student works related to the theme in the visual and performing arts in December.

The McGregor Connections Initiative at Denison University connects students with renowned scholars and activists, highlights intersections between academic disciplines and fosters academic achievement.

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Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville – The McGregor Connections Initiative series presents a lecture on the United States' criminal justice system by Marc Mauer of The Sentencing Project; 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, Slayter Hall Auditorium (200 Ridge Road). Free and open to the public. To confirm information, call (740) 587-6206.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575