NIU will launch a new monthly series of events called Diversity Dialogues starting with a speaker from Yale Law School 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 23 at the Holmes Student Center, Carl Sandburg auditorium.

Senior Scholar Researcher Frederick Lawrence will be the main speaker, according to an NIU news release. Lawrence is a civil rights expert as well as the author of the novel Punishing Hate: Bias Crimes Under American Law, according to his profile on Yale’s website.

The event, entitled “The First Amendment, Free Speech and Lawful Assembly”, will also be sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the City of DeKalb Human Relations Commission.

Mark Cordes, interim dean of the School of Law, and students Ariel Owens and Timothy Bradner will be on the panel as well. NIU law professor Yolanda King will moderate.

Panelists will discuss free speech and the right to peacefully assemble on college campuses, according to the news release.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information call 815-753-9400 or email [email protected].