Published: Oct. 3, 2000

Whether the era of school desegregation is coming to an end and related questions will be addressed by leading legal scholars, sociologists, political scientists, educators and litigators Oct. 13-14 at the University of Colorado School of Law in a conference titled "The End of School Desegregation?"

The 8th Annual Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. conference will be in the Lindsley Memorial Courtroom of the Fleming Law Building and is sponsored by the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law.

"We are looking forward to an in-depth discussion that will examine all aspects of one of the most important issues of our time," said Robert F. Nagel, the Ira C. Rothgerber professor of Constitutional Law and Director of the Byron White Center.

Issues that will be discussed stem from recent Supreme Court cases dealing with the termination of desegregation decrees and last yearÂ’s highly significant desegregation programs that were disbanded in Denver and Charlotte.

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the conference will feature discussions by several Denver Public School educators including Pam Martinez, a founding member of Padres Unidos and of Coloradans for Language Freedom. Martinez also opened the first WomenÂ’s Studies Program in the country at San Diego State University in 1969 and has received the 1st Annual Cinco de Mayo Civil Rights Award.

Santo Nicotera, an administrator at Manual High School, and Denver School Board member Bennie Milliner also will be part of the panel.

Other presenters will discuss what they think the future will and should hold for desegregation policies. The will include Jeremiah Glassman, chief of the educational opportunities section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Judge Richard P. Matsch, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and Kevin G. Welner, Assistant Professor at CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍøÂ’s School of Education.

Founded in 1990 and named in honor of the retired Supreme Court Justice and CU alumnus, the Byron R. White Center is an educational resource designed to enhance the study and teaching of constitutional law and to stimulate public debate and understanding of the American constitutional system.

Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. was an outstanding graduate and patron of the Law School.

The conference, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and ends at 2 p.m. Oct. 14, is accredited for 10 CLE credits. Registration is $55 and checks payable to the University of Colorado must be received by Oct. 10. Registration can be faxed to (303) 492-5959. For information call 492-3084.

To request a brochure or register online, go to the conferenceWeb site at: .