0 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 5A
Science Cafe to
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unty sheriff and drug-related offenses.
"As we've made things more
sociate prof. to punitive, the types of crimes
blacks are more likely to commit
;cuss inequality carry the harsher punishments,"
Harding said.
By JULIA KLINE The most famous example of
Daily Arts Writer this is the gulf between the sever-
ity of sentencing for crack cocaine
ough race has little to tell us and powder cocaine possession.
aperson'scharacter, notions Though pharmacologically the
e still lead to unequal treat- same drug, crack cocaine carries
in the much higher penalties than pow-
d States. Science der cocaine, which is seen as a
racial more "white-collar" drug.
ities are Professor Exum saw these dis-
ps most Race and parities in the sentencing process
ent in the the Legal firsthand while working as a law
legal sys- clerk. She thinks that federal drug
System sentencing provides a representa-
his aus- Wednesday tive picture of racial bias.
white- at 5:30 p.m. "If we break it down on the
d office, next level and look at race, blacks
Harding, Conor O'Neill's and Hispanics - but really most-
University Traditional ly blacks if you're looking at the
ate pro- Irish Pub national average - are receiving
of sociol- Free sentences far above your average
explained white drug offender for the same
troubling offense," Exum said. "In 2008,
of the American legal sys- federal drug offenders who were
To begin, the United States white were sentenced to an aver-
erates more of its citizens age of 69.9 months of imprison-
pita than any other nation ment, while those who were black
world. Add to this highly were sentenced to an average of
ve legal system a legacy of 110 months."
inequality, and you may Rather than blame overt rac-
to understand why U.S. ism, Exum pointed to a lack of
es are disproportionately clear goals in drug sentencing.
ity males. In many states, there are no firm
Feb. 27, Harding will join sentencing guidelines for drug
:enaw County Sheriff Jerry offenses. Rather, sentencing is left
n and University of Toledo to the discretion of the judge.
e of Law Associate Prof. "(It) leaves room for bias and
Exum to examine racial personal prejudice - not all con-
ities in the legal system and scious either - just fueled by
s ways to begin repairing views of who looks threatening,
The discussion, titled "Race who doesn't look threatening,
he Legal System," is part of who looks like me, who doesn't
O'Neill's monthly Science look like me," Exum said.
series, which allows the Exum explained that con-
to discuss science-related crete sentencing goals could help
with experts. During the eliminate this disparity. Her work
r 2013 "Understanding strives to incorporate these goals
theme semester, the series into the sentencing process.
cilitated discussions on the Sheriff Clayton, the first
imesuncomfortabletopic of African-American sheriff in the
bias. history of Washtenaw County,
ording to Harding, the is soft-spoken but extremely
can legal system wasn't eloquent. Plaques honoring his
s so retributive, and the shift achievements in the community
en partially driven by racial adorn his office walls. Like Exum,
ns. Harding explained that he believes in taking action to
1960s, political speech, pri- eliminate racial bias in the legal
from the right, attempted system. Clayton spoke with
ide the democratic voting steady intensity and conviction as
y churning up fear of crime, he explained that it's the duty of
ally drug crime, and paint- every officer of the law to exam-
norities as dangerous. This ine his or her own biases.
more draconian laws for "Most police officers come to
the job with noble reasons try-
ing to do the right thing, but like
every other professions, we all
have our biases," Clayton said.
"So the question becomes: Do our
biases influence the decisions we
make?"
When Clayton heard that a
study conducted on the New Jer-
sey turnpike showed that blacks
were disproportionately targeted
for traffic stops, he commissioned
a similar study in Washtenaw
County, the first study of its kind
in a rural area. The results were
less skewed than in New Jersey,
but minorities were still tar-
geted more than a fair statistical
breakdown would allow. Clayton
responded by calling in experts to
teach a fair and impartial policing
class to his entire staff.
Clayton stressed that his com-
mitment isn't a black versus white
dichotomy. He aims to eliminate
biases, even implicit ones, toward
any group of individuals.
As an African American and a
law enforcement official, Clayton
brings a unique perspective to the
conversation. He recalls growing
up in the South with family mem-
bers who had felt the acute sting
of racial prejudice.
"I grew up with a grandfa-
ther telling me stories about the
marches he went on and about
how law enforcement used to sic
dogs on them," Clayton said. "In
some ways, I'm in a profession
that my grandfather did not have
any love for. I think change comes
in many different ways. You can
be an external force for change or
an internal force for change."
Clayton added: "I representlaw
enforcement, but I also represent
a community that has felt target-
ed by law enforcement at times."
The participants at the Race
and the Legal System have con-
versations that run the gamut
from academic study of racial
disparity, to legal expertise, to
law enforcement experience.
A former inmate who has been
through the system will also
discuss his experiences. Clay-
ton feels that conversations with
people from a multitude of per-
spectives can lead to positive
change.
"Sometimes you can't see
what you needto change if you're
right in the middle of it," Clayton
said. "I know I have blind spots,
I know they have blind spots.
Hopefully they can light some of
the blind spots that I have."
Awkward family photos.
The 'Downton' empire
might soon crumble
By GRACE PROSNIEWSKI
For the Daily
This season, "Downton
Abbey" became a certifiable
empire. Season three saw soar-
ing worldwide viewership, doz-
ens of nominations and awards
and an abundance of merchan-
dise. It seems like everyone's
obsessed with the Crawleys and
for good reason. "Downton" is
beautifully shot, impeccably
acted and deals with themes
relevant to modern audiences.
However, I must admit I'm
afraid for season four as "Down-
ton" might reach an uninten-
tional level of meta: an empire in
decline.
Spoiler alert! Since Ameri-
can audiences have now caught
up to British viewers (seriously
though, the Internet, check
it out), we all know about the
untimely deaths of Sybil and
Matthew Crawley. My gut
reaction, as I assume was the
case with many of my fellow
"Downton"-ers, was to hatch a
plan to travel to England, kidnap
Julian Fellowes and force him to
write an alternative script.
Others may be thinking, "So
what? Characters get killed off
all the time." That's true. But
death, just like any other plot
device, should be purposeful.
And these two deaths, specifi-
cally Matthew's, seem artificial.
I mean, really, how many times
is a Crawley going to die after
viewing their newborn child?
The characters, and the fans,
deserve better than that.
What's maddening here is
that there's so much left undone.
I wanted to see more about Mat-
thew and Robert's disagree-
ments
estate:
to rais
classes
take a
drama
In a
and Sy
conflic
throug
the m
into th
and Sy
cal tha
and ec'
most re
tion cI
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that cr
betwee
made
today's
L(
tc
kip
But;
pletely
(Matth
Brown
wanted
many
getting
cially i
But
way to
"Down
the line
opera
regaini
it have
on the running of the simply write them out? Maybe
and how Sybil would react Matthew receives a position in a
ing her child in between colony. Maybe Sybil couldn't get
Their deaths seem to safe passage to England and had
way more intrigue and to remain in Ireland. I'm not say-
than they provide. ing these are great alternatives,
sense, killing Matthew and they're certainly not situa-
ybil eliminates the class tions that could last forever, but at
t, a major driving theme least they could buy some time for
hout the series. Matthew, more fitting conclusions.
fiddle-class heir thrust Or, maybe, replace the actors. I
e life of a country lord, didn'topenlyweep whenDan Ste-
bil, the upper-class radi- vens left. I wept because Matthew
t chooses a life culturally died. In the end, Icare more about
onomically foreign to her, the characters than the actors. Of
epresent the new genera- course it would take some get-
hallenging the old ways. ting used to, but whatever origi-
ut them, "Downton" loses nal intent Fellowes had for these
itical conflict and balance characters would have been infi-
'n past and present that nitely more satisfying.
the show so relatable to Fans have watched these rela-
political situation. tionships develop for years, with
all the ups and downs, from the
dining room to the garage. We're
invested in these characters and
et 's all band in these relationships. Mary
)gether and belongs with Matthew, just like
Branson belongs with Sybil. I
d nap Julian have no interest in seeing them
"move on," because the past three
Fellowes. seasons have shown me they
aren't supposed to.
I have no idea what to expect in
season four. Maybe it will be the
Julian Fellowes isn't com- best yet, but I doubt it. Of course,
to blame. Dan Stevens there are other brilliant charac-
ew Crawley) and Jessica ters, but I'm just not sure how long
Findlay (Sybil Crawley) the sassiness of Mrs. Hughes and
I out. Writers only have so the Dowager Countess can carry
options when it comes to the show. It's cool Bates and Anna
rid of characters, espe- are finallytogether, but their rela-
ntegral ones. tionship isn't all that rousing. And
is death really the only Edith's situation is interesting
deal with losing an actor? enough, but there's no history to
ton" has always blurred it. Newcomer Rose grew on me,
e between drama and soap but she's not truly a part of the
(like Matthew suddenly "Downton" world. And honestly,
ng use of his legs). Would if Edna comes back, I will not be
really been a stretch to held responsible for my actions.
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