First Amendment Congress to focus on post-9-11 freedom
By The Associated Press
10.12.02
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EDMOND, Okla. — A two-day conference next month will focus on how First Amendment freedoms have been affected since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
FOI Oklahoma Inc.'s fourth annual First Amendment Congress — "9-11: Freedom in the Balance" — will be held Nov. 7-8 at the University of Central Oklahoma.
After the attacks, selected government information was restricted because of security risks. Government officials met in closed meetings. Questions to be addressed at the conference include: Are Americans safer? Do the new powers given to domestic law enforcement hinder freedom of expression?
Paul K. McMasters, First Amendment Center ombudsman at the Freedom Forum's headquarters in Arlington Va., will address the state of First Amendment freedoms in America since Sept. 11, 2001. The First Amendment Center, based in Nashville, Tenn., has offices in Arlington.
The conference starts Nov. 7 with an educational program dedicated to students and educators. Prizes will be awarded to student winners of an essay contest.
The first day ends with a joint session for educators, students and professionals, featuring Ken Paulson, executive director of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, as the keynote speaker. Paulson uses music and humor to shed light on First Amendment issues.
Richard Marquise, former special agent in charge of the FBI Oklahoma City office, will be the luncheon speaker Nov. 8.
Other speakers include Patrice McDermott, assistant director of the Office of Government Relations at the American Library Association Washington; Jennifer LaFleur, a McCormick Journalism Fellow; Dianne Smith, a journalism teacher and adviser at Alief Hastings High School in Houston; Rita Geiger, former director of social studies and foreign languages with Norman Public Schools; and Mark Thomas, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Professionals who attend can earn continuing education credit and a chance to participate in discussions about First Amendment issues related to education, government, infrastructure and transportation, libraries and the U.S Patriots Act.
FOI Oklahoma also is accepting nominations for the first Justice Marian Opala Award. The award will be presented to an Oklahoman who has promoted education about or protection of the individual rights guaranteed under the First Amendment.
Those rights include freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.
Registration fees for the conference range from $15 for the education day to $75 for both days.
FOI Oklahoma is a statewide organization that achieves its goal of education through workshops for educators, students, government officials, attorneys and the general public. The organization trains educators to teach the First Amendment in Oklahoma classrooms. It has trained more than 600 teachers.
Visit this Web site for more information, or call 405/341-3169. Nominations for the Justice Marian Opala Award may be sent to FOI Oklahoma Inc., P.O. Box 2408, Edmond, OK 73083.
