OBU to Host Philosophy Forum on Criminal Justice Oct. 23

Students, faculty and staff of OBU are invited to attend a philosophy forum Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. in Bailey Business Center’s Tulsa Royalties Auditorium. The forum is titled, “Retribution & Restoration: Criminal Justice and Penal Reform.”

This forum is co-sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and the Center for Faith and Public Life. The Center for Faith and Public Life, led by Dr. Matthew Arbo, assistant professor of biblical and theological studies, provides enrichment and support for the OBU community on matters concerning faith and vocation by sponsoring a range of initiatives such as conferences, public lectures, themed panels, student and faculty workshops, book groups, funded research and writing projects for faculty, student internships, and other vocational discernment initiatives.

The forum will be moderated by Dr. Randy Ridenour, associate professor of philosophy, and the panelists will include Paul Donnelly, assistant professor of sociology; Dr. Matthew Emerson, assistant professor of religion and Dickinson Chair of Religion; and Arbo.

The panelists will discuss several important criminal justice issues that are rightly in the public eye, including the death penalty, sanctuary cities and illegal immigrants, rates of American incarceration, racial disproportionality in prison populations, and the goals/purposes of criminal justice. Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the panelists.