OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY IS CO-SPONSOR OF PRISONS CONFERENCE OCT. 24-26

"The Celling of a Nation: Prisons in American Culture," a regional conference on penal institutions, will be held Oct. 24-26 at Old Dominion, Regent and Norfolk State universities.

Dates, locations and speakers include:

1-6 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24, L. Douglas Wilder Center, Norfolk State University
David Borden, executive director of the Drug Reform Coordination Network, will address the consequences and discrimination involved in the drug war; Steve Silverman, director of campus activities, will address the repercussions of the Higher Education Act of 1998.
David Nason, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu Jamal, will speak, as will a speaker from International Bannister Association.
Kamal Marcharia, The Prison Moratorium Project, will discuss a moratorium on prison building and the effects of private prisons.
Several hip hop artists, both local and regional, will entertain with political messages.

7-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25, Library Auditorium, Regent University
Michael R. Smith, chairman of Regent University's School of Journalism, will show a scene from the Clint Eastwood film, "True Crimes" and discuss with Bill Sizemore, John Hopkins and Bill Burke, journalists from The Virginian-Pilot, newspaper coverage of inmates and prisons and how to improve it.
Dennis Bounds, Regent University film professor, will analyze Hollywood's view of prison life.
Former prisoners will discuss how the media representations of prisons compare to real life.

12:30-2:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26
Hampton/Newport News Room, Webb University Center, Old Dominion University
Barbara Zahm, documentary film director, will show and discuss her award-winning film, "The Last Graduation," which documents the closing of the college prison education program at Marist College in New York.
Lou Lombardo, Old Dominion criminal justice professor, will discuss alternatives to prisons during his lecture, "Alternative Futures for Prisons Toward the Year 2010."

The conference is free and open to the public. A small donation will be requested for events at NSU=s Wilder Center to help cover the cost of musical groups.

Shuttles will leave the Webb University Center loading dock for Norfolk State and return at 20 minutes after the hour. A bus will be available Oct. 25 to transport Old Dominion students to Regent.

For more information, call John Kitterman at 823-8891 or Lombardo at 683-3800.