March 3, 1998 Contact Gaye Vandermyn (541) 346-3133 EUGENE--Designed as an opportunity to reflect on the myriad of challenges facing law teachers of color, as well as the many contributions of the faculty who were pioneers at their institutions, the University of Oregon School of Law will host the Sixth Annual Western Law Teachers of Color Conference March 6-8 at Salishan Resort on the Central Oregon coast. The UO law school is hosting the event with support from California Western School of Law, Seattle University School of Law, University of California-Hastings College of Law and Willamette University College of Law. Approximately 50 faculty of color from 30 western law schools are expected to attend. "The UO law school was asked to host this year's conference in large part due to its commitment to hiring faculty of color," says UO law professor Steven Bender who is a member of the event's planning committee. "Out of approximately 30 faculty, the UO law school has six tenured and tenure-track faculty of color including our dean, which ranks us well above average for institutions of our size." The theme of this year's conference, "Generations," will be explored by panels of speakers addressing the areas of activism, scholarship and teaching. "We want to consider the lessons, insights and perspectives that members of different generations of law teachers of color may bring to the table," says Bender. "Some of these lessons have been forged in hard-fought battles that were linked to the bigger-picture struggles for social justice, while other insights have arisen within the confines of law school facilities and student bodies." A current issue facing faculty of color is affirmative action. Successful challenges to affirmative action efforts at institutions, including the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Texas, have resulted in decreases in minority enrollment at those law schools. "If you're reducing the pool of qualified candidates, it doesn't bode well for increasing or even maintaining current levels of faculty of color at law schools," says Bender. In work-in-progress sessions, this year's conference also will give faculty an opportunity to present their ideas to a sympathetic, yet critical group of scholars who can offer valuable suggestions and perspectives. -30- #P-4067/OrDailies,OrLaw, Special