New and Noteworthy

On this page you will find a listing of news, stories, and updates about The Baldy Center's activities, initiatives and the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students.

Spotlight

The Baldy Center Directors
7/8/24
Please join us in congratulating Samantha Barbas on her new faculty position at the University of Iowa School of Law. As Samantha moves on, we welcome Matthew Dimick, Professor in the School of Law, as The Baldy Center’s new director.
NY Historical Society features Samantha Barbas on NYT v. Sullivan at 60
3/15/24
In conjunction with Civics Week, the New-York Historical Society features the talk by Samantha Barbas, with Randall Kennedy as moderator. Titled, "Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press: New York Times Co. v. Sullivan at 60," the annual Ann and Andrew Tisch Supreme Court Lecture, is presented in partnership with the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. Learn about event.

2023-24 Grant Recipients
7/11/23
The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy is pleased to announce the UB faculty and graduate student winners of our 2023-24 grants for conferences and research projects. The grants support academic work that advances our understanding of law, legal institutions, and social policy. The Baldy Center's grant recipient listing is here.
Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan
2/14/23
The University of California Press has announced the publication of Samantha Barbas' latest book, Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan (2023). The book is a deeply researched legal drama that documents this landmark First Amendment ruling—one that is more critical and controversial than ever. Publisher's website.
Michael Boucai joins The Baldy Center Advisory Council
12/28/22
We welcome Michael Boucai (Law) to The Baldy Center Advisory Council, 2023. This seven member council is appointed by the UB Provost and is comprised of an interdisciplinary balance of School of Law and College of Arts and Science faculty. Council members work with The Center director to develop vision, mission, and operational guidelines. Learn more about the Advisory Council.
Amanda Benzin joins The Baldy Center as assistant director
12/2/22
The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda M. Benzin as assistant director, effective November 28, 2022. Benzin graduated summa cum laude from UB with a BFA in Dance and minor in Business Administration. She holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado Boulder with concentrations in performance, choreography, women and gender studies, somatics, and pedagogy. Read more.
Elgar publishes book of essays by Charles Whalen
9/7/22
Reforming Capitalism for the Common Good, Essays in Institutional and Post-Keynesian Economics (2022 ) by Charles Whalen presents a constructive analyses of vital economic problems confronting the United States since the 1970s, giving special attention to challenges facing working families. Whalen is currently a research fellow at The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. Learn more.
Rachael Hinkle co-authors book on Supreme Court
1/4/23
Persuading the Supreme Court: The Significance of Briefs in Judicial Decision-Making, co-authored by Rachael K. Hinkle and Morgan L. W. Hazelton, aims to shed light on one of the more mysterious and consequential features of Supreme Court decision-making. Hinkle's research for the book was sponsored, in part, by a grant from The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. Faculty profile.
2022-23 Grant Recipients
9/7/22
The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy is pleased to announce the UB faculty winners of our 2022-23 grants for conferences and research projects. The grants support academic work that advances our understanding of law, legal institutions, and social policy. The listing of UB faculty grant recipients is here.

Research paper supported in part by The Baldy Center

Springer Discussion Piece: A new critical social science research agenda on pesticides

The paper (linked above) emerged from the workshop, November 2021, Global Glyphosate: New Challenges in Regulating Pervasive Chemicals in the Anthropocene, sponsored by The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy ,and the Community for Global Health Equity. Research was supported by US National Science Foundation (Grant #BCS2026088 - The Generic Herbicide Industry) and Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant #204766 - Making Herbicide Markets). Open access funding provided by University of Zurich.

Multimedia

Blog
10/27/22
The Baldy Center Blog features interdisciplinary perspectives on research and current events from interdisciplinary UB scholars whose work intersects with law, legal institutions, and social policy. New blogs are generally released twice a month during each semester.
Podcast
7/28/20
The Baldy Center Podcast highlights UB faculty research and perspectives on current issues and events. We focus on UB's interdisciplinary scholars of law, legal institutions, and social policy. This page contains the listing for each podcast episode, published since Fall 2020.
Spring 2022 Magazine
8/8/23
The Baldy Center magazine highlights recent University at Buffalo research focusing on law and social policy themes. Global research has flourished this semester with the return of faculty and students to campus, and pandemic-delayed research programs reactivated with immense productivity here in The Baldy Center.
Fall 2021 Magazine
8/8/23
Welcome to the Fall 2021 edition of The Baldy Center Magazine. As we begin the third academic year impacted by the pandemic, we in The Baldy Center are witnessing extraordinary resilience from the scholars linked to our center, who continue to advance their research focusing on critical problems in law and society.
Spring 2021 Magazine
8/8/23
Welcome to the Spring 2021 edition of The Baldy Center Magazine. The past academic year has been a challenging time for all of us, as we’ve adapted to virtual research, online engagement, and socially distanced lives.

Legacy Conferences

Leading the Way: Moving New York State Towards a Public Health & Safety Approach to Drug Policy,
5/31/24
In 2013, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, The Baldy Center and the Drug Policy Alliance hosted a two-day conference, Leading the Way: Moving New York State Towards a Public Health & Safety Approach to Drug Policy.
Thinking beyond the Nation-state: Empires, Diasporas, Indigeneity
5/11/22
In Fall 2009, The Baldy Center sponsored the day-long conference, Thinking Beyond the Nation-State: A Symposium on Empires, Diasporas, and Indigeneity. The event was organized by faculty in the UB American Studies Program, with Theresa Runstedtler, PhD, as convenor. Now, over a decade later, the event meets the criteria of a legacy conference in presenting topics that continue to be relevant today.
Beyond Jurisdiction: Wetlands Policy for the Next Generation
5/11/22
The conference, Beyond Jurisdiction: Wetlands Policy for the Next Generation, provided an opening platform for scholars and advocates from all perspectives to think about how the narrow focus of recent years has stagnated the thought and action necessary to take the next steps.
Where Now? Moving Beyond Traditional Legal Geographies
5/11/22
In the conference, Where Now? Moving Beyond Traditional Legal Geographies, participating scholars sought to expand the present intellectual boundaries of the critical legal geography project through a collaborative investigation of new themes and questions. Now, a decade later, the 2012 event is considered a legacy conference.
40 Years After the Attica Uprising: Looking Back, Moving Forward
11/11/21
The conference, 40 Years After the Attica Uprising: Looking Back, Moving Forward, held September 12 and 13, 2011, was sponsored by the University at Buffalo School of Law and The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. Teresa A. Miller organized the conference which featured presentations by experts representing various groups of stakeholders. Now, a decade later, the 2011 event is considered a legacy conference.
Implementing Truth and Reconciliation: Comparative Lessons for Korea
11/11/21
The UB School of Law hosted the international conference, Implementing Truth and Reconciliation: Comparative Lessons for Korea, on October 24, 2011. The conference brought together experts from around the globe to reflect on national experiences of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions. Co-sponsored by The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy, the Asian Studies Program, and the Buffalo Human Rights Center, the conference offered lessons on the TRC process in South Korea. Now, a decade later, the 2011 event is considered a legacy conference.
Hydrofracking: Exploring the Legal Issues in the Context of Politics, Science & Economy, 2011
11/11/21
The conference, Hydrofracking: Exploring the Legal Issues in the Context of Politics, Science and the Economy, was held March 28-29, 2011, sponsored by the University at Buffalo School of Law and The Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. Horizontal gas drilling involving hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking or fracking, and its potential effects are important environmental and energy concerns for the nation. This conference provided an opportunity for a scholarly exchange of ideas as well as a forum for community discussion. Now, a decade later, the 2011 event is considered a legacy conference.