HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Hofstra Law School and Wright Risk Management today announced they will co-host a conference designed to help school administrators address cyberbullying issues on Friday, April 8, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Hofstra Law School. Wright Risk Management is the alternative risk program management subsidiary of WRM America, specializing in the unique exposures faced by educational, government and not-for-profit institutions.
Educators, lawyers, policymakers and mental health professionals will gather to examine current laws concerning cyberbullying and discuss intersecting issues regarding the First Amendment, school liability and criminal justice. Expert panelists in the fields of law, education, mental health, insurance and victims’ services will highlight best practices for handling instances of cyberbullying and will explore potential policy and legislative initiatives to alleviate the potentially devastating effects of cyberbullying.
“In light of recent incidents of student-to-student cyberbullying, it is more important than ever to ensure a safe environment for youth at school, in their community and online,” said Hofstra Law Dean Nora V. Demleitner. “Our conference is being held at a critical juncture, and we are excited to bring together a multidisciplinary group of experts to examine this distressing issue and generate viable solutions that will have a positive impact on the lives of young people.”
WRM America CEO William J. Fishlinger said, “Cyberbullying poses a significant threat to a school’s ability to provide a safe learning environment for its students. As this issue is on the minds of every school administrator in the country, schools must be better equipped with the skills and resources to protect their communities from the bullying that is taking place not only on the playground, but on the Web.”
Expert panelists will include:
- Deborah C. Bensinger, Associate Director of Legal Affairs, Civil Rights Division, Anti-Defamation League
- Sharon G. Elstein, Senior Research Associate, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
- William J. Fishlinger, Chief Executive Officer, WRM America
- Samantha Fredrickson, Director, New York Civil Liberties Union
- Eric M. Freedman, Maurice A. Deane Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, Hofstra Law School
- Jeremy Glicksman, Assistant District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office
- Gregg T. Johnson, Partner, Lemire & Johnson
- Eva J. Klain, Director, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
- Katie Koestner, Consultant, Campus Outreach Services
- David Little, Director of Governmental Relations, New York State School Boards Association
The cyberbullying conference will be funded in part by Hofstra Law School’s newly established Abraham J. Gross ’78 Conference and Lecture Fund. All conference events will take place at Hofstra Law School on the South Campus of Hofstra University.
The conference is open to the public. For more information about the event or to register, please visit
law.hofstra.edu/events.
Media should RSVP to Kristen McMahon at (516) 463-4252 /
Kristen.D.McMahon@hofstra.edu or Phil Denning / Will Briganti at (212) 303-7600 at Finsbury /
WRM@finsbury.com.
