Karen J. Greenberg speaks to students

The U.S. policy on torture of political prisoners was the topic of discussion on September 17 as the University observed Constitution Day with a lecture by Karen J. Greenberg, executive director of the Center for Law and Security at New York University School of Law.

Speaking to a standing-room only audience of students in the Cheng Library Auditorium, Greenberg, who has written several books on the topic, outlined the progression of recent torture of prisoners from Abu Ghraib in 2004 to present-day incidents at Guantanamo Bay.

“The Geneva Convention states that torture is illegal,” Greenberg said. “My message to you is that you cannot close your eyes to this. You are the people who can have a voice by asking what the next step is to prevent torture.”

The program was sponsored by the University’s American Democracy Project ADP,part of a nationwide initiative coordinated by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) that seeks to increase civic engagement among American students attending public colleges and universities.