Cafecitas and Conversations

Join American Constitution Society at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney for a networking event featuring over 20 attorneys across multiple practice areas, including civil rights and immigration. We will be partnering with Hispanic Law Society and Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Networking event featuring more than twenty attorneys from a wide range of practice areas, including civil rights and immigration. The program will be co-hosted in partnership with the Hispanic Law Society and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society to foster cross-interest connections and mentorship opportunities for students.

First Things First: A Discussion on the First Amendment, the Right to Protest, & the Rule of Law

The rights protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are essential for the proper functioning of a responsive democracy. Too frequently, the First Amendment’s core freedoms are ignored or weaponized to suit the political and policy priorities of those in power. The U.S. Supreme Court inconsistently applies longstanding First Amendment jurisprudence, ignoring precedents they deem inconvenient. The Administration targets those whose speech it disfavors, from law firms to private individuals. State and local governments are quick to criminalize protected protest activity to stifle dissent and chill social movements. These actions raise important questions as to whether our legal and political systems can safeguard First Amendment rights for all, or whether skewed and selective application of these freedoms will become the norm. Join ACS and NLG’s Duquesne Chapters for a discussion on the Right to Boycott , how weakened rule of law can affect the protection of these rights, and what we can do about it.

ACS - Professor Gene Nichol: Now What? How North Carolina Can Blaze a Progressive Path Forward

Professor Gene Nichol will be presenting his new book Now What? How North Carolina Can Blaze a Progressive Path Forward. In this book, Nichol examines the outcomes of the 2024 election, in which North Carolina elected a Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Despite this, North Carolina was the stronghold for President Trump, leaving North Carolina progressives looking for inspiration and a new direction. With excess political energy and no outlet, Nichol addresses those who want to continue forward, knowing the state of politics in North Carolina and the country.

First Amendment in Flux: Indirect Constraints, Institutional Power, and the Future of Free Speech

The First Amendment is often described as a cornerstone of American democracy—but today, its protections are being tested in increasingly complex and indirect ways. This panel will explore both traditional and emerging threats to free expression. Topics will include publishing and speech in regulated spaces, the use of immigration enforcement as a tool that can chill dissent, and broader governmental efforts to exert control over speech in special institutional settings such as universities. Panelists will also consider how indirect penalties, private pressures, and shifting cultural norms may undermine the theoretical foundations of free speech itself.

Together, the panelists will interrogate whether existing constitutional doctrine is sufficient to address these modern challenges and what the future of free speech protection may look like in a rapidly changing legal and political landscape.

Panelists:

  • Professor Conkle
  • Professor Tomain
  • Professor Macia

Moderator:

  • Professor Krishnan

Gallery of Heroes: A Tribute to Black Legal Pioneers

2nd Annual Gallery of Heroes: A Tribute to Black Legal Pioneers.

Join us for an inspiring exhibition and awards ceremony as we pay tribute to the extraordinary African American legal pioneers who have broken barriers, shaped history, and paved the way for future generations. This powerful celebration honors their enduring legacy and the transformative impact of their work in the pursuit of justice. 

February 17, 2026

4:00-8:00 PM

CLJ Atrium

Dinner will be provided.