As we approach the end of what was a very busy first week of classes, there are still things to do on campus to engage both intellect and creativity with social justice and environmental concerns in mind.  

On Friday evening, the screening of the documentary “Texas Justice: Brandon Woodruff” will feature a Q&A with co-producers Richard Ray and Scott Poggensee following the film. The documentary takes a hard-hitting look at the capital murder case of Brandon Woodruff, who was charged with murdering his parents in October 2005, while a 19-year-old freshman at Abilene Christian University. After three years of awaiting trial in jail, Woodruff finally went to court in northeast Texas. The prosecution essentially posited that Woodruff, who is gay and had not come out publicly, was living a double life: if he could “lie about something small like his sexuality, then he can lie about something big” (like killing his parents). On March 20, 2009, the jury convicted Woodruff after only five hours of deliberation. This documentary exposes the gay bias that went on from the investigation all the way through the trial. 

The screening will be held at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26, in the Wilhelmina Cullen Robertson Auditorium on the third floor of the Academic Building. This event is free, but reserved tickets are required as seats are limited. Paid parking is available in the UHD Visitor Parking section of the Welcome Center Garage (201 Girard Street, Houston, TX 77002) and also in the paid lot across the street on Girard (lot 47802 in your ParkMobile app). 

Join us on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. for a Reception and Artist's Talk  for the visual art exhibition “Suzette Mouchaty: How to Talk to a Nudibranch (and some other things worth knowing)” in the Tami & Mark Mallett Grand Lobby of the College of Sciences & Technology building. Artist-scientist Mouchaty, Adjunct Lecturer in UHD’s Department of Natural Sciences, creates large-scale sculptures of marine animals—real and imagined—at the intersection of art and science, encouraging viewers to reflect on the natural world and re-imagine the future as communities grapple with climate change.

At UHD, there is always opportunity for engagement, so as the week winds down, take advantage of these two very different events to connect and be inspired.