CANTON -- A town hall meeting featuring St. Lawrence University students and faculty as well as a North Country Public Radio journalist and guest speakers will discuss the social, economic and political roles prisons play in the state of New York.

“How do we talk about prisons in New York State?” will take place at 7 p.m. on April 3 at St. Lawrence’s Noble Center, room 109.

Savannah Crowley ’14 and Allison Paludi ’14, both global studies majors and members of Amnesty International, will introduce a panel that includes Natasha Haverty, journalist and producer of NCPR’s “Prison Time Media Project;” the Rev. David Van Epps, retired chaplain at the Ogdensburg Correctional Facility; and Lauren Melodia, campaign organizer for Milk Not Jails, a volunteer-run, grassroots campaign that aims to build urban-rural alliances in New York State. Mary Jane Smith, St. Lawrence associate professor of history, will moderate the discussion, with time set aside for comments and questions.

For more information, email mmsm1@stlawu.edu, smcrow10@stlawu.edu or ctedford@stlawu.edu.