Syracuse Sun

Human rights expert James Waller is set to deliver the 2025 Atrocity Studies Lecture at Syracuse University. The lecture, titled “Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Mass Atrocity,” will take place on March 20 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Bird Library’s Peter Graham Scholarly Commons and will also be available online.

Waller will draw insights from his book, “Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing.” He will discuss factors that can lead ordinary individuals to commit mass atrocities, emphasizing that no nation is immune to such crimes. This understanding, he argues, is crucial for preventing future atrocities.

The following day, March 21, Waller will conduct a Genocide Prevention Workshop in Huntington Hall as part of events marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The workshop aims to analyze modern genocide and explore strategies for prevention during different stages of atrocity.

James Waller holds the Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practice at the University of Connecticut and directs the Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs. His other works include “Confronting Evil” and “A Troubled Sleep.”

Additional events on March 21 include an exhibition by Joiri Minaya at the Syracuse University Art Museum and a book talk by Sherri Williams on Black Twitter's impact on television. Various open houses related to human rights are also scheduled across campus.

The annual Atrocity Studies Lecture is supported by Lauri ’77 and Jeffrey Zell ’77 and co-sponsored by several Syracuse University departments including psychology, history, political science, sociology, and international relations.