In December 1965, with growing dialogue and stress on the subject matter of civil legal rights in the region, the university hosted a debate on the subject matter between conservative author and commentator William F. Buckley Jr. and liberal African American journalist Louis Lomax. July 1, 2008 - Ebony Whitaker, an African American trans female, was shot and killed in Memphis. February 4, 2008 - Ashley Sweeney, a trans lady, was shot in the head.