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