03.18.26

Ali Center partners with University of New Mexico for virtual programming reflecting on Muhammad Ali’s legal legacy

ALBUQUERQUE, NM / LOUISVILLE, KY (March 18, 2026) – The Muhammad Ali Center is announcing a new educational online program that will be presented alongside the University of New Mexico, honoring Muhammad Ali’s legacy as part of the 10^th anniversary of his passing.

The program, entitled “Outside the Ropes: What College Students Can Learn from Studying Muhammad Ali,” will offer a legal and social reflection from university students on Ali’s legacy and the United States Supreme Court case, “Clay v. United States (1971),” Ali’s appeal of his conviction after objecting to the Vietnam draft due to his religious beliefs.

This two-hour educational program will be presented virtually on March 30, 2026 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mountain Time) and will be free to attend via registration.

Since opening in 2005, the Ali Center has hosted millions of Ali fans, historians, and curious visitors from all over the world. Located in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the Ali Center works to advance Ali’s legacy through education, storytelling, and social impact initiatives that promote compassion, respect and human dignity.

For this new public education program, the Ali Center is partnering with the University of New Mexico’s political science department. This program features a speaker panel consisting of four high-achieving UNM students, who during their political science and/or pre-law undergraduate studies, specifically studied, analyzed and wrote about Muhammad Ali’s legal and social impact on our society.

The four UNM student speakers featured in this program are Alyson Campbell (Class of 2027, major in  Political Science/Economics ),  Will Martin (Class of 2025, major in political science and criminology and now currently attending UNM Law), Karina Padilla (Class of 2027, major in political science/philosophy), and Violet Webb (Class of 2026, major in strategic communication and political science).

The Ali-Center-UNM collaborative project was originally created and developed by former New Jersey Judge Lawrence Jones. Jones is presently the pre-law advisor and Visiting Lecturer at UNM, where he teaches Constitutional Law and other law-related subjects. Jones had submitted the students’ collegiate work on Ali to the Ali Center for review, resulting in the birth of the program by the Ali Center and its educational collaboration with the University of New Mexico.

Garret McCorkle, the Ali Center’s Senior Manager of Education and Programs, said, “It is truly incredible how impactful Muhammad Ali’s legacy has remained. This is just one of the many ways we hope to engage a new generation in Muhammad Ali’s life and legacy. I hope students all over the world can learn from Muhammad Ali’s commitment to service and humanitarianism.”

Jones reflected, “It is a true honor to bridge together University of New Mexico and the Ali Center in producing this special national educational program collaboration, on the 10^th anniversary year of Muhammad Ali’s passing.  The University of New Mexico is extremely proud of our four student panelists, whose hard work and energetic drive as young adults and members of a new generation   have led them onto this national stage to publicly share their thoughts and perspectives on one of the most iconic social figures in American history. All four students are future leaders, and their presentation may possibly influence other Universities, colleges, and fellow students throughout the nation to further consider the value of studying on campus the life and social journey of Muhammad Ali.”

In 1960, under his birth name of “Cassius Clay,” Ali won a gold medal representing the United States as a boxer in the Rome Olympics.  In 1964, as a 22-year-old undefeated challenger, Ali won the Heavyweight Championship of the World with a shocking upset victory over defending champion Sonny Liston.  Ali was known for his swiftness in the ring as well as his bold nature and sense of humor, making him one of the most memorable and famous athletes in the world.

Soon after winning his first heavyweight belt, Ali announced his conversion to Islam and received the new name of Muhammad Ali from the Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad. When Ali was drafted by the United States Government for the Vietnam War, Ali famously refused induction, stating “No, I will not go 10,000 miles from home to help murder and kill another poor people simply to continue the domination of white slave masters.”

The United States charged and convicted Ali of draft evasion, and Ali was stripped of his heavyweight title and boxing license. Ali used this time away from the ring continuing to speak out against the draft and advocating for civil rights and rights for underserved communities.

As Ali persevered in his battle to overturn the conviction, public opinion gradually started turning in Ali’s favor and against both the draft and the Vietnam War itself.  Ultimately, after four years, the United States Supreme Court unanimously reversed Ali’s 1967 conviction in the matter of Clay v. United States (1971).  Additionally, Ali regained his boxing license in 1970 and was permitted to begin boxing professionally again. Meanwhile, in 1973 the United States Government ended the draft, and in 1975 the United States withdrew its troops from Vietnam.

To attend the free virtual program, register at alicenter.org/outsidetheropes.

 

Media Contact:

Jami Nunez
Chair, University of New Mexico Dept. of Political Science
720.939.7885

Dustin Vogt
Senior Manager of Communications and Development, Muhammad Ali Center
dvogt@alicenter.org
502.992.5330