The Walker Institute hosted the 11th year Barnes Symposium on Law and Morality at USC last Thursday, March 21, 2024. The Barnes Symposium has provided our campus an opportunity to engage guest speakers on matters of religion and public life. This year’s speaker was Dr. Nathan French, associate professor, from Miami University. Dr. French talk was entitled “’Undoing the Folded Lie’: Mapping Responsibilities and Memories in Law at War.” The talk examined the erosion and possible collapse of international law around the questions of civilian protection during war, a concept called responsibility to protect. Dr. French explored the corollary legal responsibility of the responsibility to rebuild and considered these questions in the light of the war in Gaza. Drawing from the testimony given in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel, Dr. French explored the apparent limits and contradictions of how questions of responsibility were being recast in light of arguments in favor of state interests rather than international responsibilities. This talk was followed by a lively question and answer period.