The referendum is in. You can find the results to the right of the screen.
The votes indicate that location was not the deciding factor in students attending UB, but students would have preferred a city location to an Amherst one, and would have much preferred a BNMC location over other city locations. So according to students, they would have been roughly equally likely to attend UB regardless of location, but surmise that they would have had more benefit and enjoyment from their law school experience at a Downtown location.
Law school need not be a cold, institutional experience. It can and should be a vibrant and independent experience providing both academic and practical knowledge, and can and should interrelate with the larger legal community which would, in theory, benefit the school and community alike. The response from the student body was a resounding approval of these ideals.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Saturday. Keep it open.
Keep a clean slate this Saturday afternoon & evening, as a Buffalo mainstay & an up-and-coming event take precedent. The Whiskerino Pageant & the Progressive Pub Crawl are on the docket.
Next Saturday, April 19th, is the First Annual Mustache Pageant. Growers will be competing for "Mustache King" along with other prizes. Some of our region-renowned Roller Girls will be present to judge, and ultimately shave the mustaches. Hair will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It takes place at Gordon's Pub (Delaware Ave--just south of Hertel). A $10 minimum donation is requested, with all proceeds going to Compass House. Please stop by if you can. The judging and pageant will take place around 7. Doors will open around 4. Keep in mind that a certain fellow Guildmember will be sporting a mustache he has dubbed "Thin Lizzy," which puts Adam Morrison (and only Adam Morrison) to shame.
& don't think that the party ends here! Ohhh, not by a long shot, Kemosabe. Wear comfortable shoes, 'cause it's gonna be a marathon.
The Progressive Pub Crawl continues its trek across Allentown. Some give it the moniker "Pub Stall" for its lack of mobility. But, when you look at the big picture, it has slowly crawled across the neighborhood lo these many months, one bar at a time. Check back for its as yet to be determined location. Good times, good drinks, good conversation, and a guarantee that Kirk will sing a sea shanty.
Next Saturday, April 19th, is the First Annual Mustache Pageant. Growers will be competing for "Mustache King" along with other prizes. Some of our region-renowned Roller Girls will be present to judge, and ultimately shave the mustaches. Hair will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. It takes place at Gordon's Pub (Delaware Ave--just south of Hertel). A $10 minimum donation is requested, with all proceeds going to Compass House. Please stop by if you can. The judging and pageant will take place around 7. Doors will open around 4. Keep in mind that a certain fellow Guildmember will be sporting a mustache he has dubbed "Thin Lizzy," which puts Adam Morrison (and only Adam Morrison) to shame.
& don't think that the party ends here! Ohhh, not by a long shot, Kemosabe. Wear comfortable shoes, 'cause it's gonna be a marathon.
The Progressive Pub Crawl continues its trek across Allentown. Some give it the moniker "Pub Stall" for its lack of mobility. But, when you look at the big picture, it has slowly crawled across the neighborhood lo these many months, one bar at a time. Check back for its as yet to be determined location. Good times, good drinks, good conversation, and a guarantee that Kirk will sing a sea shanty.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Law School Relocation Resolution Forum & Referendum
To date, no group of law students and/or faculty have had any involvement in the UB2020 process. Last week, the Student Bar Association passed a resolution expressing support for student involvement in the planning process. SBA members were reluctant to support resolutions supporting a move of the law school to within the city limits or to Downtown, at least until the student body has a chance to voice their opinion. There will be an opportunity to voice opinions on April 10th at 4 Pm in O'Brian 106, at a forum designed to hash out the issues related to the move. A referendum will be held April 16th & 17th (during SBA Executive Board elections) to determine that opinion. Current law students should most certainly vote on the E-Board elections, in addition to voting on the Law School Relocation Referendum.
The three apparent possible destinations would be Downtown (BNMC, CBD, etc.), South Campus (as part of a shift of UB's graduate programs to that campus), or to North Campus' Center for Tomorrow parking lot. It seems likely that O'Brian Hall is out, and will become home to undergraduate studies.
North Campus is the least accessible and least physically attractive option. As part of further development on North, it would simply be a part of an expanded campus which already has the appearance of a '60s Eastern Bloc factory complex. The only benefits North provides over South and Downtown relate to a discomfort some have with an urban setting. This would include safety, a lack of access to mall shopping and chain dining, a lack of bedroom communities etc. While this may disquiet some, most law students bemoan the fact that North Campus is so divided from the Metro community.
A move to South Campus, along with a move of the majority of graduate studies at UB, would also be a positive step. The law school would retain its ability to crosslist classes & continue to facilate dual degree programs. South Campus is objectively more attractive than North, is on the trainline, is home to a more mature group of students (save the residence halls), and is incorporated into an actual neighborhood, instead of being segregated by an arterial road. There is ample space on South to build upon, including space for on-campus apartments & townhouses dedicated to graduate students. Also, contrary to popular belief, there are some habitable houses in the Heights not adjacent to pseudo-frat houses, and armed robbery is not a daily occurrence.
A Downtown location would offer a more practical approach to the law, with proximity to courts, law offices and financial institutions, as well as volunteer & non-traditional progressive opportunities. It would create a tighter bond between the law school and the greater community. It would be more attractive to prospective students. By placing the school in a highway, busline, and rail accessible central location, it would decrease travel time & have less of a net negative effect on the environment. In addition, there are the benefits that would be seen by the city, compared to the benefits now gained by an already overdeveloped Amherst. The calls against such a move center on less connection with the greater university, the possibility of a more practical & less academic approach to legal education, and a perceived lack of housing, parking, and safety. The first point may well be true, the second would remain to be seen, and as for the third, well, Bob Shibley is a smart man & I'm sure he could put something together.
Again, there will be an opportunity to voice opinions on April 10th at 4 Pm in O'Brian 106, at a forum designed to hash out the issues related to the move, and the referendum will be held April 16th & 17th. Please attend the forum if you can and vote on the referendum. Be heard. Also, feel free to comment to this post.
Steve Marshall, UB JD Candidate '09
The three apparent possible destinations would be Downtown (BNMC, CBD, etc.), South Campus (as part of a shift of UB's graduate programs to that campus), or to North Campus' Center for Tomorrow parking lot. It seems likely that O'Brian Hall is out, and will become home to undergraduate studies.
North Campus is the least accessible and least physically attractive option. As part of further development on North, it would simply be a part of an expanded campus which already has the appearance of a '60s Eastern Bloc factory complex. The only benefits North provides over South and Downtown relate to a discomfort some have with an urban setting. This would include safety, a lack of access to mall shopping and chain dining, a lack of bedroom communities etc. While this may disquiet some, most law students bemoan the fact that North Campus is so divided from the Metro community.
A move to South Campus, along with a move of the majority of graduate studies at UB, would also be a positive step. The law school would retain its ability to crosslist classes & continue to facilate dual degree programs. South Campus is objectively more attractive than North, is on the trainline, is home to a more mature group of students (save the residence halls), and is incorporated into an actual neighborhood, instead of being segregated by an arterial road. There is ample space on South to build upon, including space for on-campus apartments & townhouses dedicated to graduate students. Also, contrary to popular belief, there are some habitable houses in the Heights not adjacent to pseudo-frat houses, and armed robbery is not a daily occurrence.
A Downtown location would offer a more practical approach to the law, with proximity to courts, law offices and financial institutions, as well as volunteer & non-traditional progressive opportunities. It would create a tighter bond between the law school and the greater community. It would be more attractive to prospective students. By placing the school in a highway, busline, and rail accessible central location, it would decrease travel time & have less of a net negative effect on the environment. In addition, there are the benefits that would be seen by the city, compared to the benefits now gained by an already overdeveloped Amherst. The calls against such a move center on less connection with the greater university, the possibility of a more practical & less academic approach to legal education, and a perceived lack of housing, parking, and safety. The first point may well be true, the second would remain to be seen, and as for the third, well, Bob Shibley is a smart man & I'm sure he could put something together.
Again, there will be an opportunity to voice opinions on April 10th at 4 Pm in O'Brian 106, at a forum designed to hash out the issues related to the move, and the referendum will be held April 16th & 17th. Please attend the forum if you can and vote on the referendum. Be heard. Also, feel free to comment to this post.
Steve Marshall, UB JD Candidate '09
Legal Obervation Training
Legal Observation Training with Charlie Cobb on April 26th at 281 Grant St.
This Legal Observation training is designed to teach law students, lawyers and other interested individuals how to observe people expressing political views in a way that protects and ensures their constitutional rights. The Guild is known for its visible presence of legal observers at large marches and protests (Guild Legal Observers often wear a neon green hat). Charlie Cobb, former director of the WNY Peace Center, graduate of UB and current attorney at Cantor, Lukasik, Dolce and Panepinto, will lead this 2 hour training at the Massachusetts Ave. Project at 281 Grant St. Food and drink will be provided.
This Legal Observation training is designed to teach law students, lawyers and other interested individuals how to observe people expressing political views in a way that protects and ensures their constitutional rights. The Guild is known for its visible presence of legal observers at large marches and protests (Guild Legal Observers often wear a neon green hat). Charlie Cobb, former director of the WNY Peace Center, graduate of UB and current attorney at Cantor, Lukasik, Dolce and Panepinto, will lead this 2 hour training at the Massachusetts Ave. Project at 281 Grant St. Food and drink will be provided.
Mr. Cobb will cover legal observation at mass protests -- such as those that will take place at the Republican National Convention this summer-- and observation at smaller, more local events. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to ublg@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Join the National Lawyers Guild
For 15 bucks, students can become a part of a national network of progressive public interest lawyers, law students and legal workers. Your membership gets you several great newsletters, email updates (if you wish), a very handy directory of all NLG members, and membership in the Buffalo city chapter
There is a sliding scale membership fees for attorneys and non-students. If you are an attorney, your fee gets you listed in the directory. Join online at www.nlg.org.
There is a sliding scale membership fees for attorneys and non-students. If you are an attorney, your fee gets you listed in the directory. Join online at www.nlg.org.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Meet & Greet a Hit!
It's true. The Meet & Greet was no one hit wonder. This year's event was bigger & better than the last's, as hard as that may be to believe. Turnout from lawyers, political figures, community members, and law students was simply tremendous. An anonymous bemulleted gentleman circulated through the room, adding an air of mystery that truly capped the evening. Plans for the 3rd annual Meet & Greet are already in the works, but as our defining event of the year, it demands a bigger space, more food, more drink, more mullets etc. We've set the bar high, but a new era for the Guild demands a new look for the Meet & Greet.
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