Health Law Week is November 7-12, 2009

Albany Law School’s Health Law Society and the Office of Student Affairs has received a grant for the maximum amount from the American Bar Association Law Student Division.   Health Law week is co-sponsored by the Health Law Society and Office of Student Affairs.  

VISIT: http://www.albanylaw.edu/sub.php?navigation_id=1782 to view an updated schedule of programs during the week along with a list of speakers and co-sponsors.  This week’s events is open to the public. 

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October was National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  THANK YOU Albany Law School community for donating money and/or time to a group that assists survivors.  If you or someone you know is trying to make life changes,  –help is available (we care about YOU).   Throughout the year we remain aware of this violence,  we also remember the child victims (and survivors) who are witnesses to this violence in their homes:  Click HERE to hear their little voices, and lets never forget them, click above to see how their lives are affected.  We have to continue the fight to keep our children safe, for them to have a peaceful, fear free childhood.   Below is a list of organizations doing good work: 

Albany Law School’s Campus Response to Stop Abuse Against Women Campaign is in place to support you:  Click Here to learn more about our local Albany partners ready to assist you today, with whatever decision you chose.  Hard copies of our “Stop Abuse Against Women” brochures are located in restrooms on-campus and at the two security stations.

For Immediate Assistance & for a supportive ear:
N.Y.S. Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence www.opdv.state.ny.us.  If your partner is threatening or hurting you or your children, you are not alone!  Call toll-free (800) 942-6906.  NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline, 24 Hours/7 Days a Week.    

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Toll free: (800)799-7233: Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, this line is a resource for safety information and can connect any caller with shelters and protection advocates in your area.

Vine (www.vinelink.com): Active in 47 states, vinelink.com allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender has been released or transferred, or has escaped.

Women’s Law (www.womenslaw.org): This site has state-by-state legal information and resources for victims, as well as advice on how to leave an abusive situation, gather evidence of abuse, and prepare for court.

Medical and Financial Resources:
Face to Face (800)842-4546 Toll Free: This program provides free plastic and reconstructive surgery to victims who have sustained injuries to the face, head, and/or neck.

Give Back a Smile (800)773-4227: Front teeth damaged by a violent partner or spouse are repaired pro bono.

Amy’s Courage Fund (www.nnedv.org/projects): The fund gives emergency financial assistance to women trying to escape a domestic abuse situation. Grants are available for up to $2,000.

Education and Job Training Assistance Fund (www.nnedv.org/projects): Grants from the Allstate Foundation help domestic violence victims enter and stay in the workforce. The money (up to $1,000) can be used for classes, clothes, computers, and other resources.

Turning Point, For Women and Families: Click HERE

Albany Law’s presence at The Link, Inc., Cookin’ With Jazz XII Event

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, six third-year Albany Law students, two alumni, the Director of Diversity and Professor Stephen Gottlieb  and his wife were joined by Mrs. Eleanor Baker, who is a lifelong Links member and wife of the late John T. Baker, Albany Law School’s first African-American Dean & President and a Professor Emeritus)  were among the over 200 people to attend the Albany District Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Event:  Cookin’ With Jazz XII “From Jazz to Swing” at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Albany.  Proceeds raised at this women’s run event will benefit The Links, Foundation, Inc. in support of Albany District Links’ signature service program, “Believers and Achievers”, and charitable programs throughout the Greater Capital Regions.   

An Albany Law’s alumnus were among the 30+ Gourmet Chefs to serve tasty food from over 15 countries.  As we enjoyed the delicious dishes, we listened to the sweet smoky sounds of Jazz and watched Swing dancing demonstrations.  One of our students, Patrick Harkins, ‘10 accepted the challenge of dancing with the professional instructor (see photo below).  The evening wrapped up with the naming of prizes for their fundraiser raffle of great items.   A Very Special Thanks for the generousity of  one of our own, a Links member:  Professor Lenese Herbert  –who brought this great event to our attention and sponsored our students.  THANK YOU to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Susan Feathers in supporting this event, co-sponsoring students and encouraging attendance and participation.    Photo Gallery:

Director of Diversity, Pershia Wilkins is joined by Albany Law students.

Ali Chaudhry, ‘10 & Jillian Kasow, ‘10 enjoys the food served by 30 Gourmet Chefs.

Our own Patrick Harkins, ‘10 takes the dance floor with a professional Swing dancer.

Attendees enjoy the sounds of Jazz and Swing music.

Professor Gottlieb and his wife greets Links member Mrs. Eleanor Baker, wife of John T. Baker, Albany Law School’s First African-American Dean & President.

Albany Law Holds Vigil for Domestic Violence Awareness

Albany Law School students, faculty, staff and friends held an evening vigil in front of the law school in remembrance of victims of domestic violence on Oct. 14.   To promote National Domestic Violence Awareness Month on our campus, The Domestic Violence Clinic, the Women’s Law Caucus and the Albany Law Task Force to Reduce Domestic & Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking worked together to make this event a success.  To view a purple light Albany Law in support of DV, Click Here 

The vigil began with remarks from Ms. Karla DiGirolamo of Unity House, followed by the lighting of candles and illumination of the law school’s historic 1928 Building with purple lights as part of the statewide “Shine the Light on Domestic Violence” campaign. Barbara Chandler, a paralegal in the Law Clinic & Justice Center, also performed a rousing rendition of “I Believe I Can Fly.”   A reception followed in the East Foyer.

Albany Law students, and faculty have been working since 1993 with local courts, agencies, government and nonprofit agencies, task forces and coalitions on new initiatives related to domestic violence. This semester alone, students are working in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady assisting in the prosecution of domestic violence crimes.  This event was sponsored by Grant No. 2007-WA-AX-0011 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

Prof. Finkelman Helps Overturn Century-Old Murder Conviction

Professor Paul Finkelman made national headlines for his role in securing a posthumous pardon for Thomas and Meeks Griffin, who were wrongly convicted of a controversial murder nearly 100 years ago. 

See NBC Nightly News for video.

Their great-nephew, syndicated talk show host Tom Joyner, learned about their existence—and their conviction—two years ago while watching the PBS documentary “African American Lives 2,” 

Schedule of Events -National DV Awareness Month

To promote National Domestic Violence Awareness Month on our campus, The Domestic Violence Clinic, the Women’s Law Caucus and the Albany Law Task Force to Reduce Domestic & Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking have joined together to organize the following:

Obama wins 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize today, Friday, October 9th.   Obama became the third sitting U.S. president to receive this prestigious award and the fourth overall. He was praised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, “For his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”.   The Nobel recipient  receives a prize of  about $1.4 million.   For more details, see www.cnn.com 

President Obama at 11:19am today said: “I will accept this award as a call of action…”  Read the entire speech: Click HERE from the Whitehouse’s Office of the Press Secretary.

Cultural Competency Training (4 hour session)

Albany Law School, the Medical Society of New York, and the NYS Office of Mental Health will co- sponsor a FREE “Cultural Competence Training”  on Saturday, November 7, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at Albany Law School, in the East Wing Classroom (Building 1928).  We invite you to participate in this interactive training that is designed to encourage an open dialogue related to culture, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs and practices and the implications for working effectively in cross cultural situations. 

The Office of Student Affairs and Diversity Office will co-sponsor a coffee break during this training.   

We encourage faculty, staff and students interested in gaining information on cultural and lingistic competence in the context of health care to attend this program.    See below link for the Registration Form.  We still have seats available, register TODAY!

Cultural Competency Flyer HERE          Registration Form HERE

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”  Anais Nin

Albany Law selected to host a Viewing Party to celebrate Justice Sonya Sotomayor’s recent appointment

Albany Law School has been selected by NYS Governor David Paterson’s 

office to host a viewing party to celebrate the historical significance of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor’s recent appointment. The event will be held in New York City at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24, and Albany Law has been selected as the sole Capital Region’s viewing party location.

 

The live webcast, will feature remarks by New York State Governor David Paterson, Justice Sotomayor and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It will be screened on our campus in the Dean Alexander Moot Courtroom (via Webcast).   The event will be viewed in law schools across the state. Date: Thursday, September 24,  From: 6PM – 7PM 

U.S. President Obama Visits the Capital Region Today, September 21, 2009

President Barack Obama acknowledged two Albany Law School graduates, N.Y. State Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson ‘91 and the state’s Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ‘82 at the beginning of his remarks earlier today at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy, N.Y.   Photo gallery from HVCC today, Here.

A script of the President’s speech, from www.whitehouse.gov, HERE.
Hudson Valley Community College, Fall 2009 –Fact Sheet, HERE.

 President Obama visited HVCC today to talk about education, workforce development, and technology-based economic development, especially in the area of clean energy. The invitation-only crowd was limited to approximately 200 people, including elected officials, business leaders, reporters and 60 HVCC students.