Health and Wellness: New resource for students

The Pastoral Care Office at Albany Medical Center (AMC) has extended an invitation to the Albany Law School community to use their prayer/meditation facilities.   The Marcelle Chapel is open 24 hours for quiet reflection and prayer. Located: in Building D (on the 1st. floor of Albany Medical Center) –a 2 minute walk from campus 
This is a security monitored space (open 7 days per week).   

Diversity in the Judiciary: Expanding the Pipeline

The Diversity Office in collaboration with three local bar associations CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND a roundtable discussion on: DIVERSITY IN THE JUDICIARY: EXPANDING THE PIPELINE

DATE:  TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009
TIME: Lite Fare Reception: from 5:15pm – 6pm
PANEL: 6pm – 7:30pm
PLACE: NYS Bar Association, Great Hall, One Elk Street, Albany

DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS:
HON. CARMEN BEAUCHAMP CIPARICK, NYS Court of Appeals, Senior Associate Judge
HON. THEODORE JONES, NYS Court of Appeals, Associate Judge
HON. LESLIE STEIN, NYS Supreme Court Justice, Appellate Division, Third Dept.
HON. HELENA HEATH-ROLAND, Albany City Court Judge   
    
In this annual roundtable discussion, the panelists will discuss their path to the judiciary, how having gender and racial diversity on the bench impacts and improves our justice system, and ways to expand the pipeline to increase diversity in the legal profession and judiciary.

This is a great Networking event!   Over 40 members of the state and local bar associations will be in attendance!

RSVP to: Albany Law  School alumni: Ricja Rice, Esq.  ricjanyc@yahoo.com OR Kate McGuirl, Esq. katemcguirl@yahoo.com

For more details view FLYER

Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman, NYS Court of Appeals delivers the Welcome Address

Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman meets with the new President of the NYSBA

Director of Diversity Pershia Wilkins, Kate McGuirl, ‘04, Judge Kretzer and Molly Breslin, ‘09

Presentations by panelists

Moderator: Alumna Ricja Rice, ‘03 addresses attendees

Alumna Kate McGuirl, ‘04 introduces distinquished panelists

Panelist: l-r: The Honorable: Helena Heath-Roland, Leslie Stein, Theodore T. Jones and Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick. Moderator: Matthew Kelly, Esq.

New York State of Appeal Justice Smith and his colleagues on the Bench join us at the Reception

February is Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual observance in February, celebrating the past and present achievements of African Americans. Before the establishment of Black History Month, Black history had been largely left out of the history books.  In February 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, proposed the establishment of “Negro History Week”, this week encouraged Americans to learn about a rich history they could not read about in mainstream books. Dr. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History”, chose the second week of February because it commemorates the birthdays of two men who greatly affected the African American community: Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). Negro History Week became Black History Week in the early 1970’s. 

“We the People” Competition 2009

On Saturday, January 31, 2009, Albany Law School hosted the annual “We the People” regional competition. We the People is a classroom instructional program aimed at enhancing students’ understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. The primary goal of this program is to promote civic competence and responsibility among the nation’s elementary and secondary students. Each year high school We the People classes are invited to participate in the We the People State Competition. The competition is a simulated congressional hearing in which students “testify” before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues.

Teams: Hamilton, Locke, and Jefferson competed in the regional competition, representing: New Visions Law & Government class, Shenendehowa High School East, and Clarkstown High School South. Albany Law School students  (who also judged competition along with other volunteers) were on hand during lunch to provide insight into their academic experiences, as well as to answer any student questions. At the award ceremony, the New Visions Law & Government class won the competition. The winners and the second place team from Shenendehowa High School East will both go on to compete in the statewide competition. See the “We the People” program of events Click here.

 

final preparations before the competition

students “testifying” before judges

Award Ceremony

high school and law students enjoy lunch

Mary Miller presents award to Director of Diversity, Pershia Wilkins

students after award ceremony

 

Ethnic Markets & Restaurants in Albany County

For a list of  student recommended local ethnic markets and restaurants,  see below: 

This will be a historic election, no matter what the outcome

Over 130 million Americans are expected to the polls in record numbers on November 4th, election officials have predicted.  In preparation for the election, a total of eleven student groups collaborated to bring renowned experts from across the nation to speak at this special event under the guidance of Professor Maria Grahn-Farley.  The symposium was also co-sponsored by the Diversity Office.  On October 30, three panels discussed issues ranging from: Race, Immigration, and Foreign Policy; Religion, Privacy, and the Constitution; to Health Care, Individual Autonomy and Fundamental Rights.   The evening was capped off by a Debate on Energy Policies and the Economy by representatives from the John McCain and Barack Obama Campaigns, it was moderated by the President & CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, Alan Chartock.  You can view the results of the election HERE.

If you missed any of the panel discussions, you can read all about them at Albany Government Law Review’s blog, titled Fireplace, HERE.

Or, you can listen to the podcasts of each of the panels HERE.

View the brochure, flyer, and photo gallery below:

ELECTION SYMPOSIUM BROCHURE

ELECTION SYMPOSIUM FLYER

Children’s Rights

 The Amnesty International Chapter of Albany Law School hosted a symposium entitled “Lost Childhood: Child Soldiers, Trafficked Children, and Child Rights” on Friday, February 1, 2008. (This event was co-sponsored by the Albany Law School Diversity Office and the Faculty Diveristy Committee)

Room 200 was filled but if you missed it, go to: http://podcasts.classcaster.org/blog/event_podcasts/2008/02/01/childrens_rights_symposium  to listen to the panel discussions.

It was also covered by the TU.  Click HERE to read about it.

Kudos to Andrea Shaw, Pershia Wilkins  and Allegra Edelman for organizing such an important event!

Welcome

Welcome to  the Albany Law School Diversity Blog!!