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.

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

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

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.

The Language Project, volunteers needed

 The Language Project engages multi-lingual Albany Law School students to provide free translation/interpretation services to local public interest firms and organizations.

The Language Project serves various ends. To law students, it provides an alternative means of professional development, while using their language skills. Students gain knowledge about judicial and administrative proceedings and develop legal skills in client counseling, advocacy and litigation through the second-hand experience of being a practicing attorney. Also, it allows students to incorporate community services and outreach as a part of their legal training in their early stage of professional development. To the local legal community, the Project provides quality interpretation/translation services with law students who have prior exposure to and knowledge in law.

The Language Project raises a social awareness within the local immigrant community. Members of the Albany community can enjoy the benefits of effective legal representation and the importance of diversity and individual uniqueness, regardless of their culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, language, national or ethnic origin.

This Program is organized by the Diversity Office, volunteers commit to at least one assignment per semester

The Iraqi Refugee Crisis: An International Perspective

This event which is being held on Tuesday, September 1st from 6pm -7:30pm is being co-sponsored by Albany Law School’s Muslim Law Student Association, Amnesty International, the International Law Society, and the Diversity Office in conjunction with the Iraqi Refugee Project Coalition.

Event will take place at Albany Law School, in Room 209 (Rochester Moot Courtroom).   This event is Free & Open to the public.

The event will be followed by a reception at which locally resettled Iraqi refugees will be in attendance to share their experiences.

For more information, contact alumna/moderator,  Zainab Chaudhry, ‘98 at 518-210-8456 or law student Ali Chaudhry, ‘10 at achaudhry@albanylaw.edu.

Kristele Younes, a senior advocate for Refugee International, she has surveyed and advocated on behalf of displaced Iraqis in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, as well as refugees in Darfur, Afghanistan and Pakistan. She was previously a legal officer with the Coalition for the International Criminal Court in the Hague. 

Edward Kennedy, “a champion for the poor” dies today, August 25, 2009

It is with sadness and a tremendous feeling of loss, that we announce the passing of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy.  In a statement released by his family late last evening, they said, “we’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever” . “We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice.”   May he rest in peace. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kennedy family at this time. 

Read about his life, from cnn.com: Click Here. 
Listen to his speech (from 1 year ago) Aug. 25, 2008, Click Here
For a letter from the President & First Lady, Click HERE

Our campus response to Violence Against Women Project

Albany Law School along with other members of a community-wide coalition and two other education institutions (Siena College and The College of Saint Rose), received a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women to support the launch of the Campus Response to Violence Against Women Project.

Click HERE for access to Albany Law School’s Harassment Policy. 

This highly innovative project aims to respond to violence against women through a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach.  The Project is working  to build a culture on our campus where violence against women is not tolerated and seeks to support and empower student victims while holding offenders accountable.

Important components of this work are outreach and education to all students. 

Symposium on Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples

On Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Albany Law School’s OUTlaw student group (this organization provides support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, staff and faculty) will be hosting a symposium on Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples.  
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm, Location: West Wing Classroom, on the Albany Law School’s campus.  Event is open to the public.    For more details,  

January is National Stalking Awareness Month

Did you know?…
About 1.5 million people are stalked every year in the United States. 24%-35% of all stalking cases involve violence. 1 in 12 women will be stalked at least once during her lifetime. Stalking is a crime in every state. Stalking can include repeated phone calls; following; damage to property or homes; and any other action that controls, tracks, or frightens someone. Help is available, visit this website to learn more about local resources.