3Ls Triumphant

UPS (Brown) beats Hooligans (Royal Blue) in final WLC Powderpuff Football game; 1Ls limp home to lick wounds

by Eric Haley

On Friday Oct 5, with a wind chill factor of -218 degrees, the ladies of the law school took to the football fields to bring the pain in the grossly mislabeled yet supremely awesome, Powder Puff Football tournament. Two 1L teams made their inaugural run at the championship: Team 1-Hell and The Appropriators. As usual, the 1L little lambs served as a delicious snack for the 2 and 3L teams as 1-Hell dropped their first game to 2L’s The Hooligans and the second game to 3L’s UPS. The Appropriaters stayed out of the “L” column during the first round of play by utilizing “the bye”, however, they faced defeat at the hands of a snarling 2L Legally Pink who had just been packed and shipped to the loser’s bracket by UPS. The Appropriator’s fate was sealed with a subsequent loss to The Hooligans who put on a clinic of quarterback sneaks and superb passing. With vision’s of Jodi Felton interceptions still haunting Legally Pink, they faced elimination against The Hooligans in the 2L rival game. Pink’s QB, Janet Clark, put the ball in the air but The Hooligan’s defense proved too much leaving Pink scoreless in the game. Melissa Woods found the in-zone on an insane catch intended for a fellow receiver but batted out of the air by Legally Pink’s defense. Receptions by Laura Sbertoli helped The Hooligan’s march toward two touchdowns to seal the deal, leaving this Legally Pink Coach proud of his team and in hiding for all the shit he talked to obviously superior Hooligan Coaching Staff Matt, Josh and Neil. The championship game saw Coaches Witry, Zanetti, Mihara and staff lead UPS to victory as defensive warrior Sharon Mclaughlin dared The Hooligans to pass or run with crazy blitzing. UPS contained QB Suzie Jensen (who is used to running to the in-zone in her sleep) and glided down the field with excellent running by Amy Kingston. At the end of the night, UPS emerged unbeaten with a 14-0 win in the championship game. Congratulations UPS, 2007 Powder Puff Champions!

SODA Drag Show Photos

Friday, Sept. 5, SODA (Sexual Orientation Diversity Alliance) held its annual drag show. Students and a faculty member performed in drag to raise money for SODA. The following are the first set of snap shots from that show.

A Strange Primary Season Approaches

by David Morse

I know who will be the next president of the United States. Also, I will buy some ocean front property in Moscow. It has a unicorn farm. Any political analyst who claims certain knowledge of the major party nominations for president is delusional, inattentive or lying. Oh certainly, we have our hopes, fears and probabilities. But this is one of the most altered and confusing political seasons in the history of the United States. Even excluding the wide open cast of both major-party races and the regular political intrigue, there is still the fact that the nominating process has turned upside-down.
First, quick polisci101… depending on the jurisdiction, each state party either selects its delegates using either a primary or a caucus. Caucuses are a gathering of party members in an informal town meeting with apportionments based on head counts for candidates. Primaries are simple ballot votes.
In politics, timing is everything. Traditionally, primaries and caucuses have been held in Iowa and New Hampshire first. Then after the 1st Tuesday of February, state parties hold their nominations along the next 6 months. Spread out nominations enables the vetting process of candidates and direct competition in early states, with early wins propelling candidates forward.
After 2004, the DNC decided to move Nevada’s and South Carolina’s nominations before February 5th, 2008 as well. The RNC chose to hold status quo.
However, now the state parties have gotten into a “Me-first” fight. According to the latest NASS calendar of 2008 primaries/caucuses, Wyoming republicans moved up their nomination to Jan. 5. Iowa is on Jan. 14. Nevada and S. Carolina Republicans are on Jan 19. Florida and S. Carolina Democrats are on Jan. 29. New Hampshire is marked TBD and Michigan and Ohio are poised to move their primaries before Feb. 5th as well.
Not to mention all the big states that moved their date up to February 5th itself.
This leap-frog process has forced Mama DNC to pull out the belt on Florida. Florida democrats chose to follow the lead of the Florida legislature and consider the vote on Jan. 29 to be determinative, instead of hold a separate caucus a week later. The DNC is withholding all Florida’s delegates to the democratic nominating convention as an example to other states planning to leapfrog ahead. If Florida democrats don’t back down, front-runner Hillary Clinton will take the hardest hit, as her popularity in the state would assure her the largest portion of delegates. Meanwhile, Papa RNC took a few state parties behind the woodshed as well. Florida, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Michigan and South Carolina will all lose half their delegates at the republican nominating convention unless they fall in line as well. This will affect any republican candidates who have put their emphasis on those states as well.
The question remains will these groundings get the states in line, or will the house of cards fall. At this point, it is anybody’s guess.
But, just as a side note, Kansas has opted not to hold a presidential primary election for 2008.

News Briefs

Grades, standings available in June
As finals approach, the specter of grades can’t be far behind. In an e-mail sent last week, the law school’s pseudo-registrar Sande Schlueter said students can expect to see their grades via the university’s online Banner service by June 2. When they are completely uploaded, she will send an e-mail notification to that effect. Sande asks that students not e-mail her asking when grades will be posted.
Standings are processed after grades are turned in and posted and should be available shortly after June 11. Once processed, the standings are final and are not calculated again until after fall semester.

Summer remodel will focus on technology upgrades
Over the summer, the law school will begin extensive renovations of the Courtroom and Room 104 that will leave them upgraded but unusable for part of the Fall semester. Construction in 104 will likely be completed by the end of September and the Courtroom should be finished by the end of the semester.
Work in both rooms will focus on technology upgrades and acoustic improvements. The rooms will also be made compliant with changes in the building code and Americans with Disabilities Act.
“The courtroom is going to have technology installed in it that will enable our students to be trained to practice in the most modern courtrooms in the country,” Dean Rich Seamon said.
Other summer projects will replace the current carrels in the second floor with new ones similar to those in the basement and replace the furnishings in the student lounge. The lounge may get new carpet and paint but those projects have not been confirmed. Dean Seamon confirmed that the only game table that will remain in the lounge is the ping-pong table.

Some Fall classes to be held across the street
Due to construction projects in room 104, large-enrollment classes will not be held in the law school until October. Instead, classes that do not fit in either of the smaller rooms will be held somewhere in the general campus. The law school has not confirmed a replacement location yet but Dean Seamon said that the school would likely hold classes in the Borah Theater in the Student Union Building.

Former Irish President visits, isn’t made to feel awkward enough

by Josh Studor

The first female president of The Republic of Ireland gave the keynote address at the University of Idaho’s 59th Borah Symposium April 2 but before she did, she spoke briefly at the College of Law. The Hon. Mary Robinson joined Professional Responsibility to discuss her experiences as a lawyer, stateswoman, and world human rights leader and then stopped to answer two questions. The first question started out harmless enough. Mikela French, 2L, asked something about including human rights requirements in international economic agreements. It was the second question that left the crowd – and Pres. Robinson – scratching their collective heads. A 3L student then asked something about a new law that Great Britain supposedly passed that would keep history teachers from teaching kids about the Holocaust because it offends Muslims. Pres. Robinson stumbled for a moment – visibly shocked – but recovered to answer the question in the most diplomatic way she could. She said she hadn’t heard anything about that (probably because she doesn’t read the Drudge Report) and that she didn’t think the story was accurate. She reiterated that the British have a great solemn remembrance of the Holocaust and, because of that, she thought the 3L had his facts wrong. Needless to say, it was uncomfortable for everyone involved. However, no one was more visibly mortified than Professor Monica Schurtman, who stood up and practically pleaded the audience for a decent question. Thankfully, R.J. Linnan, 2L, took the bait and saved the day with a softball question about peace agreements. Pres. Robinson, who looked relieved, took the question, ran with it, and ended with the audience laughing because “Dr. Paisley said ‘yes.’” While many students felt inspired, the whole experience left some students thinking to themselves, “What could Mr. 3L have asked that would have been less awkward?” Well, here are some answers to that question: • Can I take you out for a “Black and Tan” after your presentation? And as a follow-up, can we get in a fight later? • Was it a good idea to allow Prince Harry to serve in the military? • Why are you always after me Lucky Charms? • Why can’t you Irish just accept British rule? • How come you aren’t wearing a kilt? • Is there anything ironic about you being in a state famous for potatoes? • Where is your pot o’ gold? • Are you and Colin Farrell friends? • Do you have family in Boston? • How did you become one of the most prosperous nations in the EU by selling goats? • What do you think of “The Black Donnellys?” I supposed the question could have been worse. Maybe we should try again. Next time we should bring King Abdullah of Saudia Arabia to the law school and someone can ask him why he can’t keep his terr-er-est friends from blowing themselves up.

News Briefs

Barrister’s Ball Saturday
The Student Bar Association’s social committee will play host to the annual Barrister’s Ball this Saturday beginning at 7 p.m. at the 1912 building. The evening begins with a roast for retiring professors Colson and Lewis. A performance by the Kingpins will follow. Food and drinks are provided.
Tickets are available all week in the main hallway. Cost: $12 drinking, $7 non-drinking.

Carrel lottery next week
A carrel lottery will be held Friday so students can select their carrels for next year. Sign up sheets are available in the basket on the library door and must be completed and submitted in the envelope outside the SBA Office by 5 p.m. on Friday. Students may sign up individually or in groups of no more than four.
Once the lottery is completed, students will need to attend the selection meeting for their class. 2Ls will meet at 4 p.m. on April 18 in room 103 and 1Ls will meet at 3:30 p.m. on April 19 in room 104. Students will pick their carrels based on their draft order.
Any questions should be sent to either Jodi Felton at felt5217@uidaho.edu or Thomas Rogers at rodg4115@uidaho.edu.