INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(171, 'Remembering Hugh B. Pearce as Trial Advocacy Competition Approaches Final Round', '2008-03-26', '<p>Hugh Bryan Pearce enrolled at Widener Law in August of 1987 and maintained a full course schedule while serving as a helicopter pilot with the Delaware National Guard. On June 17th, 1989 while performing maneuvers with the National Guard, Chief Warrant Officer Hugh B. Pearce and five others lost their lives when the UH-1 Iroquois they were flying crashed in dense fog shortly after midnight near Yarmouth, Massachusetts. <br /><br />In the wake of Hugh&rsquo;s death, Professor Thomas Reed and John Wherry, Esq., at the time an adjunct faculty member directing the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, created a competition between the two best advocates in ITAP and the two best advocates from Professor Reed&rsquo;s Advocacy concentration course. They named the competition in honor of Hugh, who Professor Reed called &ldquo;an especially gifted student with a flair for advocacy.&rdquo; The competition later evolved into a trial advocacy competition pitting a team of advocates selected from the Delaware campus by the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society against a team from the Harrisburg campus selected by the Trial Advocacy Honor Society there, but it retained the name. With the final round of the 19th annual Hugh B. Pearce Competition approaching, the legacy of Hugh Pearce remains strong.<br /><br />Born on September 8th, 1954 to Carl and Arlene Pearce in Bishop, California, Hugh had two younger brothers, Robert and Mark. He attended the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego before enlisting as a Warrant Officer candidate in the United States Army. Hugh trained as a helicopter pilot and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his time in the service, he served as part of the Multinational Force and Observers that was established in the wake of the Camp David Accords and had responsibility for peacekeeping on the Sinai Peninsula between Egypt and Israel.<br /><br />After leaving the military, Hugh briefly attended Santa Barbara College of Law before moving east to Delaware to attend Widener Law with the encouragement of family friend and Widener professor Rodney K Smith, now the President of Southern Virginia University. While attending Widener Law, Hugh served in the Delaware National Guard as a helicopter pilot, served as a judicial clerk in the Superior Court of Delaware from September to December in 1988, and wrote case notes for the Delaware Law forum. &ldquo;When Hugh had disappointments in life, he always picked himself up and kept going,&rdquo; says Arlene Pearce proudly.<br /><br />During his lifetime, Hugh left an indelible impression on family and friends that remains just as strong nearly twenty years after his death. Says Hugh&rsquo;s brother Robert, &ldquo;Hugh\'s death inspired me to change my life,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;I had been talking to Hugh about going back to school &ndash; he always pushed me to try and do more with my life - and after he died I made a big change. I got accepted at Texas A&amp;M for a Masters and later went to Colorado State University and got my Ph.D.&rdquo; <br /><br /><img class=\"FloatLeft\" src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/hughPearceABrotherLostbook.jpg\" alt=\"hughPearceABrotherLostbook\" width=\"100\" height=\"145\" />Robert wrote a book about his brother&rsquo;s death entitled <br />&ldquo;Hugh had a wonderful sense of humor,&rdquo; remarks his mother. &ldquo;One thing I remember clearly from my brother\'s funeral was that his friends spoke highly of his loyalty as a friend, how he never forgot birthdays of their kids, and things like that.&nbsp; I remember one of his Army pilot friends who broke down and couldn\'t compose himself when talking about what a good friend Hugh was,&rdquo; adds Robert. Mark, the youngest of the three brothers, recalls, &ldquo;He was the kind of brother who would take you and your friends on a canoe trip down the river when the summer was getting lonely and quiet. He was the kind of brother who was always there when needed, be it by thought, word, or deed.\" Hugh&rsquo;s mother described the essence of his personality by quoting the poet A.E. Housman; &ldquo;Like the wind in the woods, through him, the gift of life flew high.&rdquo;<br /><br />This past September, Robert and his parents climbed into a helicopter and Robert flew them on the route that Hugh had been on when his helicopter crashed. Says Robert, &ldquo;It was something I promised myself I would do.&nbsp; It probably sounds silly, but in my mind I wanted to finish his flight for him.&nbsp; We landed at Barnstable airport, his intended destination, and then took a taxi to the crash site.&rdquo;<br /><br />Both the Delaware and Harrisburg campuses held their respective final rounds of the Hugh B. Pearce Competition on Wednesday, March 19th. John Toresco and Steve Kwon will represent Harrisburg and Christopher Lee and Evan Perel will represent Delaware in the final round to be held on April 9th at 6pm on the Delaware campus.<br style=\"font-weight: bold;\" /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(172, 'Dean’s Leadership Forum shines spotlight on diversity in state government', '2008-03-27', '<p>Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell lauded Widener Law and Dean Linda L. Ammons for the school&rsquo;s commitment to promoting diversity and the leadership role the school demonstrated by hosting the second-annual Dean&rsquo;s Leadership Forum on Diversity.</p>\r\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s extraordinarily impressive,&rdquo; Rendell said, looking out at a forum audience of nearly 200 people, &ldquo;and I congratulate you.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>Rendell was one of a host of political, legal, business and educational leaders to speak at the event, held Monday, March 17 on the Harrisburg campus. Ammons founded the diversity forum in 2007 with a daylong examination of diversity in higher education. This year&rsquo;s event focused on state government. Other speakers included Pennsylvania Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus; former Philadelphia Mayor John Street; former Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams; and Pennsylvania Treasurer Robin L. Wiessmann.</p>\r\n<p>Ammons introduced Rendell as the first speaker of the day. The governor talked about the importance of state government supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, his appointment of the Commonwealth&rsquo;s first chief diversity officer &ndash; who also spoke at the forum &ndash; and his belief that Pennsylvania is fighting an important battle over the viability of the economy.</p>\r\n<p>&ldquo;We need to take advantage of all the gene pool,&rdquo; Rendell said. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t let one genius, one entrepeneur, one Bill Gates, be left behind because they didn&rsquo;t get the opportunity to come in and grow their idea.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>Ammons told the crowd that Widener Law takes great pride in being civically engaged, and the school would continue to be a community leader on the important issue of diversity. Ammons took over the deanship at Widener in July 2006. She is one of only three African-American women currently serving as dean of a U.S. law school.</p>\r\n<p>Widener is grateful to event sponsors Dilworth Paxon; the Hershey Entertainment &amp; Resorts Co.; and McNees, Wallace &amp; Nurick; for their generosity.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(173, 'Judge Robert Bigham honored as Adjunct of the Year', '2008-03-28', '<p><img class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/adjuncts1.jpg\" alt=\"adjuncts1\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" />On March 13, the Harrisburg Campus of Widener Law School held its annual Adjunct Award Dinner at the Harrisburg Country Club.&nbsp; Judge Robert Bigham of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County received the Adjunct Faculty Distinguished Service Award.<br /><br />Judge Bigham has served as a member of Widener Law&rsquo;s adjunct faculty since 2001, teaching courses in Family Law, Wills and Trusts, and Negotiation. He earned both his B.S. and J.D. degrees from Washington &amp; Lee University. He has served as an assistant district attorney, solicitor to the Adams County Auditors, and a parole/probation hearing officer in Adams County. Judge Bigham has served in the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County, Pennsylvania for the past ten years.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(174, 'Public Interest Reception Caps Annual PILA Auction', '2008-03-29', '<p>On Tuesday, March 25th, the Public Interest Resource Center held the third annual Public Interest Reception to honor the partners who have lent support to PIRC and Widener Law students committed to public interest work. This year, the reception coincided with the Public Interest Law Alliance&rsquo;s annual auction. As PIRC Director Sydney Howe-Barksdale explained, &ldquo;All proceeds from the auction support the good work of the student organization Public Interest Law Alliance which encourages students to perform valuable public service.&rdquo; <br /><br />The Public Interest Reception featured a recorded message from Dean Linda Ammons, who was unable to attend, offering a heartfelt thank you to all those who had served as sponsors and partners to both the Public Interest Resource Center and the Public Interest Law Alliance. As Dean Ammons explained, &ldquo;tonight we celebrate the partnerships that serve the public interest and honor the attorneys who are guiding Widener Law Students in their professional development and commitment to pro bono service.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<div style=\"margin: 5px; float: left; width: 350px;\"><img src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/pila1.jpg\" alt=\"pila1\" width=\"350\" height=\"224\" /><br />Kristan Crane, PIRC&nbsp;Secretary&nbsp;and Sarah Whatley, Student Assistant<br /><img src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/pila2.jpg\" alt=\"pila2\" width=\"350\" height=\"293\" /><br />Sydeney Howe-Barksdale (left)<img src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/pila4.jpg\" alt=\"pila4\" width=\"350\" height=\"240\" /><br />3L student, Nicole Saries, won the 32&rdquo; flat screen LCD TV</div>\r\n<p><br /><br />Meghan Doll, chair of this year&rsquo;s auction, and Jen Pesavento, PILA President, led the PILA Auction and students to earnings of approximately $14,000. This slight increase over last year&rsquo;s collection will allow approximately 10 students to have some funding for their pro bono placements and/or public interest pursuits this summer. Enza Klotzbucher, of the Legal Information Center won the raffle for the GPS unit; while 3L student, Nicole Saries, won the 32&rdquo; flat screen LCD TV. William Brennan won the stay at a Florida Condo, Ron Diaz won the Delaware Bar Review Course, and Jeff Porter won lunch with Dean Ammons. The separate ebay auction item, the bobble-head doll of Justice O&rsquo;Conner, sold for $250. Both PIRC and PILA thank all in the community who participated and supported these events. By taking the time to work with and support our law students, you have helped us to shape the next generation of public interest lawyers.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(175, '2nd Annual Dress for Success Event Shows Widener Law’s Male Students What Not to Wear', '2008-03-30', '<p>On March 26th, the men&rsquo;s portion of the 2nd Annual Dress for Success Fashion Show took place in the Barrister&rsquo;s Club. Assistant Dean for Career Development LeaNora Ruffin and Ed Salters, a representative from Men&rsquo;s Wearhouse, showed a group of male students how to dress to impress.<br /><br />With help from a couple of students willing to serve as models, Mr. Salters demonstrated what would be proper attire for a job interview. He also explained what appropriate &ldquo;business casual&rdquo; attire consisted of and explained the importance of shopping at a clothing store capable of providing good alteration and tailoring services. Students walked away from the program with the knowledge of how to dress for success.<br /><br />Next Thursday, April 3rd, the women&rsquo;s portion of the Dress for Success Fashion Show will take place in the Barrister&rsquo;s Club at 5:00.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(176, 'Widener health law program named among nation’s 10 best', '2008-03-31', '<p>The Widener University School of Law and its Health Law Institute are pleased to announce that U.S.News &amp; World Report&rsquo;s 2009 edition of America&rsquo;s Best Graduate Schools has listed the law school&rsquo;s health law program among the nation&rsquo;s 10 best.<br /><br />Widener&rsquo;s program is ranked ninth in the top-10 field. The school has maintained a near-constant presence among the elite health law programs singled out by the news magazine in recent years.<br /><br />&ldquo;The health law faculty and the whole Widener community are gratified that the excellence of our Health Law Institute continues to be recognized,&rdquo; said Professor John G. Culhane, Director of the Institute. &ldquo;Of course, it is based on past accomplishments, and we are continuing to move forward. Health law is a vast and fast-changing field, and our Institute is energized by leading scholars, enthusiastic lawyers and health-care providers, and our deep and diverse student population. Working together, we&rsquo;re developing new initiatives and programs and will keep striving to make even better connections with the legal and broader communities in this important area of the law.&rdquo; <br /><br />The magazine sets rankings based on votes by law faculty members at accredited schools around the country who teach in the health law field.<br /><br />Widener&rsquo;s Health Law Institute, located on its Delaware campus, was formally established in 1989 and fosters health law education within the J.D. and four graduate health law programs. Courses offer in-depth study of legal issues created by health care delivery including medical malpractice, changes in Medicaid and Medicare programs and state and federal regulation of managed care. The institute last year added a joint-degree program with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, focused on public health law.<br /><br />Widener&rsquo;s faculty consists of specialists in areas that include public health law, bioethics, toxic torts, elder law and health care finance, regulation and fraud. The school&rsquo;s adjunct faculty includes experienced assistant U.S. attorneys, partners in major health law firms and a professor who simultaneously holds law and medical degrees. One member of the faculty directs a Veterans Law Clinic on both law campuses, which is one of the nation&rsquo;s few programs dedicated to assisting veterans in their efforts to recoup medical benefits from the government.<br /><br />&ldquo;Widener has worked hard to build a first-class program and this recognition is a welcome vote of confidence,&rdquo; Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said.<br /><br />The rankings are expected to appear in the April 7-14 edition of U.S.News &amp; World Report, which hits newsstands Monday, March 31.<br /><br /> </p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(177, '2008 Ruby R. Vale Distinguished Scholar’s Lecture Examines Role of States in a Global Economy', '2008-04-01', '<p>Brian G. Cartwright, General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission, addressed the Widener Law community and participants in the 20th annual Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition as the 2008 Distinguished Scholar. Cartwright&rsquo;s lecture, entitled &ldquo;The Role of the States &ndash; Foreign and Domestic&rdquo;, dealt with the impact of globalization on how individual states and countries treat corporate law and governance.<br /><br />The program opened with a general welcome from Vice Dean Russell Hakes, who then turned the program over to the Honorable Myron T. Steele, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware. Chief Justice Steele introduced Mr. Cartwright, calling him &ldquo;a leader in corporate governance.&rdquo;<br /><br />Mr. Cartwright noted that the trade of foreign stocks in the United States was 210 times higher in 2007 than it had been in 1980, and he emphasized that the globalization of the economy will dramatically affect the role that individual states play in corporate governance. &ldquo;We must look ahead, or surely we will fall behind,&rdquo; he said, stressing that corporations will no longer be national entities, but rather &ldquo;transnational businesses with a global base.&rdquo; He compared these global businesses to national ones, emphasizing that a national company headquartered in Illinois is treated as a U.S. company rather than an Illinois company.<br /><br />Congress has previously left corporate governance largely to states, and Delaware in particular has achieved prominence in matters of corporate law. As Mr. Cartwright noted, however, &ldquo;What will happen when Delaware, a small state, has to compete not with another state, but with a small nation?&rdquo; At the conclusion of his lecture, Mr. Cartwright took a variety of questions from the audience. Asked what nations he thought might challenge Delaware&rsquo;s preeminence in matters of corporate law, he replied, &ldquo;Absent some kind of supra-national agreement, that&rsquo;s an interesting question.&rdquo; <br /><br />Mr. Cartwright graduated from Yale University, holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago, and earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School. From 1973 to 1977 he served as a Research Physicist at the University of California, Berkley. He served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O&rsquo;Connor and became a partner at the international law firm of Latham &amp; Watkins. He has served as General Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission since January 23, 2006.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(178, 'International and American climate change experts to gather at Widener Law', '2008-04-03', '<p><img class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"{staticroot}site/files/oldnewsfiles/climateiceberg.jpg\" alt=\"climateiceberg\" width=\"200\" height=\"449\" />While awareness of climate change and its impact on the physical landscape of our world &ndash; from shrinking glaciers to rising shorelines and beach erosion &ndash; is growing, the situation has other, less-tangible effects too. The Widener Law community will spend a day examining its legal aspects in a conference called, &ldquo;Living with climate change: Legal challenges in a warmer world.&rdquo;<br /><br />The April 18 event on the school&rsquo;s Delaware campus will bring together academic and legal experts from around the nation and Canada to focus on how the law will need to adapt to a warmer world, as well as how the law can be used to mitigate climate change. The day will be broken into morning and afternoon sessions in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.<br /><br />The morning session, starting at 8:45 a.m., will explore how the consequences of climate change will pose far-reaching challenges to numerous areas of the law including water, public health, tort, property and environmental law. Through this discussion, the school hopes to initiate a greater sensitivity to how climate change will alter the legal environment, as it also alters the physical landscape.<br /><br />The afternoon session, beginning at 1:15 p.m., will continue with a focus on how the law can help reduce the world&rsquo;s warming. Discussion will focus on legal challenges and opportunities for addressing climate change that come through federal-state relations, tax policy and litigation.<br /><br />The event is presented by the law school and its student-run Widener Law Review. Organizers have assembled a lineup of distinguished speakers from schools including UCLA School of Law, the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Florida State University College of Law, University of British Columbia Faculty of Law and the Centers for Law and the Public&rsquo;s Health collaboration between Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities. <br /><br />&ldquo;Climate change will fundamentally alter our world,&rdquo; said Associate Professor Kenneth T. Kristl, the conference chair and director of Widener&rsquo;s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic. &ldquo;This conference will be one of the first in the nation to examine the impact of climate change on the law itself. The discussion &ndash; moderated by Widener professors who are leaders in the environmental and public health fields &ndash; should be stimulating and groundbreaking.&rdquo;<br /><br />Registration and continental breakfast begin the day of the event at 8 a.m. and opening remarks will start at 8:45 a.m. Six continuing legal education credits, including one ethics credit, are available for Pennsylvania and Delaware attorneys who attend the conference. The conference is free to students and the general public, without lunch service. Attorneys who attend for credit will be charged a $145 registration fee; Widener Law alumni attorneys will be charged a $100 registration fee. The fee includes lunch. For more information, or to register, contact Debbe Patrick at 302.477.2014 or dapatrick@mail.widener.edu. <br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(179, 'Delaware Student Bar Association Holds Debate for SBA Presidential Candidates', '2008-04-05', '<p>On Thursday, March 27th, The Delaware campus Student Bar Association held a debate between the four candidates who are campaigning for the right to be the SBA President for 2008-2009. Current SBA President Sean McCray served as the moderator.<br /><br />Candidates Adam Ludman, Matt DeNucci, Chris Boggs, and Brian Kisielewski each presented their respective platform and talked about what they would accomplish in office. They discussed issues ranging from the mandatory grading curve to the need for a counseling center, as well as seeking longer hours of operation for the Barrister&rsquo;s Club. Several candidates also cited the need for a good relationship with faculty and administrative staff.<br /><br />Mr. McCray then presented the candidates with questions, such as what they would do if they were SBA President and the SBA lost both the Vice President and the Treasurer and how much time they would devote to their duties as SBA President if they were elected. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the posed questions, and they all affirmed their dedication to performing the duties of an SBA President.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(180, 'University of Miami Team Wins 2008 Ruby R. Vale Competition', '2008-04-06', '<p>The final round of the 20th-Annual Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition took place on Sunday, March 30th, pitting the team of Laura Tepich and Jonathan Squires from the University of Miami School of Law against Christopher Featherstun and Eric Littlefield of Mercer University School of Law. 24 teams from 23 law schools participated in this year&rsquo;s contest, which ran from March 27-30.<br /><br />Justice Jack B. Jacobs, Justice Henry duPont Ridgely, former Justice Joseph T. Walsh, Vice Chancellor Donald F. Parsons, and this year&rsquo;s Distinguished Scholar, Brian G. Cartwright served as the bench for the final round of this year&rsquo;s competition. After hearing the arguments, they designated the competition to the University of Miami Law School&rsquo;s team, Laura Tepich and Jonathan Squires as the winners of the competition. Squires was also given the best oral advocate award, and Franklin Pierce Law Center&rsquo;s team of Kevin R. Davis, Iryna Dore, and Alan Slone received the Donald E. Pease Best Corporate Brief award.<br /><br />Widener Law&rsquo;s Moot Court Honor Society sponsored the competition with Moot Court executive board member and competition chair Kara A. Donoghue coordinating the Society&rsquo;s efforts. Professor Lawrence Hamermesh served as competition advisor, authored the competition problem, and also served as a judge during the semi-final round of the competition.<br /><br />The Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition is named in honor of Ruby R. Vale, a corporate lawyer who lived in Milford, Delaware and practiced in Philadelphia. He was the author of the multi-volume Vale&rsquo;s Pennsylvania Digest.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(181, 'Temple Professor discusses work on Information Operations', '2008-04-07', '<p>\r\n<script src=\"http://law.widener.edu/scripts/audio-player.js\">// <![CDATA[\r\n\r\n// ]]></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><object width=\"290\" height=\"24\">\r\n				<param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" />\r\n<param name=\"FlashVars\" value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/DuncanHollis040108.mp3\" />\r\n<param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\" />\r\n<param name=\"menu\" value=\"false\" />\r\n<param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" /></object> Duncan Hollis, Associate Professor of Law at Temple Law School, spoke to the Widener faculty about his recent work on Information Operations (IO). According to Hollis, IO &ldquo;involves the use of information technology, such as computer network attacks or psychological operations, to influence, disrupt, corrupt, usurp, or defend information systems and the infrastructure they support. More than thirty states have developed IO capacities. But IO is also undoubtedly attractive to non-state actors like al-Qaeda, since the technology is mostly inexpensive, easy-to-use, and capable of deployment from virtually anywhere.&rdquo; Hollis argues that the current system of international law &ndash; specifically the rules regulating the use of force and the law of war&mdash; is not adequate to manage the ever-changing field of IO, and that a new set of rules ought to be developed to deal with this growing threat. A legal framework developed specifically for IO would reduce transaction costs for states fighting global terror, and lessen the collateral costs of armed conflict itself,&rdquo; Hollis contends. Duncan Hollis is a graduate of Bowdoin College; he earned his J.D. at Boston College Law School and his M.A.L.D. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University).</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(182, 'Widener Law launches new online journal dedicated to law, race and economics in America', '2008-04-07', '<p>Widener Law today launched a new online journal dedicated to the intersection of the law, race, and economics in America. Conceived and organized by three students, The Widener Journal of Law, Economics &amp; Race is the first project to be published jointly by Widener&rsquo;s two law campuses in Wilmington, Del. and Harrisburg, Pa. The web address is www.wjler.org. <br /><br />The idea for the journal was born after students Robert L. Hawkins Jr., Tamika A. Crawl-Bey and Dana D. Griffin read the 2005 report &ldquo;Race and Incarceration in Delaware: A preliminary consideration,&rdquo; published by the Delaware Department of Justice and the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League. The study showed Delaware, the nation&rsquo;s second-smallest state, had one of the country&rsquo;s highest incarceration rates, that inmate populations were disproportionately African-American and that the racial disparity trend was rising.<br /><br />They created a journal designed to be a forum for discourse on issues of race and economics. It is also hoped to be a resource for policymakers who work toward a more fair, just and equitable world. Today&rsquo;s launch date was timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.<br /><br />&ldquo;Tamika, Dana and I wanted to combine our legal training with our passion for finding solutions to the seemingly intractable issues of racial injustice and economic disparity in America. Our goal was to create a publication that wouldn\'t espouse a conservative or liberal point of view but encourage multiple points of view from scholars, practitioners and students,&rdquo; said Hawkins, an evening law student who also works as vice president and general manager of Claimant Management Systems, LLC. &ldquo;We are excited that our vision for the journal is coming to fruition.&rdquo; <br /><br />Site content currently includes video footage of the Dean&rsquo;s Leadership Forum on Diversity in State Government, held March 17 on Widener&rsquo;s Harrisburg campus, which included remarks from Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, former Philadelphia Mayor John Street and former Washington, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams. The site also features the October 2007 keynote address by Juan Williams of National Public Radio, given at the Pennsylvania Bar Association diversity summit. <br /><br />The journal is accepting written submissions for publication. Guidelines can be found on the site.<br /><br />Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons called the publication a national journal that is &ldquo;the first of its kind,&rdquo; given its online approach, two-state production nature and progressive subject matter.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am thrilled to be able to introduce a new dual-campus law journal,&rdquo; Ammons said. &ldquo;This is an opportunity to broaden the dialogue on diversity while creating additional academic opportunities for Widener students, and it is another example of Widener&rsquo;s commitment to enriching the communities we serve.&rdquo;<br /><br />The students were assisted in their endeavor by Associate Professor Nathaniel C. Nichols and Professor Serena M. Williams, on Widener&rsquo;s Delaware campus, and Associate Professor J. Palmer Lockard II and Legal Writing Professor Amanda L. Smith on the Harrisburg campus.<br /><br />Widener Law is grateful to James Maron and Maron Marvel Bradley &amp; Anderson for their generous sponsorship of the journal&rsquo;s launch. Maron Marvel Bradley &amp; Anderson P.A. (MMBA) was founded in 1996 and concentrates its litigation practice in the areas of complex toxic tort, environmental, products liability, securities and commercial litigation. <br /> </p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(183, 'Students Embrace Opportunity to Learn from a Judge’s Experience', '2008-04-08', '<p>&ldquo;It was a unique opportunity because there are certain insights that you can only get from a judge,&rdquo; remarks David Anthony, a JD candidate in Professor Lawrence Hamermesh&rsquo;s Corporate Finance class. As part of Judges Day on April 8th, The Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Mary F. Walrath, spoke to the class about a Chapter 11 case involving Exide Technologies, a leading manufacturer of automotive batteries.<br /><br />&ldquo;Experiences like the one I had today should happen more often,&rdquo; remarks Laura Wyatt, an LLM student from Romania who will graduate in May, adding, &ldquo;I really appreciated the opportunity to see what&rsquo;s going through a judge&rsquo;s mind.&rdquo; David Anthony agrees, stressing that he found it very useful to find out &ldquo;what types of arguments are persuasive in her court.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;I would have liked to be able to spend more time with the judge,&rdquo; says Shana Pinter, a JD candidate who will be interning at the Securities and Exchange Commission over the summer, but she notes, &ldquo;One of the great things about Widener is that they&rsquo;re really reaching out to the judicial community, and that&rsquo;s creating really great opportunities.&rdquo;</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(184, 'Michelle Pistone Discusses the Iraqi War Refugee Crisis', '2008-04-09', '<p>\r\n<script src=\"http://law.widener.edu/scripts/audio-player.js\">// <![CDATA[\r\n		\r\n// ]]></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><object width=\"290\" height=\"24\">\r\n				<param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" />\r\n<param name=\"FlashVars\" value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/MichelePistoneVillanova.mp3\" />\r\n<param name=\"quality\" value=\"high\" />\r\n<param name=\"menu\" value=\"false\" />\r\n<param name=\"wmode\" value=\"transparent\" /></object></p>\r\n<p>Professor Michele Pistone is a Professor of Law and Director of the Clinical Program. She teaches the Clinic for Asylum, Refugee and Emigrant Services (CARES). She spoke to the Widener Law faculty about the situation of the 2 million Iraqi war refugees, the difficulties they\'ve encountered in finding new homes in Syria and Jordan, as well as American and elsewhere around the world, and the application of immigration laws to this group, and the work her clinic is doing to help some of these individuals and families.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(185, 'Delaware Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments at Widener Law', '2008-04-09', '<p>On Tuesday April 8th, Widener Law&rsquo;s Delaware campus hosted a special session of the Delaware Supreme Court in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.<br /><br />Everyone in attendance rose and stood at full attention as the panel of Supreme Court Justices entered. After everyone took their seats, Justice Randy J. Holland, a member of Widener Law&rsquo;s adjunct faculty, said, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very happy to be here,&rdquo; before introducing Dean Linda L. Ammons. &ldquo;I would like to thank the Court for providing this opportunity,&rdquo; said Dean Ammons in her opening remarks, noting that Delaware&rsquo;s Supreme Court is &ldquo;held in high esteem across the nation.&rdquo;<br /><br />Members of the Widener community filled the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom to hear arguments before Justices Holland, Carolyn Berger, and Henry duPont Ridgely in the case of John Chavous v. State of Delaware. Two Widener Law alumni served as opposing counsel, with Robert M. Goff Jr., &rsquo;88, representing Mr. Chavous, and Deputy Attorney General Kevin M. Carroll, &rsquo;06, representing the state. The appeal focused on whether or not the trial judge ruled correctly in denying the defendant&rsquo;s request to withdraw his guilty plea offered as part of a plea agreement with the state.<br /><br />Next, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Peter Feldman v. Rory J. Cutaia, et al. This particular appeal came from a New Castle County Court of Chancery case focusing on a breach-of-fiduciary-duty allegation arising out of a merger approval.<br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(186, 'Program examines race and the death penalty', '2008-04-10', '<p>Widener Law is teaming up with area civic groups to present an evening forum that showcases legal academics and practitioners in a conversation on capital punishment, led by the woman who co-founded the Cornell Death Penalty Project 15 years ago.<br /><br />&ldquo;Race and the death penalty: Is justice color blind?&rdquo; is free and open to the public. It will be held <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Tuesday, April 15 at 7 p.m.</span> in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on the Delaware campus of Widener Law at 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington. The program will be preceded by a <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">reception in the Barristers&rsquo; Club at 6 p.m.</span><br /><br />Professor Sheri Lynn Johnson of Cornell University Law School, an expert on the interface of race and issues in criminal procedure, will speak first. Johnson is assistant director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project, an initiative to foster empirical scholarship on the death penalty. She helps students work with lawyers on death penalty cases.<br /><br />Johnson graduated from Yale Law School in 1979 and went to work in the criminal appeals bureau of the New York Legal Aid Society. She joined the Cornell faculty in 1981 and teaches constitutional and criminal law. She supervises the school&rsquo;s post-conviction litigation and capital trial clinics. After Johnson speaks, the program will move to a panel discussion featuring:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Widener Professor Judith L. Ritter, who directs the law school&rsquo;s criminal defense clinic.</li>\r\n<li>Keisha N. Hudson, an assistant public defender in the Philadelphia capital habeas unit.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>Race continues to play a strong role in death penalty convictions, according to the Amnesty International report, &ldquo;US: Death by Discrimination &ndash; the Continuing Role of Race in Capital Cases.&rdquo; The report shows 80 percent of the people executed since the death penalty was reinstated were connected to cases with white victims, although white and African-American people were murder victims in nearly equal numbers. The report also showed more than 20 percent of African-American defendants who were executed had been convicted by all-white juries.<br /><br />The forum is co-sponsored by the law school and its Law and Inequality Project and the school&rsquo;s Phi Alpha Delta chapter; Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty; the ACLU-Delaware; Delaware Pacem in Terris and the Wilmington Friends Meeting Ad Hoc Committee on Peace.<br /><br />For more information call 302.577.5144 or 302.656.2721 or visit www.enddeathpenaltyde.org. <br /><br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(187, 'Widener Law teams with Del. Academy of Medicine to offer public-service program for National Health Care Decisions Day', '2008-04-10', '<p>Widener Law teams with Delaware Academy of Medicine to offer public-service program for National Health Care Decisions Day<br /><br />Widener&rsquo;s&nbsp;nationally ranked Health Law Institute is joining with the Delaware Academy of Medicine on a National Health Care Decisions Day program to help Delawareans declare their end-of-life decision making preferences. <br /><br />The program on <strong>Wednesday, April 16 will run from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.</strong> at the Brandywine Hundred Library at 1300 Foulk Road in Wilmington. It is free and open to the public. Organizers request anyone who plans to attend call the library in advance and register at 302.477.3150.<br /><br />Widener Visiting Assistant Professor Thaddeus M. Pope will begin the program and speak about advance directives and other end-of-life decisions. Organizers will have the necessary paperwork available for people who want to review and complete it after the event. Law students enrolled in the school&rsquo;s Health Law Institute will be available to explain the advance-directive forms. <br /><br />&ldquo;This program is intended to assist people of all ages, not just the elderly,&rdquo; said Widener Associate&nbsp;Professor Andrew J. Fichter, executive director of institute programs at the law school. &ldquo;People who put their preferences in writing ensure their last wishes are carried out even when circumstances prohibit them from speaking for themselves. We encourage people to join us and take the simple steps necessary to avoid the confusion and family controversies that can arise when a person becomes incapacitated and lacks a living will.&rdquo;<br /><br />Fichter will also attend the event along with Eileen Grena, an assistant dean at Widener who directs the school&rsquo;s Legal Education Institute. Grena also holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Delaware attorney Laurence I. Levinson, who chairs the Delaware State Bar Association Committee on Law and the Elderly, will also attend.<br /><br />National Health Care Decisions Day, observed on April 16, is an initiative designed, in part, to encourage people to express their wishes regarding health care. Learn more at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/.<br /><br />The Delaware Academy of Medicine is a private, nonprofit organization that works to enhance community well being through education and the promotion of public health. Widener&rsquo;s Health Law Institute is ranked among the nation&rsquo;s top-10 programs in U.S.News &amp; World Report&rsquo;s 2009 edition of America&rsquo;s Best Graduate Schools. The school has maintained a near-constant presence among the elite health law programs singled out by the news magazine in recent years.<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><br /></span></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(188, 'Judges recognized in Delaware County', '2008-04-11', '<p>The Delaware County Alumni Chapter hosted a reception that recognized judges from the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The judges were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for the distinction and honor that they bring to the Bench and Bar.<br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(189, 'Alumni gather in Elkton, Maryland', '2008-04-11', '<div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right; width: 500px;\">\n<img width=\"500\" height=\"348\" alt=\"maryland reception\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/maryland%20reception.jpg\"><p><span class=\"Caption\">Elkton, Maryland area alumni gather with Dean Linda Ammons</span></p>\n<a href=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/maryland%20gallery.jpg\"></a><img width=\"300\" height=\"198\" alt=\"maryland gallery\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/maryland%20gallery.jpg\"><p><span class=\"Caption\">Alumni enjoy the surroundings at the Piazza Gallery and Studio</span></p>\n</div>\n		<span style=\"\">Alumni from the Eastern and Central parts of Maryland gathered at a reception for an opportunity to meet with Dean Linda Ammons who shared with them the wonderful things that are happening at the law school. The event was held at the Gail Piazza Gallery and Studio located in Elkton, Maryland. Bruce Hemphill from the Class of 1984 hosted the event.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(190, 'Dean Ammons visits Florida', '2008-04-11', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right; width: 500px;\">\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"362\" alt=\"florida zaretsky ammons\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/florida%20zaretsky%20ammons.jpg\"> <span class=\"Caption\">Esther Zaretsky \'75, Dean Linda Ammons, Richard Zaretsky \'75</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"364\" alt=\"florida group\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/florida%20group.jpg\"> <span class=\"Caption\">Florida area alumni meet Dean Ammons</span></p>\n</div>Widener Law alumni recently gathered in beautiful West Palm Beach, Florida at the home of Esther and Richard Zaretsky, both from the class of 1975. Alumni enjoyed dinner and more importantly the opportunity to talk with other alumni in the Florida area. They were also encouraged by the wonderful things they heard from Dean Linda Ammons about what is happening at the law school.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(191, 'Harrisburg Team Wins 19th Annual Hugh B. Pearce Trial Advocacy Competition', '2008-04-11', '<div style=\"float: right; width: 445px;\">\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_widenerlaw_55\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/4dc9663a/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_widenerlaw_55\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/4dc9663a/\"></embed></object>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"241\" alt=\"h pearce 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/h%20pearce%202.jpg\"><span class=\"Caption\">Delaware team Evan J. Perel and Christopher H. Lee with Harrisburg team John Toresco and Steven Kwon</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"363\" alt=\"h pearce 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/h%20pearce%201.jpg\">Kevin <span class=\"Caption\">M. Carroll \'06 (Delaware Deputy Attorney General and alum who served as the Judge for the competition), with Miss Ju-Juanna Perkins and mother Ms. Ju-Juanna Latif</span></p>\n</div>The final round of the 19th Annual Hugh B. Pearce Trial Advocacy Competition took place on Wednesday April 9th, and the Harrisburg team of Steven Kwon and John Toresco overcame stiff competition from Delaware’s Christopher H. Lee and Evan J. Perel to win the competition.<br><br>Before a sizable audience in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom, the Harrisburg team of Kwon and Toresco represented the plantiffs, Ronald and Randi McGee, against the School Board of Dallas County, ably defended by Delaware’s Lee and Perel. Widener Law alum and Delaware Deputy Attorney General Kevin M. Carroll ’06 served as the judge for the competition. After a greeting from Maura E. Cunningham, the Delaware campus Hugh B. Pearce Chairperson, bailiff Leslie J. Starling called the court into session.<br><br>The case centered around the death of 12-year old Rebecca McGee, who was killed when she was struck by an SUV while crossing the road after being dropped off by her school bus. After both teams addressed pretrial motions to Judge Carroll, each side gave an impassioned opening statement beginning with Mr. Toresco for the plaintiffs and then followed by Mr. Lee for the defendants. Each side called two witnesses and both teams delivered tough questions to opposing witnesses in their cross-examinations. After spirited closing arguments from Mr. Kwon and Mr. Perel, the competition concluded and the teams waited to hear the results.<br><br>Upon returning from his deliberations, Mr. Carroll offered both teams some general advice, but he was very complimentary of the work of each participant. He described the competition as extremely close and praised the effort of both teams before ultimately declaring for the plaintiffs and naming Mr. Kwon and Mr. Toresco as the winners.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Related Story: </span><a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de032608pearce.aspx\">Remembering Hugh B. Pearce as Trial Advocacy Competition Approaches Final Round</a>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(192, '2nd Annual Dress for Success Event Shows Widener Law’s Female Students What Not to Wear', '2008-04-12', '<p>On April 3rd, the women&rsquo;s portion of the 2nd Annual Dress for Success Fashion Show took place in the Barrister&rsquo;s Club. Assistant Dean for Career Development LeaNora Ruffin and Jerry Bergey, a representative from Talbots, demonstrated appropriate and inappropriate attire for interviews and other work situations.<br /><br />With help from several student models, Ms. Bergey demonstrated what would be proper attire for a job interview. She also explained the components of &ldquo;business casual&rdquo; attire. Professor Leslie Johnson made a special guest appearance as a model demonstrating several major fashion mistakes all in one package. At the conclusion, Ms. Bergey, Dean Ruffin, and Professor Johnson took questions and offered advice on everything from hiding tattoos and body piercings to preparing an &ldquo;emergency kit&rdquo; filled with extra hosiery, and stain hiding tricks.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(193, 'Annual Philadelphia Alumni Reception 2008', '2008-04-14', '<p>More than 240 alumni gathered this year to reunite and network with fellow classmates at the Annual Philadelphia Alumni Reception. The event was held on Wednesday, March 19th at The Crystal Tea Room located in Philadelphia&rsquo;s Wanamaker Building. In addition to the wonderful food, drink, and camaraderie, the reception again featured a silent auction and published an ad booklet which resulted in a profit of more than $24,000 toward the Widener Law Fund. Next year&rsquo;s event will be held on <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Thursday, March 19, 2009</span>. Save the date.<br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(194, 'Widener Law Center launches seminars for court interpreters', '2008-04-14', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br /> The Legal Education Institute on Widener University&rsquo;s Delaware campus will present two seminars for court interpreters that are designed to improve the skills and accuracy of these important service providers.<br /><br />The Accurate and Ethical Interpretation Seminar will be broken into two weekend sessions:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">April 26 and 27</span> <br />For Spanish-English interpreters<br />Held in room L126 of the main law building</li>\r\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">May 3 and 4 <br /></span>Language-neutral session<br />Held in the campus Barristers&rsquo; Club</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>The seminars are designed to help current court interpreters strengthen their consecutive interpreting techniques and further develop their skills. The sessions will also address critical ethical issues in the courtroom. Faculty will introduce the consecutive interpretation concept and discuss its rationale and required expertise. Participants will practice their skills in both small and large groups to improve their technique, vocabulary and legal terminology. <br /><br />This marks the first time the school has presented a program for court interpreters. <br /><br />Faculty for the seminar includes Maria M. Perez-Chambers, a federal- and state-court certified interpreter in Spanish, and Nancy Schweda Nicholson, a professor of linguistics, cognitive science and legal studies at the University of Delaware.<br /><br />Tuition for either seminar i<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">s $249.</span> The Saturday sessions run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and the Sunday sessions begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 12:15 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch are included for the Saturday portion of the seminars. The school is located at 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Del.<br /><br />To register, or for more information including lodging options, contact Peggy O&rsquo;Neill, Esq. at 302.477.2007 or moneill@widener.edu. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(195, 'Panel Discusses the Link Between Race and the Death Penalty', '2008-04-18', '<p>On Tuesday, April 15th, Widener Law and area civic groups presented &ldquo;Race and the death penalty: Is justice colorblind?&rdquo; The program featured a group of experts discussing the links between race and the death penalty.<br /><br />Kevin O&rsquo;Connell of Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty opened the program by thanking Widener Law Dean Linda Ammons and Special Programs Coordinator Connie Sweeney for their support of the event before turning the program over to Widener Law student and Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity Justin Roberts. Roberts introduced each of the panelists, starting with Widener Law professor and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic Judith Ritter. The other panelists included assistant public defender in the Philadelphia capital habeas unit Keisha N. Hudson, University of Delaware associate professor of sociology and criminal justice Benjamin Fleury-Steiner, and featured presenter professor Sheri Lynn Johnson of Cornell University Law School.<br /><br />Professor Johnson, assistant director of the Cornell Death Penalty Project and a graduate of Yale Law School, spoke first, emphasizing empirical data that indicated a statistically significant link between race and the application of the death penalty. Professor Fleury-Steiner spoke next, presenting a number of quotes from jurors collected during his research that indicated a disturbing level of bias. Keisha Hudson spoke about bias in jury selection, and she played video clips of former Philadelphia district attorney Jack McMahon instructing prosecutors about ways to block the selection of black jurors, particularly &ldquo;young black women&rdquo; and &ldquo;educated blacks&rdquo;.<br /><br />Professor Ritter spoke last, mentioning the law school&rsquo;s recently established Law &amp; Inequality Project and efforts to combat disparities in the law. Professor Johnson called for the abolishment of the death penalty before offering a more moderate approach to mitigating uneven applications of death penalty laws.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(196, 'Widener Law Students Discuss Climate Change', '2008-04-22', '<p>&ldquo;You are the lawyers of tomorrow,&rdquo; said Professor Kenneth T. Kristl in his introduction to the Widener Law Review&rsquo;s Student Symposium that took place on Wednesday April 16th. The event gave students the opportunity to present their papers on climate change issues in advance of the Living with Climate Change: Legal Challenges in a Warmer World symposium to take place on April 18th.<br /><br />The student symposium saw five Widener Law students from the Delaware campus present papers they had submitted for a writing competition sponsored by the Law Review. After Widener Law Review Editor-in-Chief Janine L. Hochberg opened the proceedings with a general welcome, Professor Kristl spoke. He noted that global warming &ldquo;is changing our physical world. The law is going to have to respond to that.&rdquo;<br /><br />After Professor Kristl spoke, the first student presenter, Deanne Camara Ferreira, presented her paper entitled &ldquo;Climate Change &amp; Agriculture: Could Methane Gas from Dairy Cows Spark the Next Gold Rush?&rdquo; Ferreira discussed the role of methane in climate change and how the use of methane digesters to generate electricity has generated a good deal of income for some cattle ranchers. The next speaker, Liam O&rsquo;Shaughnessy, discussed his paper, &ldquo;International Tax Approaches to Climate Change Mitigation&rdquo;, which focused on how different countries had approached the implementation of solar power.<br /><br />Jeremy Hague&rsquo;s paper, &ldquo;The Fate of State Regulations of Green House Gas Emissions Under the America&rsquo;s Climate Security Act of 2007&rdquo;, examined how a federal bill before Congress might effect state regulations on the emissions. Mariaeleni Sotirchou&rsquo;s &ldquo;Civil Conspiracy and Concert of Action Allegations in Village of Kivalina v. ExxonMobil&rdquo; examined the efforts of the Alaskan village of Kivalina to seek damages from a number of companies for contributing to global warming. They claim that climate change has put their village in danger because the ice that used to protect the village from storms is melting. Finally, David Anthony presented &ldquo;Why NEPA Must be Amended In Order to Combat Global Climate Change&rdquo;, arguing that the National Environmental Policy Act is inadequate because it allows for no private cause of action and gives too much discretion to the Executive branch of the federal government.<br /><br />Each presenter offered meaningful insight into climate change and the legal concerns surrounding it. An audience comprised of fellow students, faculty, and staff witnessed the presentations and presented the speakers with a number of questions. The student presenters will be able to use the feedback as they prepare their papers for submission to the new student writing competition that is part of the Law Review\'s annual Symposium.&nbsp; The winning student paper will be published in the Law Review issue containing the articles from the presenters at the April 18 Symposium, as well as a cash prize of $250.&nbsp; The second and third place articles will receive recognition in the Symposium issue, as well as cash prizes of $150 and $100 respectively.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(197, 'Widener-Harrisburg Celebrates February Bar Pass Rate', '2008-04-22', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br />Dean Linda L. Ammons hosted an ice cream&nbsp;social in celebration of the February Pennsylvania Bar pass rate announcement. With a pass rate of 90% for first time takers, it was the second highest first time takers score in the state of Pennsylvania,&nbsp;surpassed only by&nbsp;the University of Pennsylvania. On Thursday, April 17, 2008, Widener-Harrisburg students, faculty, and staff joined together in Sidebar Cafe at the ice cream social to&nbsp;share in the joy of such success. We are very proud of our graduates and their hard work!</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(198, 'Student Animal Legal Defense Fund Spurs Change', '2008-04-23', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p>On March 19th, 2008 the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, a Delaware campus student organization, asked the Widener Law community to sign a petition that encouraged campus food service provider Aramark to switch to &ldquo;cage-free&rdquo; eggs. &ldquo;It turned out to be a very worthwhile effort,&rdquo; notes SALDF President Lindsay Berman. On April 9th, after a meeting with Berman and SALDF&rsquo;s Vice-president Andrew Fabian, Jen Biscoe, the Aramark Manager for the Delaware campus, agreed to make the switch to only use eggs produced by &ldquo;cage-free&rdquo; chickens.<br /><br />Disturbed after witnessing a video depicting the cramped conditions and inhumane treatment that caged chickens endure, the members of the SALDF felt the need to take action. They set up an informational table and urged fellow students and other members of the law school community to sign the petition. Assistant Dean and SALDF Advisor Verne R. Smith noted, &ldquo;Chickens are highly intelligent and sensitive creatures with sophisticated social structures, yet most of these birds live their entire, miserable lives confined to a space smaller than a sheet of paper.&rdquo; In support of the student effort, he added, &ldquo;The switch to cage-free eggs will significantly enhance their well-being.&rdquo;<br /><br />Lindsay Berman called the change &ldquo;a huge step for Widener and for the fight to end animal cruelty of all kinds.&rdquo; Widener Law joins over 300 hundred schools that have made the switch to either completely eliminate or significantly reduce the use off eggs from caged hens. The Humane Society&rsquo;s Josh Balk commended the effort, stating, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m thrilled that Widener University School of Law has joined hundreds of other schools in taking a stand against the confinement of hens in cages. I hope other institutions follow this positive example.&rdquo;<br /><br />&ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited that now students know the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund exists,&rdquo; says Berman. In addition to the &ldquo;cage-free&rdquo; initiative, the SALDF issued a challenge to members of the law school community to be vegetarian for a day, and a number of students, as well as members of the faculty and staff, answered the call.<br /><br />As part of Delaware Week for the Animals, Assistant Dean and animal law professor Verne R. Smith will be part of an animal law forum entitled &ldquo;Using the Law to Protect Animals&rdquo; from 7-9 pm on Thursday April 24th at Widener Law&rsquo;s Delaware campus on Concord Pike. The forum, to be held in the Vale Moot Court Room in the Main Law Building, is free and open to the public.&nbsp; For more information, email Verne Smith at vrsmith@widener.edu.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(199, 'Wilmington Alumni Chapter held its kick-off event', '2008-04-25', '<p>The Wilmington Alumni Chapter held its kick-off event on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. The event was attended by more than 50 alumni, faculty and staff. Founding member and alumnus Raj Srivatson &lsquo;01, &lsquo;05 welcomed guests and gave a brief overview of plans&nbsp;the chapter has&nbsp;for the future. Dean Linda Ammons provided the audience with the latest updates of what is happening at the Law School.</p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>The purpose of the chapter is to build a mutually beneficial relationship between the Law School and its alumni that provides an opportunity for alumni to come together for social and intellectual enrichment. In addition, the chapter will provide a network for graduates in the region. We are looking forward to meeting all of our Delaware alumni at future events.<br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(200, 'Professor Randy Barnett Speaks to Students About Constitutional Cliches', '2008-04-25', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br />On Wednesday, April 16th, Randy E. Barnett, the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory at Georgetown University Law Center, spoke to members of Widener Law&rsquo;s Federalist Society about &lsquo;constitutional clich&eacute;s&rsquo;. After Professor Barnett&rsquo;s talk, Widener Law professor Robert J. Lipkin offered a few counterpoints, and then Professor Barnett answered questions informally.<br /><br />After an introduction from Federalist Society president Brian Kisielewski, Professor Barnett talked about how popular discourse on the Constitution has produced catchphrases that have become trite, and further, that &ldquo;They enable commentators to criticize the court without actually knowing anything about the Constitution.&rdquo; He went on to describe particular phrases that had been rendered clich&eacute; and articulated how the original meaning and context had been stripped away.<br /><br />Professor Barnett described the term &ldquo;judicial activism&rdquo; as &ldquo;notoriously devoid of any definition,&rdquo; and noted that &ldquo;Normally the term is used to criticize a court for being activist.&rdquo; In essence, tagging a court or judge with the label of &ldquo;judicial activism&rdquo; becomes a way to avoid criticizing a court for being wrong by instead accusing them of overstepping their bounds. Such &ldquo;activism&rdquo; will then be ridiculed as &ldquo;unelected and unaccountable judges overturning the decisions of an elected legislature.&rdquo; Unfortunately, this becomes a means for critics of a judicial decision to avoid engaging with what exactly is wrong about the decision and undercuts the legitimacy of judicial review.<br /><br />The talk also examined terms such as &ldquo;strict constructionist&rdquo;, &ldquo;not legislating from the bench, &ldquo;framer&rsquo;s intent&rdquo;, and &ldquo;the dead hand of the past&rdquo;. Unfortunately, different factions have appropriated these terms and have diluted the meaning of all of these phrases. If &ldquo;not legislating from the bench&rdquo; can be construed in the strictest sense to mean that a judge should merely interpret laws and not make them, what constitutes a judicial decision that is interpretation versus one that could be considered &ldquo;legislating from the bench&rdquo;?<br /><br />&ldquo;Debate merits rather than head off arguments with lazy assertions,&rdquo; offered Professor Barnett in conclusion. Professor Lipkin answered Professor Barnett&rsquo;s talk by noting that the problem with calling these phrases clich&eacute;s is that clich&eacute;s are such because they get at a truth. He also touched on the position of the United States as a republican democracy, the idea that activism should be divided into interpretative activism and institutional activism, and the idea that essentially contested concepts make discourse on these subjects difficult because intelligent and rational individuals can disagree on what a given concept means.<br /><br />Professor Barnett spoke again after Professor Lipkin&rsquo;s response, and he noted that the Constitution was also meant to protect the minority because &ldquo;they haven&rsquo;t consented to be ruled by the majority. Finally, he asserted that &ldquo;Where there is a clear meaning of the Constitution, you have to follow it.&rdquo;</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(201, 'Professor Wes Oliver Addresses the Evolution of Search and Seizure Laws', '2008-04-28', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br /> Professor Wes Oliver spoke to fellow members of the Harrisburg faculty about his current research on Thursday April 24th as part of on-going faculty development efforts. He discussed the evolution of the search and seizure procedure from the early 1800s to its more modern form. <br /><br />Oliver argued that by the mid-nineteenth century, probable cause had become nothing more than a pleading requirement, if indeed it had ever been anything more than this.&nbsp; Victims of crimes in the mid-nineteenth century merely asserted that they had probable cause to believe, and did believe, that the search would produce evidence of a crime.&nbsp; Nineteenth-century prohibition, adopted in most northern and mid-western states, required complainants seeking search warrants to provide the factual foundation for suspecting that the requested search would produce evidence of a crime.&nbsp; Victims were, however, no longer required swear under oath that a crime had been committed as prohibition had created a victimless crime.&nbsp; The requirements for liquor searches gradually became the standard for all searches, transforming criminal investigations from a private system initiated by victims to a public system initiated by the police.&nbsp; The research Professor Oliver discussed is part of his forthcoming book entitled <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Rise and Fall of the New York Police 1850-1933</span>.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(202, 'DuPont Diversity Pipeline Project Offers High School Students a Glimpse of Law School', '2008-04-28', '<p>&ldquo;Repeat after me. My life has purpose. I have an appointment with destiny. I will meet my appointment,&rdquo; instructed Dean Linda L. Ammons as she addressed a group of students from Wilmington&rsquo;s Howard High School of Technology.</p>\r\n<p><br />The Hearsay Rationale<br />On April 7th, Widener Law hosted the group of Howard juniors as part of the DuPont Diversity Pipeline Project. After registration and some breakfast, the formal program opened with a welcome from Assistant Dean Serena Williams. Law students Jordana Frankel and Lindsay Heslin followed with a presentation entitled &ldquo;So You May Want To Be a Legal Professional?&rdquo; that explored some facts about lawyers. Public Interest Resource Center Director Sydney Howe-Barksdale followed up with a few quick questions to the students, teaching them a little bit about property law.<br /><br />The Howard students then got to experience the atmosphere of a law school class firsthand as Professor Jules Epstein led them through a consideration of the legal concept of hearsay. He gave the students a handout with a definition of hearsay followed by a number of statements, and then asked the students to try and identify whether or not each of the statements would be considered hearsay. As Professor Epstein took the students through each statement to examine whether or not it could be considered hearsay, he explained the rationale behind the hearsay rule. While a witness must take an oath and is subject to cross-examination and scrutiny of his or her demeanor, if that witness introduces a statement he or she heard from another party, there is no way to verify the truthfulness of the statement. Engaged by the interactive teaching method, the students picked up the concepts quickly.<br /><br />Live on Purpose<br />At the conclusion of Professor Epstein&rsquo;s class, the Howard students took tours of the campus before reconvening in Polishook Hall for a paralegal class in the criminal trial process with Legal Education Institute adjunct Professor Michael Hawley. Professor Hawley stressed that he wanted to &ldquo;remove some of the mystery&rdquo; for the students, explaining, &ldquo;The public doesn&rsquo;t understand the preparation process. They see the culmination in a thirty or forty-five minute TV show, but the trial is won or lost in the office during preparation.&rdquo;<br /><br />After Professor Hawley&rsquo;s lecture on the criminal trial process, the students were treated to lunch at the Barrister&rsquo;s Club, where they heard from a distinguished panel of experts on a variety of topics including law school admissions, the paralegal program, career success, and the value of education. The panel consisted of Professor Nathaniel Nichols, Assistant Dean and Director of the Legal Education Institute Eileen Grena, Assistant Dean for Admissions Barbara Ayars, law students Dana Griffin and Damiano Presley, and paralegal student Patrina Wallace.<br /><br />Following the lunch panel, Dean Linda L. Ammons addressed the students, imploring them to &ldquo;Live on purpose, not accidentally.&rdquo; She remarked, &ldquo;The world is open to you,&rdquo; and told the students that they are capable of doing whatever they set their minds to. Dean Ammons also offered thanks to everyone involved in putting the program together. DuPont legal counsel Ernest Tucker followed her, offering a similar thank you on behalf of DuPont to everyone involved in making the event a success.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(203, 'Pennsylvania Bar Institute Representative Discusses Distance Learning', '2008-04-28', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\">// <![CDATA[\r\n		\r\n// ]]></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br />On Tuesday April 22nd, Jennifer Ellis, Esq. of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, spoke to members of the Harrisburg faculty and staff about different approaches to distance learning. She discussed the pros and cons of a number of different platforms for distance learning and stressed the need for interactive elements. The talk examined teleweb courses, chat rooms, message boards, websites, and a &ldquo;virtual chalkboard&rdquo;. Ms. Ellis also addressed whether new technologies would be difficult for faculty members to learn, and how user-friendly they need to be.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(204, 'Program examines Delaware’s famed general corporation laws', '2008-04-29', '<p>Delaware&rsquo;s famed corporation law and how it fits into a 21st-century world will be the subject of a daylong conference that draws practicing business law attorneys and corporate law scholars from Delaware, the nation and around the world.<br /><br />The Monday, May 5 event, &ldquo;The Delaware General Corporation Law for the 21st Century,&rdquo; will be held in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom in the Delaware campus main law building. Principal sponsors are the law school and Corporation Service Company, a leading provider of legal and financial services for many of the world&rsquo;s largest companies, law firms and financial institutions. Other event sponsors include The Vale Foundation, Abrams &amp; Laster LLP, Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP, Richards Layton &amp; Finger, P.A., and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher &amp; Flom LLP.<br /><br />Participants will consider whether Delaware&rsquo;s general corporation law needs reforming to meet global challenges brought by revolutionary changes in technology, finance and capital markets that have taken place since the law was revamped 40 years ago. Presenters will consider the potential for statutory reform affecting takeovers, stockholder litigation and corporate governance.<br /><br />Speakers for the day include academics from schools around the nation and world, including Professor Lucian Bebchuk of Harvard Law School, Professor Jennifer Hill of the University of Sydney Law School in Australia and Professor Charles Elson of the University of Delaware. Presenting attorneys work in Delaware and New York practices and have represented stockholders and corporations in major Delaware litigation. Vice Chancellor Leo E. Strine Jr. of Delaware&rsquo;s famed Court of Chancery will give a luncheon keynote address.<br /><br />&ldquo;Delaware&rsquo;s corporation law is at the heart of the state&rsquo;s dominance in public companies&rsquo; choice of where to incorporate,&rdquo; said Lawrence A. Hamermesh, the Ruby R. Vale Professor of Corporate and Business Law and director of Widener&rsquo;s Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law. &ldquo;As the state&rsquo;s only law school, we are in a unique position to draw on the resources of the business law community and host a thought-provoking discussion. It should be an enlightening and stimulating day.&rdquo;<br /><br />The conference is open to the public. Pennsylvania attorneys who attend will earn six continuing legal education credits and Delaware attorneys who attend will earn 6.3 credits (no ethics). The cost to attend for credit is $100 or $75 for Widener Law alumni, and includes lunch. The event is free to students and the general public, without lunch service.<br /><br />For more information, or to register, contact Constance Sweeney at 302.477.2177 or cmsweeney@widener.edu. <br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(205, 'Widener Law Hosts 2008 Haile L. Alford Memorial Conference', '2008-04-30', '<p>On Friday April 25th, the Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association held the 2008 Haile L. Alford Memorial Conference at Widener Law. The conference began with a training session in the morning, continued with a luncheon and Keynote Address, and ended with two panel discussions in the afternoon.<br /><br />Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons opened the morning session with a general welcome that touched on some of the school&rsquo;s diversity efforts. Werten F.W. Bellamy, Jr., founder of Stakeholders, Inc., conducted a training and career development seminar. He spoke about pathways to career opportunities and offered his observations on diversity, the marketplace, and the employer-employee relationship. Mr. Bellamy noted of the diversity discussion, &ldquo;No one wants to define the end game, and that&rsquo;s consequential.&rdquo; He also discussed career trajectories and how to be a &lsquo;top performer&rsquo;. After Mr. Bellamy&rsquo;s stirring session, conference participants proceeded to the Barristers&rsquo; Club for lunch and a Keynote address from A. Michael Pratt, Esq., a Partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP and a former President of the Barristers&rsquo; Association of Philadelphia. <br /><br />Following lunch, the conference moved back to the Ruby Vale Moot Courtroom, where Emilie R. Ninan, a Partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews &amp; Ingersoll LLP and President of the South Asian Bar Association of Delaware, moderated a panel discussion about women of color in law firms. The panel consisted of Advanta General Counsel Roberta Torian, Teresa Mason of the Delaware Department of Justice, Blank Rome LLP Partner Barbara Potts, Potter Anderson Corroon LLP Partner Theresa V. Brown-Edwards, and Doneene Damon, Director at Richard Layton &amp; Finger. The final panel of the day addressed using a legal background to pursue other opportunities. Rafael X. Zahralddin-Aravena, Executive Vice Chair of the Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association and managing shareholder of the Wilmington office of Elliott Greenleaf, moderated a panel featuring Louis L. Redding Professor for the Study of Law and Public Policy at the University of Delaware Leland Ware, Bernard B. Fulton, III, Esq., and Melissa Murphy Weber, a shareholder at Elliott Greenleaf and former representative for the 148th Legislative District in Pennsylvania.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(206, 'Law students become teachers for a day', '2008-05-01', '<p><br />A group of Widener Law students recently traded their desk space for a spot in the front of the classroom, where they acted as teachers to share an important civil-rights-history lesson with area high school students.<br /><br />The 14 Widener students worked in pairs, visiting classrooms at Wilmington Christian School, William Penn High School, Alexis I. du Pont High School and Concord High School in mid April. They taught the teens about the 1950 Delaware Court of Chancery case Parker v. University of Delaware, which resulted in a ruling that segregation by the university was unconstitutional.<br /><br />The initiative was done through the law school&rsquo;s Law and Inequality Project, in cooperation with the Delaware Law Related Education Center. The project began this spring and involves several components, including a law school seminar, public service projects and a teaching exercise. The Widener students first underwent training to ready themselves for the teaching task. They came to the high schools armed with handouts, a lesson plan and enthusiasm for sharing a pivotal piece of state history.<br /><br />&ldquo;This case was important to the history of our nation,&rdquo; law student Lorraine Gordon told the 24 students in Glenn Runyon&rsquo;s history class at Concord High School.<br /><br />Gordon taught the class with fellow Widener student Eileen Horgan on Friday, April 18. The pair generated a discussion on race in the United States in the 1950s and how &ldquo;separate but equal&rdquo; was the U.S. Supreme Court-sanctioned law of the land at the time. <br /><br />In a classroom where the walls were decorated with colorful posters of the Bill of Rights, all the U.S. presidents and Martin Luther King Jr., Gordon and Horgan explained the case Brooks M. Parker made to Delaware Chancellor Collins J. Seitz in his effort to win admission to the university. But they also worked to give the students an appreciation for how the law worked, and the arduous task Parker had before him.<br /><br />&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t just say this is what I want,&rdquo; Gordon explained. &ldquo;You have to say, this is what I want, and this is what I deserve, because this law says so.&rdquo;<br /><br />A year after his decision in the Parker case, Seitz decided another case about segregation in public schools. That was ultimately one of four combined into the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.<br /><br /></p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(207, 'Adjuncts Recognized for Years of Service', '2008-05-02', '<p>The Adjunct Appreciation Dinner was held on April 30, 2008, giving recognition to the adjunct faculty for their years of service for teaching at Widener University School of Law. Honored adjunct professors were John C. Andrade, Esq.; Kathleen Conn, Esq.; Ruth E. Ganister, Esq.; Stuart M. Grant, Esq.; Edmund M. Hillis, Esq.; Matthew I. Hirsch, Esq.; Vera M. Holmes, Esq.; The Honorable Jack B. Jacobs; Jonathan Krinick, Esq.; Martin J. Seigel, Esq.; Roseann B. Termini, Esq.; The Honorable Dexter M. Thompson, Jr.; Janine Howard-O&rsquo;Rangers, Esq.; and Jacqueline Paradee Mette, Esq.. The Adjunct Faculty Distinguished Service Award was presented to The Honorable William C. Carpenter, Jr.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(208, 'Law Journals Prepare for Summer Writing Competitions', '2008-05-05', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\">// <![CDATA[\r\n\r\n// ]]></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p>May marks the start of summer writing competitions for the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Widener Law Review, Widener Law Journal, and Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race. These summer writing competitions offer an invaluable opportunity for students to earn a place with one of these journals. Students who work on a law review develop important research and writing skills that are highly valued by prospective employers.<br /><br />The summer writing competitions are open to first-year regular division students in their second semester and second-year extended division students who will have completed 30 credits by the end of the semester and have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.7. Students will receive notification about acceptance by early August.<br /><br />The Delaware Journal of Corporate Law&rsquo;s summer writing competition will involve an environmental law issue. Beginning May 5th, you may pick up a competition packet in person at the journal&rsquo;s office in Polishook Hall between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday before May 30th, or between 8am and 5:45pm Monday through Thursday after May 30th. Alternatively, you may pick up a competition packet at the library or download it through TWEN by adding &ldquo;The Delaware Journal of Corporate Law Summer Write-On Competition&rdquo; course. Submissions are due by 4pm three weeks from the time that you pick up or download the packet. June 23rd is the last day to pick up a competition packet.<br /><br />The Widener Law Review&rsquo;s summer writing competition involves an 8th Amendment Issue. You will receive the full topic when you receive the competition packet. Packets will be available through TWEN from 12:00pm on May 5th until 12:00pm on June 23rd. For more information, visit the Widener Law Review&rsquo;s website. Submissions are due three weeks after downloading the competition packet.<br /><br />Students interested in the&nbsp;Widener Law Journal&rsquo;s summer writing competition will have three weeks to write a survey on a Pennsylvania administrative law issue. The purpose of the summer writing competition is to test a student&rsquo;s analytical and writing skills. Competition materials will be available on TWEN on the evening of Tuesday May 13th, and all materials must be submitted by Monday, June 2nd.<br /><br />The new Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race&rsquo;s summer writing competition is open to students from both the Delaware and Harrisburg campuses. Students will have an opportunity to comment on a recent Supreme Court case, involving racial retaliation claims in an employment context. The competition packet will be available to Delaware students on May 5th and Harrisburg students on June 9th. The competition packet can be downloaded through TWEN, and the Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race&rsquo;s TWEN password is 19WJLER54.&nbsp; The final day for submissions is July 11th, and students will be notified of acceptance on August 3rd. If you have any further questions, send an email to wjler@mail.widener.edu.<br /><br />Take advantage of these summer writing competitions to earn a place on one of Widener Law&rsquo;s prestigious journals.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(209, 'Widener Law professor named to prestigious international environmental board', '2008-05-07', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p><br /> When Widener Law Professor David R. Hodas lectures to students on the Delaware campus about global environmental issues, he speaks with authority. Hodas was recently elected to the governing board of the International Union for Conservation of Nature&rsquo;s Academy of Environmental Law. <br /><br />As the nine-member board&rsquo;s North American representative, Hodas has an extensive international network of environmental law colleagues. When he talks about how warm it was in Moscow this past winter, or the ethanol being made from the sugar cane fields of Brazil, he shares information he gleaned from people who are living it.<br /><br />&ldquo;I can talk about problems and issues in other countries from these personal accounts,&rdquo; Hodas said.<br /><br />The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world&rsquo;s oldest and largest global environmental network. It helps the world find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environmental and development challenges. The academy supports the IUCN&rsquo;s Commission on Environmental Law Programme through its focus on global education and research. The academy is dedicated to advancing knowledge of environmental law through a network of academic institutions.<br /><br />Widener University School of Law is a charter member of the academy, which is made up of 79 law schools and universities around the world. Hodas began his two-year term as the board&rsquo;s North American representative on April 15. He will work to help build the academy into a major institution by working on academy governance, helping to organize committees, planning teaching and research functions, fashioning rules for admitting new universities into the academy and developing a model curriculum for climate change to be taught around the world. <br /><br />&ldquo;Enormous energy gains from improved energy efficiency are achievable rapidly and at low cost. However, that can happen only if we have the right policies and laws in place &ndash; and educating people about environmentally sound laws that make energy efficiency profitable is the critical first step in most countries,&rdquo; Hodas said. &ldquo;I would like to look back in 10 or 20 years and be able to say my efforts helped build the academy into an institution that helps improve the world.&rdquo;<br /><br />Hodas teaches and writes in the areas of environmental law, climate change law, energy law, international environmental law, administrative law and constitutional law. He established Widener&rsquo;s Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic on the Delaware campus in 1989.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(210, 'Assistant Dean LeaNora Ruffin named president-elect of the National Association for Law Placement', '2008-05-08', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p>Widener University School of Law Dean Linda L. Ammons today congratulated LeaNora Ruffin, assistant dean of career development, on being named president-elect of the National Association for Law Placement. Ruffin will serve as the group&rsquo;s president for a year beginning in April 2009. <br /><br />The National Association for Law Placement is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating legal career counseling and planning, recruitment and retention and the professional development of law students and lawyers. Ruffin joined the organization, which is comprised of legal employers and law school members, in 1998. Her nomination for president-elect was approved by the membership on April 18. <br /><br />In her capacity as president-elect, Ruffin said she plans to spend the next year working on formulating a business plan for the association and identifying and appointing leaders for the group&rsquo;s various committees, task forces and advisory councils. <br /><br />Ruffin has worked in the law school&rsquo;s Career Development Office for 10 years and has served as its assistant dean since 2000. She earned both her bachelor&rsquo;s degree and law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.<br /><br />&ldquo;Assistant Dean Ruffin&rsquo;s service to NALP will allow her to use her skills and contacts toward the betterment of law students around the country,&rdquo; Ammons said. &ldquo;Her election to this post is one of the many examples of how Widener staff and faculty are recognized nationally for their commitment to the legal profession.&rdquo;<br /><br />Ruffin lives in Bear, Del. with her husband, Michael. She works out of Widener&rsquo;s Delaware campus.<br /> </p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(211, 'Symposium on Delaware Corporate Law Reaches Across North America', '2008-05-09', '<p>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script>\r\n</p>\r\n<p>Widener Law hosted a symposium entitled The Delaware General Corporation Law for the 21st Century in the Ruby Vale Moot Court Room on Monday May 5th, but the day&rsquo;s events reached a much wider audience. In addition to those able to attend the event in person, hundreds more were able to participate via a live video webcast sponsored by Corporation Service Company.<br /><br />&ldquo;Today, those of you here in person are joined by hundreds of law firm and in-house counsel who are participating by web hookup in 34 states and Canada,&rdquo; remarked Dean Linda Ammons in her introduction. The event marked the first time that Widener Law has presented a symposium via live webcast, and event organizers estimated that roughly 400 people across North America participated in the symposium via the webcast. Remote participants who registered for the event received a link where they could log onto to view all four of the symposium panels, and they could email in questions to participate more fully in the discussion.<br /><br />A leading provider of legal and financial services for large companies, law firms, and financial institutions, the Corporation Service Company sent notices about the symposium to firms and offices on their extensive client list. &ldquo;Widener is getting exposure at the highest levels of corporate America,&rdquo; noted Gretchen Olive, CSC&rsquo;s director of education and industry affairs and a driving force behind the webcast. &ldquo;This is one of our first video webcasts,&rdquo; added Olive.<br /><br />Additional sponsors of the symposium included The Vale Foundation, Abrams &amp; Laster LLP, Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP, Richards Layton &amp; Finger, and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher &amp; Flom LLP.</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(212, 'Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Harrisburg Students', '2008-05-12', '<p>Widener Law&rsquo;s Harrisburg Campus recently hosted its annual Commencement Awards Ceremony to honor outstanding students. Vice Dean John L. Gedid gave the welcome address, and Dean Linda Ammons remarked, &ldquo;We take great pride in celebrating, awarding, and rewarding those students who have excelled.&rdquo;<br /><br />Dean Ammons presented the Valedictorian Award to Michelle Groleau for achieving the highest grade point average in the graduating class. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Michelle received a Widener Merit Scholarship each year that she has been at Widener. She also earned eight Certificates of Achievement, has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester, and was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.<br /><br />The Dean&rsquo;s award, given to a student who demonstrated outstanding legal aptitude, exemplary service, significant leadership skills, and the potential to become an outstanding member of the legal community, went to Nicole E. Carter. The 2007-2008 Executive Managing Editor of the Widener Law Journal, Nicole graduated from Clemson University. A Student Mentor, Academic Support Fellow, and a recipient of the 2006-2007 President&rsquo;s Award, she has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester and earned four Certificates of Achievement. Nicole also served as the student site chair for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, represented low-income clients for the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, and wrote a blog for the Admissions Office. After graduation, she will work as associate in the corporate finance practice group of Buchanan Ingersoll &amp; Rooney&rsquo;s Harrisburg office.<br /><br />Dean Ammons presented the President&rsquo;s Award to second year student Diana C. Esposito. The President&rsquo;s Award is presented to a student who in the opinion of the President of Widener University possesses high potential for meaningful contributions to the law school, the community, and the profession. A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Diana has been on the Dean&rsquo;s List every semester that she has been at Widener, and she has earned Certificates of Achievement for Legal Methods I and Administrative Law. An Academic Support Fellow for Property Law, she currently works as a research assistant for Professor Christopher Robinette and has accepted a summer internship with the U.S. Attorney&rsquo;s Office in Harrisburg.<br /><br />Addressing the parents of the award recipients, Dean of Students Ann Fruth said, &ldquo;We are extremely proud of your graduates. These students have excelled and we are happy to have family members here to help us celebrate.&rdquo; A full list of the evening&rsquo;s award winners follows.<br /><br /><strong>Award Recipients</strong><br /><br /><strong>Scholarship Awards</strong><br /><em>Alfred Avins Memorial Scholarship:</em> Michelle Groleau<br /><em>George C. Blissman Memorial Scholarship:</em> Jeni Pilgrim<br /><em>Honorable James C. Crumlish Scholarship:</em> Brianna Davidson<br /><em>Edmund Dobrowolski Memorial Scholarship:</em> Anthony Hoover<br /><em>Embracing Global Women Scholarship:</em> Clarissa Freeman<br /><em>Howard and Nancy Finkelman Scholarship:</em> Rebecca Waldemar<br /><em>Friends of Widener University School of Law Scholarship:</em> Michael Mitchell<br /><em>Pamela K. Karpouzis Memorial Scholarship:</em> Melissa Galarza<br /><em>Charles P. Mirarchi, Sr. Memorial Scholarship:</em> Adam Santucci<br /><em>Bruce M. &amp; Elizabeth M. Monroe Endowed Scholarship:</em> Leanne Miller<br /><em>Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Minority Scholarship:</em> Fateen Bullock<br /><em>Pennsylvania Bar Foundation Scholarship:</em> Abby Trovinger<br /><em>Dean Anthony J. Santoro Scholarship:</em> Brian Gregg<br /><em>William I. Schaffer Memorial Scholarship:</em> Bonnie Hershberger<br /><em>Bernard S. Wildstein Memorial Scholarship:</em> Renae Kluk-Kiehl<br /><br /><strong>Commencement Awards</strong><br /><em>ALI-ABA Scholarship &amp; Leadership Award:</em> Brian Cagle<br /><em>American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Eric D. Turner Award: </em>Michelle Groleau<br /><em>American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence:</em> John Toresco<br /><em>James S. Bowman American Inns of Court Award:</em> Leanne Miller<br /><em>The Widener Law Public Service and Advocacy Award:</em> Gaetano D&rsquo;Andrea<br /><em>International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award:</em> Chase Defelice<br /><em>Legal Research and Writing Award:</em> Michelle Groleau, Colleen Reilly, and Rebecca Waldemar<br /><em>John A. Fillion Memorial Award:</em> Bonnie Hershberger<br /><em>Most Promising Civil Litigator Award:</em> Clarke Madden and Gina Simonelli<br /><em>Outstanding Clinical Advocacy Award:</em> Alicia Petersen<br /><em>Elizabeth G. Simcox Pro Bono Service Award:</em> John Toresco<br /><em>Moot Court Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member: </em>Michael Simon<br /><em>Trial Advocacy Honor Society Outstanding Executive Board Member:</em> Gaetano D&rsquo;Andrea<br /><em>Widener Law Journal Award for Distinguished Legal Scholarship:</em> Elizabeth Schwartz<br /><em>Dean Anthony J. Santoro Outstanding Service Award:</em> Kymberly Leyva<br /><em>Widener University School of Law Outstanding Service Awards: </em>Robert C. Altenberg, Chelsea Carter, Jonathan Wilkes Chatham, Chase Defelice, Clarissa Freeman, Meghan Goddard, Michelle Groleau, Amy Quimby, Elizabeth Schwartz, John Toresco, and Melissa Vega.<br /><em>Outstanding Law &amp; Government Student Award:</em> Matthew R. Krupp<br /><em>Distinguished Service Award:</em> Steve Kwon</p>', '', NULL, '', '', 0, 'off', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(213, 'Widener Law given pro bono award', '2008-05-12', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>Widener Law is pleased to announce it has been recognized by the Pennsylvania Bar Association with a 2008 Pro Bono Award. The awards are given annually to people nominated by peers in recognition of either pro bono work or the promotion of pro bono service.<br><br>The honor was formally given to Widener Law Associate Professor Nathaniel C. Nichols, director of the law school’s clinical programs. Nichols explained it reflects the unpaid, public service done by five Widener students who volunteered through the school’s Public Interest Resource Center. <br><br>The students visited senior centers in Upper Darby, Chester, Lansdowne and Ridley Township during the fall 2007 semester. They spoke to groups of seniors about debt collection and interviewed them for possible representation by the Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinic, run out of Widener’s Delaware law campus and overseen by Nichols. The award carried Nichols’ name because of his contact role with the clinic. <br><br>“These students took on this added responsibility in addition to their heavy academic workloads and they did it for no pay and no credit. The rewards of learning through civic engagement are tremendous, but recognition like this is also gratifying,” Nichols said.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">The Delaware campus students who performed the service included:</span><br>May 2008 graduates:<br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span>Troy Riddle</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Nicholas Papademetriou</span> </li>\n<li><span>Kristina Rutsky</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span>May 2009 anticipated graduates:<br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span>Shana Pinter</span> </li>\n<li><span>Sheera Gartzman</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span>“My congratulations go out to everyone involved in attaining the award. These students embody the Widener commitment to community service and Associate Professor Nichols sets a positive example for them all through his work with the clinic,” Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said.<br><br>The award was given May 5 at an event in Harrisburg, Pa.<br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(214, 'Vice Dean Gedid Speaks Before Pennsylvania House of Representatives', '2008-05-13', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 2px; float: right; width: 400px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"266\" alt=\"gedid con con 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/gedid%20con%20con%201.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">John L. Gedid, Vice Dean and Director of the Law, <span>Vincent DeLiberato, Senior Staff Attorney,  Legislative Reference Bureau and  the court reporter</span></span><span></span><br></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"266\" alt=\"gedid con con 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/gedid%20con%20con%202.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">John L. Gedid, Vice Dean and Director of the Law, <span>Vincent DeLiberato, Senior Staff Attorney,  Legislative Reference Bureau</span></span></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"333\" alt=\"gedid con con 3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/gedid%20con%20con%203.jpg\"></p>\n</div>On Monday May 5th, John L. Gedid, Vice Dean and Director of the Law and Government Institute at Widener Law’s Harrisburg campus spoke before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Majority &amp; Minority Policy Committees about the history of Pennsylvania Constitutional Conventions. The presentation was part of a hearing on how to amend the State Constitution.<br><br>Vice Dean Gedid spoke for two hours, detailing the historical context of past Constitutional conventions and the alterations to the state’s Constitution resulting from them. He opened with a consideration of the three methods of constitutional change: revolution, constitutional convention, or amendment under Article XI, § 1. The presentation then moved to a consideration of what issues and circumstances had led to Constitutional conventions in the past. Gedid examined the Declaration of Rights Article I, § 2, which articulates that governmental power is inherent in the people and that they have an inalienable right to change or alter the Constitution.<br><br>After examining the factors that produced, and the outcomes of, the Pennsylvania Constitutions of 1776, 1790, 1839, 1874, and 1968, Vice Dean Gedid discussed several Pennsylvania Supreme Court cases interpreting Constitutional convention provisions. He concluded the talk by suggesting that the two clear methods for amending the constitution are to make amendments under the provisions of Article XI, § 1 or by convening a Constitutional convention as outlined in Article I, § 2. Further, he contended that conventions were only successful “when Legislature and Citizens have agreed” on the necessity of holding one. The presentation also touched on the need for government stability while acknowledging the importance of change when “major economic, political, or geographic changes occur.”<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(215, 'Widener Law Prepares for Graduation Ceremonies', '2008-05-15', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 400px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"450\" alt=\"grad del mom\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/grad%20del%20mom.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"395\" alt=\"grad hbg\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/grad%20hbg.jpg\"></p>\n<p><br></p>\n</div>This weekend marks the <a title=\"2008 Widener Law Commencement\" href=\"http://law.widener.edu/commencement/2008/\">2008 Widener Law Commencement ceremonies</a>. On Saturday, May 17th, the Delaware campus will hold graduation ceremonies for the 34th graduating class at 4 p.m. on the green at the school’s Wilmington, Delaware campus. The Harrisburg campus will hold its graduation ceremony Sunday, May 18th at 11 a.m. at the Forum, located in the Harrisburg Capitol Complex.<br><br>The Honorable Roger Gregory, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, will speak to Harrisburg’s 124 graduates, and Delaware’s 302 graduates will hear remarks from the Hon. Theodore McKee, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge McKee will also receive an honorary degree.<br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(216, 'Outstanding Delaware Students Honored', '2008-05-17', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"400\" height=\"299\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"student d awards 08\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/student%20d%20awards%2008.jpg\">“When you look at the accomplishments of the students in this room, it is clear Widener is on the move,” said President Harris to those assembled to honor outstanding students at the Delaware Student Awards Ceremony. The ceremony began with a welcome from acting Dean of Students Patrick Johnston. He introduced Dean Linda Ammons, who noted in her remarks that \"Academic excellence is at the core of this institution,\" before turning the program back over to Dean Johnston.<br><br>Dean Ammons presented the Dean’s award, which is given to a student who demonstrated outstanding legal aptitude, exemplary service, significant leadership skills, and the potential to become an outstanding member of the legal community, to Gabriela N. Arce de Smith. A graduate of California State University-Bakersfield, Gabriela came to Widener Law in 2005 after working in Camden, NJ, as a Manager for Platform Learning, Inc. She has been on the Dean’s List every semester, served as Vice President of the Association of Latin American and Hispanic Students for two years, served on the senior staff of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, and volunteered as the student coordinator of the Pro Bono Partnership Program for the Public Interest Research Center this past year.<br><br>President Harris gave the President’s Award to Bonnie E. Copeland. The President’s Award is presented to a student entering his or her final year of law school who in the opinion of the President of Widener University possesses high potential for meaningful contributions to the law school, the community, and the profession. An extended division student, Bonnie has achieved Dean’s Honors each semester since beginning law school and is a member of the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society. A mother of two, she has volunteered her time to organizations such as the Board of Girls, Inc., of Delaware and the Fund for Women, and has held various managerial positions in Delaware State Senate and Representative races over the past six years.<br><br>See a complete listing of the awards below.<br><br><strong>Award Recipients</strong><br><br><strong>Fellowships</strong><br>The Chadwick Constitutional Education Fellowship: Megan F. Doll and Charity Wilt<br>The Domestic Violence Research and Advocacy Fellowship: Jennifer N. Bergin<br>The DuPont Diversity Initiative Fellowship: Troy A. Riddle<br>The DuPont Public Interest Fellowships: Kate M. Albert and Jennifer A. Pesavento<br>The Wolcott Fellowships: Joan Alice Burn, Tamika Crawl-Bey, Nicole M. Faries, Danielle K. Kuzminski, and Tracy L. Warga.<br>The Young Conaway Stargatt &amp; Taylor Public Interest Fellowship: John A. Kirk<br><br><strong>Scholarships</strong><br><em>Alfred Avins Memorial Scholarship:</em> Janine L. Hochberg<br><em>Bank of America Scholarship:</em> Errol Carvalho<br><em>The Howard Berg Scholarship:</em> Danielle K. Kuzminski<br><em>The E. Wallace Chadwick Memorial Scholarship:</em> Jennifer N. Bergin and Melissa L. Miller<br><em>The Harvey Alan Chernoff Memorial Scholarship:</em> Joseph E. McNamara<br><em>The Esther F. Clark Memorial Scholarship:</em> Christofer K. Bates<br><em>The Honorable Joseph W. deFuria Scholarship:</em> Brian D. Tome<br><em>Delaware Association of Lawyers’ Spouses’ Scholarship:</em> Lindsay A Feltzin<br><em>The Honorable William Duffy Memorial Scholarship:</em> Dana D. Griffin<br><em>The Honey F. Golby Memorial Scholarship:</em> Justin R. Alberto<br><em>The Fairfax Leary, Jr. Memorial Scholarship:</em> Tracy L. Warga<br><em>The Paul Isaac Leiter Memorial Scholarship:</em> Christine M. Marinakis<br><em>The Thomas S. Lodge Memorial Scholarship:</em> MacGregor J. Brillhart<br><em>The Bruce M. and Elizabeth M. Monroe Endowed Scholarship:</em> Thomas W. Dekleva and Hanxing Zheng<br><em>The Angelina and Victor Piccone Memorial Scholarship:</em> Terence J. Lynch<br><em>The Alexander V. Sarcione, Jr. Scholarship:</em> Kevin M. McDermott<br><em>The Taishoff Family Endowed Scholarship:</em> Brett T. Norton<br><em>The John C. Warrington Memorial Scholarship:</em> Richard E. Remson<br><br><strong>Achievement Awards</strong><br><em>The Honorable Helen S. Balick Award:</em> Aimee C. Bowers<br><em>The Howard M. Berg Award:</em> Janine L. Hochberg<br><em>The William J. Conner Memorial Award for Administrative Law:</em> Gabriela N. Arce de Smith<br><em>The Nicole Cullison Memorial Award:</em> Heather N. Stephens<br><em>The Honorable Joseph W. deFuria Award:</em> Danielle K. Kuzminski<br><em>The Judge J. Cullen Ganey Criminal Procedure Award:</em> Janine L. Hochberg<br><em>The Graham Foundation Award:</em> Thomas K Tessmer<br><em>The Reed Hamilton Memorial Award:</em> Jason E. Kiracofe<br><em>The Zelda K. Herrmann Memorial Cup Award:</em> Lindsay A. Feltzin<br><em>The Patricia N. Holston Memorial Award for Public Interest Pro Bono Service:</em> Jennifer Pesavento<br><em>International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award:</em> Anita M. Seth<br><em>Lindsay Law Library Award:</em> Katherine J. Begor and Michael B. Schloss<br><em>The Thomas P. Lomax and Nicholas Theodore Memorial Award:</em> Uzma M. Siddiqui<br><em>The Most Promising Civil Litigator Award:</em> Leslie J. Starling<br><em>The Lucinda Peipher Memorial Award:</em> Vanitha Pandi<br><em>The Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association James J. Manderino Award for Trial Advocacy:</em> Kyle G. Everly<br><em>The Alexander V. Sarcione, Jr. Memorial Award:</em> Christofer K. Bates<br><em>The Jerry Shields Environmental Award:</em> Sandra A. Snyder<br><em>The Wapner, Newman Wigrizer &amp; Brecher Award:</em> Isha M. Mehta<br><em>The Dean Arthur A Weeks Outstanding Service Award:</em> Sean H. McCray<br><em>The Widener Law Public Service and Advocacy Award:</em> Anita M. Seth<br><em>The William J. and Ella C. Wolf Award:</em> Michael J. Viscuso<br><em>The Chuck Zencey Memorial Award for Environmental Law:</em> Elayne Ben-Bassat<br><br><strong>Outstanding Service Awards:</strong> Matthew R. Altomare, Tamika A. Crawl-Bey, Kyle G. Everly, Lindsay A. Feltzin, Deanne Camara Ferreira, Andrei N. Govorov, Dana D. Griffin, Devon E. Hauck, Robert L. Hawkins, Beth A Hellreigel, Janine L. Hochberg<br>Sean H. McCray, Joseph E. McNamara, Joseph W. Montgomery, Jennifer A. Pesavento<br>Antonia M. Pfeffer, Troy A. Riddle, Sandra A. Snyder, Joshua B. Schwartz, Leslie J. Starling, Matthew Toll, and Tracy L. Warga.<br><br><strong>Pro Bono Distinction:</strong> Michael Adey, Jessica Arndt, Mijrane Belizaire, Lindsay Berman, Rebecca Bernstein, Ruhi Boga, Joan Alice Burn, Deanne Camara Ferreira, Kevin Collins, Jon Paul DeMarco, Kara Donoghue, Christopher Egoville, Kelly Ensslin, Kyle Everly, Erika Ewing, Nicole Faries, Lindsay Feltzin, Lisa Goldma, Devon Hauck, Beth Hellriegel, Lori Jaross, Umber Kamdar, Sarah Kaplan, Christine Kim, Kristy Krasowski, Danielle Kuzminski, Christopher Lee, Daniel Makoski, Courtney MiGinnis, Joseph McNamara, Isha Mehta, Christen Moffa, Joseph Montgomery, Ayla O’Brien, Vanitha Pandi, Evan Perel, Jennie Philip, Mona Prakash, Jefferey Pratz, Jennifer Pesavento, Kate Richey-Albert, Jeff Rigby, Kevin Rogers, Dayne Rose, Lindsay Scarborough, Aida Serrano Rivera, Drew Sharkey, Uzma Siddiqui, Sandy Snyder, Kristin Teufel, Leah Tressler, Ashley Tucker, Christina Young, Max Weiner, Sarah Whatley, Justin Will, Matthew Yueng, and Khuran Zaman.<br><br><strong>Martin Luther King, Jr. Semester of Service:</strong> Anand Acharya, Kate Albert, Christopher Balala, Bryan Beabout, Mijrane Belizaire, Jessica Boyer, Heather Brand, Nate Caberto, Ryan Carlson, Shannon Chant, Robin Cohen, Kateri Conahey, Chris Cooper, Tamika Crawl-Bey, Christy Donati, Andre Dover, Jennifer Dryer, Alicia Fastman, Hallie Fischer, Ross Flocherzie, Michelle Gerhardt, Jennifer Glackin, Amy Glass, Lorraine Gordon, Sara Grimaldi, Laura Haushalter, Dan Herr, Michale Herring, Marie Hobson, Thomas Hogans, Eileen Horgan, Sung Jang, George Kando, Christine Kim, Elizabeth Levin, Irene Levy, Shannon Mace, Shannon Mackereth, Elizabeth Malloy, Katie Mills, Aggie Mingos, Samantha Mitchell, Mark Nelms, Bill Newman, Emeka Nkwuo, Simone Persaud, Meryl Peterman, Mark Poling, Beth Powers, Caitlin Quinn, Frank Rooks, Ashley Schilgen, Matt Smith, Nick Tyler, Ostin Warren, Amy Webster, Jennifer Weiler, Jessica Wojcik, and Danielle Woodward.<br><br><strong>Phi Kappa Phi:</strong> Justin R. Alberto, Matthew R. Altomare, David Anthony, Christofer K. Bates, Katherine J. Begor, Whitney W. Deeney, Beth L. Donahue-Turner, Suzanne A. McMullen, Melissa Pfahler, Michael B. Schloss, Sarah E. Sodrick, Tracy L. Warga, and Justin Zuber.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(217, 'Delaware graduates have their moment in the sun', '2008-05-18', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"\">Widener University School of Law awarded degrees to 302 graduates in a sunny ceremony on the Delaware campus lawn held Saturday, May 17.<br></span><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08DEGrads/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><span style=\"\">“Widener has given us all the necessary knowledge and tools for success,” said extended-division valedictorian Christofer K. Bates. Both he and regular-division valedictorian Janine L. Hochberg addressed the class. “Our work as attorneys will be powerful because it will allow us to touch the lives of our clients in a myriad of ways,” Bates said.<br><br>Speaker for the ceremony was the Hon. Theodore McKee, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who was given an honorary degree. McKee urged the graduates not to become complacent. “When you leave here today, do not go quietly into the night,” he said. “You can make a difference whereever you are and whatever you do and I hope you win some victory for humanity.”<br><br>Widener University President James T. Harris III encouraged students from both campuses to be HEROes, or honorable, engaged, respectful and open to new ideas. “To the class of 2008, I know you possess the skills to be great attorneys and great leaders. When you face a difficult decision as an attorney, think of the definition of a hero,” he said.<br><br>Law Dean Linda L. Ammons told the graduates that as attorneys, they are leaders. “Lawyers have the awesome responsibility to change lives,” she said. “May your lives be filled with health and joy. May your careers prosper and take you to places you can only dream of.”<br><br>Ammons congratulated the 59 members of the class who, together, contributed nearly 5,000 hours of pro bono service during law school. She also presented the Douglas E. Ray Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award to Professors Jean M. Eggen and David R. Hodas.<br><br>Student Bar Association President Sean H. McCray announced that the class gift was a $1,300 donation to the LRAP fund and an engraved clock for the student lounge. He presented the outstanding faculty award to Associate Professor Paul L. Regan, who accepted in a speech that was both encouraging – “You are so ready to do this” – and sentimental – “It’s a privilege that I can walk these halls with you folks and share in your education.”<br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(218, 'Graduates get their law degrees at The Forum', '2008-05-19', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>Widener University School of Law awarded degrees to 124 graduates in a formal ceremony at The Forum in Harrisburg that celebrated their accomplishments and the people that supported them through their law school journey.<br></span><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08HBGrads/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><span>“By virtue of our degree we will immediately be put in a position to change lives,” class valedictorian Michelle Lynn Groleau said. “Each of us can and will make a difference in the world.”<br><br>Commencement was held Sunday, May 18 at the building in the city’s Capitol Complex. The 17th graduating class heard from the Hon. Roger Gregory, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, who was given an honorary degree. Gregory said the students have an obligation to share the knowledge and talents they developed during the law school process. “Live your life so that somebody doesn’t want to let you down,” he said.<br><br>Widener University President James T. Harris III encouraged students from both campuses to be HEROes, or honorable, engaged, respectful and open to new ideas. “To the class of 2008, I know you possess the skills to be great attorneys and great leaders. When you face a difficult decision as an attorney, think of the definition of a hero,” he said.<br><br>Law Dean Linda L. Ammons told the graduates that as attorneys, they are leaders. “Lawyers have the awesome responsibility to change lives,” she said. “May your lives be filled with health and joy. May your careers prosper and take you to places you can only dream of.”<br><br>Ammons also presented the Douglas E. Ray Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award to Professor John C. Dernbach.<br><br>Kymberly Rose Leyva, second vice president of the Student Bar Association, presented a donation to the school’s general scholarship fund as the class gift. Leyva also gave the outstanding faculty award to Professor Michael J. Cozzillio, who accepted in a thoughtful speech that ended to lively applause.<br><br>“As you leave here and embark upon this journey,” Cozzillio said, “tell ‘em that Widener sent ya and they’d better bring their A game.”<br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(219, 'Intensive Trial Advocacy Program Takes Students Beyond Lectures', '2008-05-22', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><img width=\"400\" height=\"246\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"itap hbg\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/itap%20hbg.jpg\">“The class takes you beyond the casebook and helps you develop the real world skills you need,” says Cory Winter about the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, or ITAP, adding, “It’s learning through experience rather than listening to lectures.” A demanding seven-day program, ITAP occurs at the conclusion of spring semester final examinations each year and offers students heading into their final year of law school a fantastic opportunity to practice important trial advocacy skills.<br><br>Running from May 15th to May 22nd, this year’s ITAP featured an opening lecture from William C. Costopoulos, Esq., a partner in the firm of Costopoulos, Foster &amp; Fields. Mr. Costopoulos received his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law and his L.L.M from Harvard University School of Law. He has served as an Adjunct Professor at Dickinson School of Law and is also the author of four books: <em>The Price of Acquittal</em>, <em>The White Lady War</em>, <em>Principal Suspect</em>, and <em>Guilty of Innocence</em>. <br><br>Students in the program benefited from the experience of the trial attorneys, judges, and law professors who served as ITAP faculty. This year’s program featured demonstrations on exhibit handling, direct examination, direct examination of expert witnesses, cross-examination, opening statements, and closing arguments. Students actively participated in simulations of each of these crucial parts of a trial in preparation for the program’s culmination, which consisted of a simulated jury trial.<br><br>“I feel like the program is beneficial because it’s easy to sit in the classroom and learn the rules of the game, but it’s different to play it,” says Jim Curry. Jim also pointed out that those students who are uncomfortable with speaking in front of groups benefit greatly because the program “forces you to get up in front of your peers and make your case.” For students preparing to be lawyers, ITAP provides an invaluable opportunity to practice trial skills.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(220, 'Widener Law hosts diversity program for minority undergraduates', '2008-05-29', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>Widener University School of Law is pleased to announce a new initiative designed to introduce minority undergraduate students to the idea of a law school and a legal career. The program comes at a time when leaders in the legal community have been vocal about the need for greater minority participation in the legal profession. The American Bar Association has made diversity one of its key issues and, closer to home, the Delaware State Bar Association has begun holding daylong conferences on diversity issues for the First State’s bar and bench.<br><br>The two-week event, called the JURIST Academy, is a <a href=\"/Academics/JuristAcademyAdmissions.aspx\">summer-camp style program that runs June 2 through 13 on Widener’s Delaware campus</a>. The goal is to spark an interest in the law among minority undergraduates through an intimate experience that gets them thinking about a life in the law.<br><br>While Widener would encourage any of the participants to apply to the law school, should they ultimately choose that path, the program has not been assembled as a school recruiting tool, Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said. Rather, the law school views the endeavor as a contribution to the profession and society.<br><br>“Widener is proud to be advancing beyond the ‘talking’ phase of the need for a more diverse bar and bench, and to be moving into an ‘action’ phase where we can demonstrate leadership and our commitment to affect real change,” said Ammons, one of only three African American women currently serving as dean of a U.S. law school. “We are so pleased that the Delaware bar, DuPont, Blue Cross and local law firms are partnering with us on this program.”<br><br>The program is being coordinated by the school’s Public Interest Resource Center, under the direction of Sydney Howe-Barksdale. Early this spring, she began promoting it to University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Lincoln University and Widener University undergraduates. After word spread to students at other schools, Widener has seated an inaugural program class of 30 students from more than 15 institutions. Students are coming from as far away as Florida and North Carolina.<br><br>Here’s how it works:<br>The 30 participating students will take part in several law classes set up just for them, in things like torts, criminal law and legal writing. Those classes will happen daily and will involve a final exam, so students get first-hand experience with a law-school-level exam, even though there is no credit or grade riding on the outcome. Each student will be paid a $1,000 stipend for participating in the full program.<br><br>The program will also include:<br></span>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n<span>• A field trip to Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP law firm in Wilmington.</span><br><span>• A full-day field trip to the Public Defender and District Attorney Offices in Philadelphia, including a meeting with Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham.</span><br><span>• Discussions about getting into law school, cost and financial aid.</span><br><span>• Discussions about extracurricular activities in law school, such as moot court and law reviews.</span><br><span>• Discussions about balancing law school and life.</span><br><span>• A daily LSAT prep class culminating in an LSAT practice exam.</span><br>\n</div>\n<span><br>The program would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of <br></span>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">\n<span>• DuPont</span><br><span>• Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP</span><br><span>• Morris James LLP</span><br><span>• Young Conaway Stargatt &amp; Taylor LLP</span><br><span>• Saul Ewing LLP</span><br><span>• Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association</span><br><span>• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware</span><br>\n</div>\n<span><br><br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(221, 'Students Cap Intensive Trial Advocacy Program with Simulated Trials', '2008-06-02', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right; width: 410px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"310\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/itap%20del%201.jpg\" alt=\"itap del 1\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\" style=\"\">Kenneth J. Lopez, Esq. addresses the audience</span><br></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"247\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/itap%20del%202.jpg\" alt=\"itap del 2\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Left to Right: Dean Ammons, Kenneth J. Lopez, Esq., Professor John Nivala, Vera M. Holmes, Esq., Edmund M. Hillis, Esq., and <br>\nProfessor Cindy Faulkner.</span></p>\n</div>On Thursday May 22nd, students in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program got the opportunity to conduct simulated jury trials before visiting jurors and the ITAP faculty of attorneys, judges, and law professors. The simulated trials allowed the students, who are entering their final year of law school, to practice skills honed over the course of the program, which began on May 15th.<br><br>During the first six days of the program, the students worked on trial preparation including documentation, witness preparation, opening statements, direct and cross-examination of witnesses including expert witnesses, and closing arguments. In preparation for the final simulated trials, students practiced each step of the trial process, gaining experience and confidence along the way. Finally, the students had to assemble all of those skills to conduct the simulated trial at the end of the program.<br><br>As part of the ITAP program, students were treated to a guest lecture from Widener Law alum Kenneth J. Lopez, Esq., the Founder and CEO of Animators at Law in Alexandria, VA. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, Mr. Lopez graduated from Widener Law in 1995. Specializing in trial exhibits, animation, and graphics, Animators at Law has consulted with many of the countries largest firms on a variety of high-profile cases.<br><br>After a general welcome from Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons and introductory remarks from Professor John Nivala, the Director of the Advocacy and Technology Institute, Mr. Lopez spoke to the assembled students about how to be professional. At the conclusion of his insightful presentation, Mr. Lopez took questions from the audience.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(222, 'JURIST Academy Summer Camp Begins', '2008-06-04', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 2px; float: right; width: 405px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"307\" alt=\"jurist camp 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/jurist%20camp%201.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Sydney Howe-Barksdale, the director of Widener Law’s Public Interest Resource Center and the coordinator of the JURIST Academy Summer Camp and Dean of the Law School Linda L. Ammons</span><br></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"301\" alt=\"jurist camp 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/jurist%20camp%202.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Professor John Culhane</span><br></p>\n</div>On Monday, June 2nd, Widener Law’s Delaware campus opened the Summer 2008 JURIST Academy, a two-week long summer-camp intended to teach minority undergraduates about the law and encourage them to pursue a legal education. Dean Linda Ammons greeted the students, telling them, “I think that you have a very bright destiny, and I look forward to having you join us.”<br><br>The 29 students in the program represent fifteen different institutions and a variety of states including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, but also Florida and North Carolina, demonstrating the program’s wide appeal. Sydney Howe-Barksdale, the director of Widener Law’s Public Interest Resource Center and the coordinator of the JURIST Academy Summer Camp, spoke after the Dean and filled the students in on what to expect of the two-week program.<br><br>The two-week program features classes in torts, criminal law, and legal writing, as well as a daily LSAT prep class. Participants in the program will enjoy a field trip to Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP in Wilmington as well as a daylong field trip to Philadelphia that will feature a meeting with Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham. In addition, the students will learn about how to get into law school, how to pay for law school, and about important extracurricular activities including moot court and law reviews.<br><br>Sponsors for the program include DuPont, Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP, Morris James LLP, Young Conaway Stargatt &amp; Taylor LLP, Saul Ewing LLP, Multicultural Judges and Lawyers Section of the Delaware State Bar Association, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Delaware.<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(223, 'The Annual Harrisburg Alumni Reception', '2008-06-09', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"\">Dean Linda L. Ammons and Vice Dean John L. Gedid welcomed alumni and their guests to Appalachian Brewing Company on Thursday, May 29, 2008, for the Annual Harrisburg Alumni Reception. At this year’s reception attendees enjoyed in-house brews and hors d’oeuvres, as well as entertainment from alumni band All Jacked Up, including band members Hon. Scott Evans ’81, Nate Giunta ’03, Greg Mills ’03, Josh Vecchio ’04, and Elizabeth Benion.<br><br>During the reception, George Bibikos, a 2003 graduate of the Harrisburg campus, was honored for receiving the Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award at the fall Alumni Awards Ceremony. This award recognizes work by recent graduates (five years out) who show energy and dedication as lawyers or community leaders and/or provide invaluable service to Widener University School of Law. If you would like to nominate an alumna/us for an award, please visit the <a href=\"/Gateway/Alumni/AlumniAwards.aspx\">alumni awards page</a>.<br><br>If you weren’t able to attend this year’s annual reception, plan on joining us for next year’s signature alumni event. View the slideshow of pictures from this year’s event below.</span> <br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08HbgReception/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(224, 'Widener Law Reception Held at PBA Annual Meeting', '2008-06-11', '<span style=\"\">Members of the Widener Law community congregated for a networking reception in Hershey, PA, during the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Annual Meeting. The alumni, faculty, and special guests attending the reception enjoyed the opportunity to network with their peers and maintain their relationships with the school. <br><br></span>\n		<br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08PBA/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(225, 'Widener Law Alumni Networking in NYC', '2008-06-11', '<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"\">Michael Aiello, Esq., a 1994 graduate of Widener Law’ Harrisburg campus, hosted a Widener Law alumni networking reception at Weil Gotshal &amp; Manges, LLP. On Thursday, June 5, 2008, alumni assembled at the firm on Fifth Avenue to converse with one another about their areas of practice and about life living and working in the greater New York City area. Dean Ammons brought greetings from the Law School to the group and took a few moments to update alumni on the alma mater’s new initiatives and successes.<br><br>If you’ll be in the New York City area this fall, plan on joining us for the NYC alumni event on Thursday, September 4, 2008. Mr. James Veneruso, Esq. ’75, will be hosting a networking reception at the Columbus Citizens Foundation, 8 East 69th St., New York, NY, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. For more information on New York City events, contact Ashley N. Barton, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations/Development, at 717-541-3974 or <a href=\"mailto:\">anbarton@widener.edu</a>.</span>\n				<br></span>\n		<br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshowNYC/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(226, 'Widener Women\'s Network Welcomes Dean Linda L. Ammons', '2008-06-17', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 2px; float: right; width: 400px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"298\" alt=\"WWNLunch1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/WWNLunch1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Dean Linda Ammons addressing the group on the subject of leadership.</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"367\" alt=\"WWNLunch2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/WWNLunch2.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Kathy Good ‘82 and Sylvia Bruni-Carroll ‘03 take a moment to network at the Widener Women’s Network luncheon</span>.</p>\n</div>\n		<span>On Wednesday, June 4, 2008 the Philadelphia Chapter of the Widener Women\'s Network welcomed Dean Linda Ammons, as the guest speaker at their networking luncheon. Dean Ammons shared with the group her perspective on effective leadership. Good leadership is essential to all successful endeavors, and certainly practicing law.<br><br>The event was sponsored by Miriam Barish ‘92 at her law firm Anapol, Schwartz, Weiss, Cohan, Feldman &amp; Smalley at their Philadelphia office at 1710 Spruce Street. </span>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(227, 'New Jersey Alumni Reunion', '2008-06-17', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 500px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"278\" alt=\"NJReunion1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/NJReunion1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Angela Kosar ‘99, Professor Louise Hill, Kevin McCann ‘75 and Jerold Rothkoff ‘93</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"297\" alt=\"NJReunion2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/NJReunion2.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Law alumni enjoying an opportunity to network at the New Jersey Bar Association Annual Meeting &amp; Alumni Reception</span></p>\n</div>\n		<span>On Thursday, May 22, 2008 Widener University School of Law hosted an alumni reception, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the New Jersey Bar Association. The event was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino and was attended by more that 35 New Jersey area alumni.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(228, 'Widener Law brings nation’s administrative law judges to Harrisburg', '2008-06-18', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>Widener University School of Law is pleased to welcome more than 120 administrative law judges and other legal professionals from around the nation to Harrisburg as it hosts the mid-year meeting of the <a href=\"http://law.widener.edu/go/NAALJ.aspx\">National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary from June 24 to 26</a>.<br><br>Much of the event will take place at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel, 1 N. Second St., but the group will pay a visit to Widener’s Harrisburg campus for a welcome reception on Wednesday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. <br><br>The program, “Keystones of Justice,” is intended to improve the trial skills of administrative law judges. The judges are principal decision makers in many areas of administrative law, such as professional and motor license appeals, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, public utilities, environmental law, banking, insurance and most other areas involving state and federal regulation.<br><br>Presenters at the conference include administrative law judges, academics, Commonwealth Court judges and other public servants. Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons will lead a one-hour session on hearsay problems in administrative adjudication. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas Saylor will give the meeting’s keynote address at a luncheon in the hotel. His remarks, titled, “Constitutional Considerations in Administrative Law,” will be delivered Wednesday, June 25 at 12:45 p.m.<br><br>Widener’s Law &amp; Government Institute, directed by the school’s Harrisburg campus Vice Dean John L. Gedid, was instrumental in bringing the meeting to Harrisburg. The school created the institute in 1998, in response to a growing need for the study and development of administrative law, especially in the states. <br><br>“Widener is pleased to bring this national group to visit Harrisburg and to participate in the law school’s Law &amp; Government Institute,” Gedid said. “Our objective is to assist in developing the trial skills of administrative law judges and in this manner improve the accuracy, fairness and justice of agency decisions.” <br><br>“It is truly gratifying for the law school to contribute to the improvement of administrative justice by coordinating this kind of educational program,” Ammons added. “We welcome the judges to Harrisburg.”<br><br>More information:  l<a href=\"http://law.widener.edu/go/NAALJ.aspx\">aw.widener.edu/go/NAALJ.aspx</a>. <br><br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(229, 'Second Annual Harrisburg Alumni &amp; Friends Golf Outing', '2008-06-23', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08Golf/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: left; margin: 4px;\"></iframe> <span><br><script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br>The weather could not have been more perfect for the Second Annual Harrisburg Alumni &amp; Friends Golf Outing at Eagles Crossing Golf Club. After hitting some practice balls at the driving range and enjoying lunch, alumni, students, and guests enjoyed the warm sun and slight breeze as they challenged each other in a round of golf on Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Beverages and snacks were served to participants on the course throughout the afternoon. During the post-outing cookout, the winning foursome was announced: Jan Budman ’06, John Logan ’06, Sarah Brown ’05, and Justice Michael Eakin. Eagles Crossing Golf Club donated a round of golf to the winning team members, who won by just one stroke.<br><br>“Of Counsel” sponsors for the 2008 event were Buchanan Ingersoll &amp; Rooney PC and Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires &amp; Newby LLP. “Partner” sponsors included Kirkpatrick &amp; Lockhart Preston Gate Ellis LLP and Holland, Brady &amp; Grabowski PC. “Associate” sponsors consisted of Billy Wray Pianist &amp; Keyboardist, Saul Ewing LLP, and Williamsburg Estates.<br><br>Many thanks to the committee members who planned a fun-filled, successful fundraising event: George Bibikos ’03, Scott Blissman ’97, Jan Budman ’06, Chris Davis ’92, Deryck Henry ’95, James Matelevich-Hoang ’06, Paul Ruffolo ’05, and Jennifer Zimmerman ’02. Proceeds from the golf outing benefit the Widener Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program, aiding alumni who choose to practice public interest law with repayment of their student loans.<br><br>If you were unable to join us for the 2008 outing, you are not going to want to miss next year’s competition! Enjoy the slideshow from this year’s event.<br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(230, 'Widener Law Graduate to Serve as Trial Judge for 9/11 War Crimes Trial', '2008-06-24', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right; width: 400px;\">\n<p><img width=\"396\" height=\"288\" alt=\"Gitmo_courtroom\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/Gitmo_courtroom.jpg\"></p>\n<p><i><span class=\"Caption\">\"This commissions courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is the site of the commissions proceedings until the Expeditionary Legal Complex is completed later in 2008. At that time, commissions proceedings, including impending trials such as the future prosecution for war crimes of Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darbi, will transfer to the new site. (Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Thompson)\" source: wikimedia commons</span><br></i></p>\n<p><img width=\"358\" height=\"234\" alt=\"GitmoCampJusticeRedBull\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/GitmoCampJusticeRedBull.jpg\"></p>\n<p><i>\"<span class=\"Caption\">The newly-constructed ‘Red Bull’ sign welcomes visitors to Camp Justice and the nearby Expetitionary Legal Complex. Tech Sgt. Bob Gagnon, Tech Sgt. Patrick Searles, Master Sgt. Scott Flowers and Tech. Sgt. Richard Minor worked diligently designing and building the sign, its base and the surrounding landscape.\" source: wikimedia commons</span><br></i></p>\n</div>In March of 2007, the Office of Military Commissions appointed Marine Colonel Ralph H. Kohlmann ‘87 Chief Judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary at the Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Kohlmann is slated to serve as the trial judge in the capital murder case brought against five Guantánamo detainees accused as conspirators in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed.<br><br>The detainees were arraigned on June 5th, 2008, and the next session in the case is currently scheduled for July 10, 2008. In addition to Mohammed, the other four men charged include Waleed bin Attash, who allegedly ran an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan where two of the Sept. 11 hijackers were trained, Ramzi bin al Shibh, a Yemeni who is said to have helped find flight schools for the hijackers, Ammar al Baluchi, and Mustafa Ahmad al Hawsawi. Charges against the five men include conspiring in the September 11th attacks, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, and providing material support for terrorism. <br><br>A recent Supreme Court ruling granting all 270 detainees at the Guantánamo Naval Base the right to challenge their detentions through habeas corpus petitions, called into question whether or not the trial will go forward. The Bush administration has, however, declared that the trials will go forward despite the Supreme Court’s decision.<br><br>A native of New Jersey, Colonel Kohlmann received a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy before attending the Delaware School of Law at Widener University, where both he and his wife, Lynneth Ann, earned their Juris Doctor degrees, graduating in 1987. Kohlmann also received a Master of Law in Military Law from the Judge Advocate General’s School in 1994 and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College in 2002. A military judge since 1998, he was appointed as a judge in the first military commission system created to try Guantánamo detainees before it was struck down by the Supreme Court. When Congress created the new military commission system in March of 2007, he was appointed Chief Judge. Kohlmann’s duties for the Military Commissions are in addition to his regular appointment as Circuit Judge of the Eastern Judicial Circuit of the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary seated in Camp Lejeune, NC.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(231, 'Legal Education Institute launches court interpreter program', '2008-06-30', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br>The Widener University Legal Education Institute will launch a <a href=\"/ParalegalLNC/CourtInterpreterProgram.aspx\">court interpreter program</a> this fall, an effort that is hoped to bolster access to the courts in an increasingly diverse age.<br><br>The program, located on Widener’s Delaware campus, will be open to 25 students and will focus on Spanish-English interpretation. Classes will be held on weekends and last approximately eight weeks, beginning in September. <br><br>Students will receive certificates of completion for their attendance. The program is designed to enhance the skills tested in state-administered court interpreter exams. States are increasingly requiring that court interpreters be certified through their exams before they are allowed to work in courtrooms.<br><br>“We examined the landscape for court interpreters and determined there was a significant need for a program like this,” said Peggy O’Neill, Esq., special projects coordinator at Widener’s Legal Education Institute. “First, as the population diversifies, the courts on a regular basis need the assistance of interpreters to ensure the due process rights of defendants and litigants. Second, pass rates on the state-administered certification exams could be boosted by the additional training we will offer.”<br><br>“This is Widener’s way of providing a service to the courts and the public in the administration of justice,” Widener University Associate Provost and Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said. “With society’s rapidly changing demographics, court interpreters who are well trained are critical.”<br><br>The Legal Education Institute, located on the grounds of Widener’s Delaware campus, offers an extensive selection of courses designed to prepare students for nonlawyer legal careers, such as American Bar Association-approved paralegal professionals and legal nurse consultants. Taken together, the school of law, the campus’ National Judicial College affiliation and the institute make up what is known as the Widener Law Center, overseen by Ammons.<br><br>O’Neill said the court interpreter program faculty will all be federal- or state-certified instructors and will help the school determine the actual length of the program, although she estimates it will <br>go about eight weekends. Students may elect to study each weekend, or pick and choose the classes they attend. Cost will be $325 for each weekend, with a discount available to students who elect the full course of study.<br><br>Curriculum will consist of things like court terminology, courtroom protocol, ethics, court structures in various states – particularly Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland – and simultaneous and consecutive legal interpretation, as well as sight translation, which are all part of the state-administered certification exams. The program will include a language laboratory system that allows students to practice vocal interpretation. <br><br>“We want this program to be a resource for the community,” said Eileen Grena, assistant dean and director of the Legal Education Institute at Widener. “Language barriers should never interfere with the rights of people who seek justice from the courts.”<br><br>For more information about the program, including how to register, contact O’Neill at 302.477.2007 or email moneill@mail.widener.edu.<br><br><br><br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(232, 'Dean announces new faculty and staff changes', '2008-07-01', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>Widener University School of Law Dean Linda L. Ammons has\nannounced staff changes and additions to the faculty, for both\ncampuses, with nearly all effective July 1.</span><br><span style=\"\"><br>“These new appointments continue to further our progress in implementing our strategic plan and strengthening the intellectual and administrative initiatives of the law school,” Ammons said.<br><br>On both campuses the changes include:<br><br><img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/slinger%20michael%20149px.jpg\" alt=\"slinger michael 149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Michael Slinger</span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Michael Slinger, joins the school as associate dean for information services and technology, director of the Legal Information Center and professor of law. Slinger comes to Widener from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Ohio, where he served as associate dean, director of the law library and professor of law. He holds a law degree from Duquesne University and a master’s of library science from the University of South Carolina. He has previously worked for law libraries and served on the faculty at the University of Notre Dame Law School and Suffolk University School of Law, where he was library director from 1990 to 1995. Slinger replaces former Legal Information Center director Eileen Cooper, who retired in 2005, and Mary K. Marzolla, who has served as acting director since.<br><br><br><br>On the Delaware campus the changes include:<br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">\n						<img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/pope%20thad149px.jpg\" alt=\"pope thad149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\">Thaddeus M. Pope</span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Thaddeus M. Pope joins the school as an associate professor of law. He assumes the tenure-track position after spending the 2007-2008 academic year on the Delaware campus as a visiting assistant professor. Pope holds both a law degree and a Ph.D. from Georgetown University. Prior to his arrival at Widener in 2007, Pope was an assistant professor of law at the University of Memphis. He also has worked in private practice as an associate at Arnold &amp; Porter LLP in Los Angeles and has clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Pope teaches and writes in the areas of health law, bioethics and torts and his classes will be a part of the program offered by Widener’s nationally ranked Health Law Institute. He lives in Swarthmore, Pa.<br><br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/kelly%20jp%20149px.jpg\" alt=\"kelly jp 149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Professor J. Patrick Kelly</span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">As of Jan. 1, Professor J. Patrick Kelly will assume the position of vice dean of the Delaware campus, the most senior member of the dean’s cabinet for Delaware. He will work closely with her in running the day-to-day operations of the school. Kelly replaces Professor Russell A. Hakes, who will return to full-time teaching. Kelly has been with the law school since 1984 and teaches and writes in the areas of international law, international trade law, international environmental law, international business transactions and administrative law. Before he entered higher education Kelly held positions in the U.S. House of Representatives and with the Federal Trade Commission, including assistant to the director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. He and his wife Victoria live in Landenberg, Pa.<br><br><br><br><br>On the Harrisburg campus the changes include:<br><br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/williams%20starla%20149px.jpg\" alt=\"williams starla 149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Starla J. Williams </span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Starla J. Williams joins the faculty as a legal methods professor. Williams earned a master’s of law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She has been a member of the Pennsylvania bar since 1991 and has served as a judicial clerk in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She also spent time in private practice, where she represented birth parents in dependency proceedings before the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County – Family Division. <br><br><br><br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/anthon%20dionne%20149px.jpg\" alt=\"anthon dionne 149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Dionne E. Anthon</span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Dionne E. Anthon also joins Widener as a legal methods professor. Anthon earned an M.B.A. from Georgetown University and her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she served as a production editor of the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law and was elected to the Order of the Coif. She has clerked for Judge Christopher C. Conner of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania since 2005. Anthon resides in Harrisburg.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Jennifer Lear </span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Jennifer Lear joins the school as a visiting legal methods professor. She is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School. Lear practiced at the Washington, D.C. law firm Crowell &amp; Moring LLP, and then returned to George Washington to teach legal research and writing as an adjunct professor. Between 1997 and 2007 she worked as a writing consultant,<br>developing and conducting courses for attorneys, paralegals, L.L.M. candidates, business professionals and secondary school students. Most recently, Lear served as an adjunct professor at Widener’s Harrisburg campus and at Elizabethtown College. She resides in Hershey.<br><br><br><br><br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<img width=\"149\" height=\"160\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/evans%20walls149px.jpg\" alt=\"evans walls149px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></span>\n		<span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Tonya Evans-Walls </span>\n				<br></span>\n		<span style=\"\">Tonya Evans-Walls joins the school as an assistant professor of law. She assumes the tenure-track position after spending the 2007-2008 academic year on the Harrisburg campus as a visiting professor. Evans-Walls holds a law degree from Howard University School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Howard Law Journal. She is the author of an award-winning series of legal reference guides for writers and she chairs the Pennsylvania Bar Association Sports, Entertainment and Art Law Committee. Prior to her arrival at Widener in 2007, Evans-Walls spent four years as managing member of TME Law, a Philadelphia-based boutique firm specializing in entertainment law, intellectual property, municipal finance and estate planning. She has also previously taught as an adjunct professor at York College of Pennsylvania. Evans-Walls will teach courses in property and intellectual property this fall.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(233, 'Law school hosts nation’s administrative law judges', '2008-07-02', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 450px;\">\n<p><img width=\"450\" height=\"298\" alt=\"naalj 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/naalj%201.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">From left, David Brunke, president of NAALJ, Stephen Wise, president-elect of NAALJ, Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons and Widener Harrisburg campus Vice Dean John Gedid. Brunke and Wise are administrative law judges in Texas and Iowa, respectively.</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"450\" height=\"543\" alt=\"naalj 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/naalj%202.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Law Dean Linda L. Ammons presented at the conference.</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"450\" height=\"352\" alt=\"naalj 3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/naalj%203.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas Saylor gave the event keynote address.</span></p>\n</div>\n		<span>About 130 administrative law judges visited Harrisburg for a continuing legal education program that included Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons among the event presenters.<br><br>Ammons was one of more than 12 speakers at the “Keystones of Justice” program hosted by Widener Law. The three-day program was the mid-year meeting of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary.<br><br>The dean spoke about hearsay reliability and witness credibility. She promoted an extensive audience discussion with a scenario that involved a sore racehorse, veterinarian affidavits and a question about their admissibility at a court hearing.<br><br>Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas Saylor delivered the keynote address in remarks titled “Constitutional Considerations in Administrative Law,” during an event luncheon.<br><br>Widener’s Law &amp; Government Institute, directed by the school’s Harrisburg campus Vice Dean John L. Gedid, was instrumental in bringing the meeting to Harrisburg. The school created the institute in 1998, in response to a growing need for the study and development of administrative law, especially in the states.<br><br>Ammons and Gedid welcomed the conference attendees out to the Harrisburg campus for an evening reception during their stay. The conference was headquartered at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(234, 'Professor Honored by the Saint Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania', '2008-07-10', '<img width=\"400\" height=\"243\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/randallLeeAward.jpg\" alt=\"randallLeeAward\">On June 23rd, Widener Law Professor Randy Lee received the Fidelis Award from the St. Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania. An organization of Catholic civil and canon lawyers within the Harrisburg Diocese, the St. Thomas More Society annually bestows the Fidelis Award on an individual who embodies the principles of St. Thomas More.<br><br>Professor Lee graduated from Butler University and earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review. He joined the Widener Law faculty in 1989 and teaches in the areas of Torts, Professional Responsibility, and Constitutional Law on Widener Law’s Harrisburg Campus. Prior to joining Widener Law’s faculty, Professor Lee taught at the Villanova Law School and the University of Pittsburgh Law School.<br><br>In announcing Professor Lee as the recipient of this year’s award, Lora Kulick, President of the Saint Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania said, “The St. Thomas More Society is pleased and honored to bestow this year\'s Fidelis award on Professor Randy Lee. Professor Lee continues to be an exceptional role model to both Widener students and the general legal community for steadfastly displaying Catholic values and morals in both the legal academic world and the community in general.” Father William King, Diocesan Vicar General and Moderator and a former student of Professor Lee, gave the homily during the Mass, and the Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of Harrisburg, was the principal celebrant.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(235, 'Students Enjoy Studying Abroad in Australia', '2008-07-14', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08sydney/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; margin: 4px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br><script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br>\nSince June 13th, students participating in <a href=\"/Academics/SpecialProgramsandInitiatives/StudyAbroadOpportunities/SydneyAustralia.aspx\">\nWidener Law’s Study Abroad program in Sydney</a> have had the chance to experience Australia while taking two of three offered law courses in comparative corporations, comparative family law, or comparative procedure, evidence, and trial practice. All of the students participating in the program traveled to <a title=\"Visit Canberra\" href=\"http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/\">Canberra</a>, Australia\'s capitol, for a tour of Parliament. They got to sit in on \"Question Time,\" a tradition in which Senators question the Prime Minister and other ministers.<br><br>The program offers built in long weekends and provides a number of opportunities for students to enjoy the many sights and activities that Australia has to offer.  <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/CapowskiJohnJ.aspx\">Professor John Capowski</a>, the Widener Law professor in charge of the program, led a class trip to the Blue Mountains; a sandstone plateau marked by gorges and located less than 50 kilometers from Sydney. Several students have traveled to the city of <a title=\"CAIRNS Australia\" href=\"http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/visitor-info/cairns.htm\">Cairns</a> in Queensland to dive or snorkel at the <a title=\"Great Barrier Reef\" href=\"http://www.barrierreefaustralia.com/\">Great Barrier Reef</a> or tour the rain forests. A tour involving crocodiles and indigenous people included spearing mud crabs, collecting mussels and snails. Those who took the tour had the culinary experience of eating the mussels and snails, as well as green ants that had a slight citrus taste according to <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/CapowskiJohnJ.aspx\">Professor Capowski</a>.<br><br>Popular spots to visit in Sydney include Darling Harbour, the bars in the Rocks area, the Sky Tower, and various museums and animal attractions. The program ends on July 18th.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(236, 'Professor Dernbach Visits Kazakhstan to Discuss Climate Change', '2008-07-31', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 2px; padding: 2px; float: left; width: 172px;\">\n				<img width=\"170\" height=\"128\" class=\"FloatLeft\" alt=\"John_Dernbach_Khazakstan\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/John_Dernbach_Khazakstan.jpg\"><p><span class=\"Caption\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Photo credit:U.S. Department of State</span>.; r. John Dernbach (from the right) and Alexander Bragin, Director of Legal Provision and International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection in Astana on July 8, 2008.</span></p>\n</div>From July 7th through July 14th, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">Professor John Dernbach</a> visited Khazakstan to share his expertise on climate change and sustainable development with both government officials and the general public. Invited to speak in Kazakhstan as part of a U.S. Government Speaker\'s Program, Professor Dernbach visited Astana, Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, and Ridder.<br><br>“Central Asia is warming, as many in my audience knew. Climate change is also affecting the availability of water,” notes Professor Dernbach, adding, “There is a lot of energy efficiency in industry and in apartments and houses.  The country is beginning to see energy efficiency improvement as a way of enhancing its competitiveness.” He spoke about sustainable development in public lectures at the American Cultural Centers in Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk, indicating that environmental problems limit economic opportunity and protecting and restoring the environment can actually increase economic development. He also spoke specifically to the impact of climate change on Central Asia, and he consulted with the Ministry of Environmental Protection in Astana, offering recommendations to improve energy efficiency and the Kazakhstani Environmental Code.<br><br>“I came to Kazakhstan with a basic message: laws and policies to address climate change and environmental protection can also foster competitiveness, create jobs, and improve quality of life,” says Professor Dernbach. He believes that his message was well received, including by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, saying, “The Ministry of Energy plans to introduce a new law to improve energy conservation to make Kazakhstan more competitive.  That is consistent with what I was saying.  Whatever else that means, it indicates that government is willing to consider arguments for environmental protection based on competitiveness.” He believes that his words may have reached beyond the government as well. “A good many young people attended public presentations in Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk, and many of them spoke to me afterwards. I like to think that some of them may have been influenced by these presentations.”<br><br>Professor Dernbach is the editor of <em>Stumbling Toward Sustainability</em>, a 32-chapter book assessing U.S. efforts on sustainable development in the ten-year period since the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development in Rio De Janeiro in 1992, and he is currently editing a follow up volume entitled <em>Agenda for a Sustainable America</em>. The recipient of the 2007 Douglas E. Ray Excellence in Faculty Scholarship Award from Widener University Law School, he teaches in the areas of environmental law, property, international environmental law, climate change, international law, administrative law, and sustainability and the law.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(237, 'Delaware County Alumni Chapter Happy Hour', '2008-08-04', '<div style=\"margin: 2px; padding: 2px; float: left; width: 302px;\">\n				<img width=\"300\" height=\"267\" alt=\"delhappyhr1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/delhappyhr1.jpg\"><br><img width=\"300\" height=\"212\" alt=\"delhappyhr2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/delhappyhr2.jpg\"><br><img width=\"300\" height=\"213\" alt=\"delhappyhr3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/delhappyhr3.jpg\"><br><img width=\"300\" height=\"249\" alt=\"delhappyhr4\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/delhappyhr4.jpg\"><br>\n</div>\n<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br>On July 17, 2008, the Delaware County Alumni Chapter hosted a happy hour at Barnaby’s in Aston. The evening was very warm and humid but it did not interfere with Delco alumni getting together to catch up and network.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(238, 'Law School and WDEL announce plans for debates', '2008-08-13', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>The law school will host two debates this month in important Delaware Democratic primary races. The debates are presented by 1150 AM WDEL.<br><br>They will be held in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom and will be broadcast live on 1150 AM and over <a href=\"http://www.wdel.com/\">WDEL.com</a>. The debates are open to the public and interested students, staff and faculty who would like to get a close-up view of the candidates are encouraged to attend.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">On schedule:</span><br></span>\n<ul>\n<li><span><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Friday, Aug. 22</span> features the New Castle County executive race Democratic primary with candidates <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Chris Coons</span> (the incumbent) vs. <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Tom Gordon</span> (former county executive).<br><br></span></li>\n<li><span><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Wednesday, Aug. 27</span> features the Delaware governor race with Democratic primary candidates <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">John Carney</span> (the current lieutenant governor) vs. <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Jack Markell </span>(the current state treasurer).</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span><br>Both debates begin at 8 a.m. and run until 9:30 a.m. Questions will be posed by a panel of journalists.<br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(239, 'Widener Law Hosts Minority Job Fair', '2008-08-15', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br>On Saturday, August 16th, Widener Law’s Delaware campus will play host to the annual minority job fair sponsored by the Delaware State Bar Association\'s Minority Job Fair Committee and Potter Anderson &amp; Corroon LLP. Aimed at second and third-year law students, the fair will allow participating students the opportunity to interview with a wide variety of potential employers in Delaware.<br><br>“The program will feature a breakfast, and participating students will have the opportunity to speak with about ninety area employers,” says LeaNora Ruffin, Widener Law’s Assistant Dean for Career Development. Participating employers include public organizations such as the Delaware Department of Justice, Community Legal Aid Society, and the Family Court of Delaware as well as private law firms.<br><br>A similar job fair for first-year law students will take place in January 2009, again sponsored by the Delaware State Bar Association.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(240, 'Dean Ammons Welcomes First-Year Students to the Legal Profession', '2008-08-18', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08DelWelcome/slideshow2.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; margin: 4px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br><script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br>As part of new student orientation, Widener Law welcomed the new class of first-year law students this past week with Welcome to the Profession ceremonies in Harrisburg on Tuesday, August 12th and Delaware on Wednesday, August 13th. The evening ceremonies followed new student registration and introduced the students to law school.<br><br>Dean Linda Ammons opened the ceremonies, encouraging the students in her opening remarks to “Remember why you came to law school.  On some days you may question your decision to enter this profession. Law school is hard.  It is supposed to be.  However, there are people all around this campus who are wishing you well, and assisting in making your dream come true.” She encouraged the students to be professional and work hard, and she reminded them, “You have crossed over a threshold and, as of today, will be held to a higher standard of ethical behavior because you are going to be a lawyer.  Lawyers protect the rule of law.  We are the champions of the rule of law.  In order to do that, we must respect rules now, in law school.” Dean Ammons closed her remarks by encouraging the students to “Hold on to your dreams.  Law school is the bridge from your aspirations to your realizations.”<br><br>After her welcoming remarks, Dean Ammons introduced the faculty before giving way to the guest speakers. In Harrisburg, Bret Keisling ’05 offered the Alumni Welcome and 2008-09 Student Bar Association President Kenneth Robinson followed with his Welcome from the Student Bar Association. The Honorable Renée Cohn Jubelirer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offered the Administration of Affirmation and spoke to the assembled students. In Delaware, Steven P. Barsamian, Esq. ’75, Chair of the Alumni Association, gave the Alumni Welcome, and SBA President Matthew A. DeNucci gave the Welcome on Behalf of the Student Bar Association. Andrea L. Rocanelli, Esq., Chief Counsel of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court of Delaware gave remarks on Professionalism and the Honorable Susan C. Del Pesco ’75, a retired Superior Court of Delaware Judge, gave the Administration of Affirmation and offered the students her thoughts.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(241, '1st-Year Students Welcomed With Festive Meals', '2008-08-19', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"414\" height=\"350\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"picnic\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/picnic.jpg\">On the evening of Friday, August 15th, the Harrisburg campus threw a pizza party for 1st-Year students as <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb081809firststyearwelcome.aspx\">Orientation</a> events continued. The festive occasion offered students the chance to mingle with faculty, staff, and fellow new students. The party offered a nice opportunity for students to unwind as they prepare for classes to start.<br><br>The Delaware campus held a picnic on the lawn for 1st-year regular division students on Tuesday, August 19th from 12:00 to 1:30 pm, providing students with hamburgers, hot dogs, fresh fruit, cookies, and beverages. Students enjoyed the opportunity to chat with both their peers and members of the faculty and staff. 1st-year extended division students on the Delaware campus were treated to a pizza party that evening.<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(242, 'Law Students Reach Out to Wilmington Children Through Summer Program', '2008-08-21', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 505px;\">\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"lacc1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/lacc1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"lacc2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/lacc2.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"lacc3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/lacc3.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"lacc4\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/lacc4.jpg\"></p>\n</div>Eight Widener Law students spent several days last week teaching financial literacy classes to children enrolled at the Latin American Community Center in downtown Wilmington.<br><br>The program was made possible by a generous gift from Bank of America and targeted children in kindergarten through sixth grade with messages intended to teach them to be responsible money managers. The goal was to impress upon the children the importance of saving and spending wisely so they avoid running up big debts as young adults.<br><br>“I think that it was really a positive experience both for the kids and the law students,” said Widener Law student Ashley Gorodetzer, the program coordinator, adding, “A lot of law students don’t get the opportunity to be around kids. It’s really easy to lose sight of what is important.” The law students used arts and crafts projects to help engage the students and teach them lessons about financial issues ranging from the simple counting of change for the younger students to credit issues and predatory lending for the older students. “The kids were so appreciative. Everyday they would come up at the end and give us big hugs. The simplest little thing makes such a difference to these kids,” noted Ashley with satisfaction.<br><br>The Widener students were placed in this role through the Law School’s <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/PublicInterestOpportunities/PublicInterestResourceCenter.aspx\">Public Interest Resource Center,</a> which links students with public service opportunities. Bank of America’s gift to the program allowed the law students to receive a stipend for their teaching duties. The program ran during the week of Aug. 11.<br><br>PIRC Director Dr. Sydney Howe-Barksdale said the program looked at financial planning, goal setting and fundamental math skills. “We hope that teaching these youngsters the basic building blocks of personal finance through child-centered fun activities will lay the groundwork for them to grow into responsible consumers,” she said.<br><br>Law students involved in the effort included Ashley Gorodetzer, Brian Dunlop, Dom Del Pino, Jenny Hou, Betsey Smith, Cordell Fields, Matt Spataro, Matt Magnotta, and Rashid Santiago.<br><br>Students interested in participating in next year’s program should contact the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/PublicInterestOpportunities/PublicInterestResourceCenter.aspx\">Public Interest Resource Center</a>.<br><br><img width=\"250\" height=\"151\" alt=\"Bank_of_America_logo\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/Bank_of_America_logo.jpg\"><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(243, 'Widener Law Hosts Debate Between Candidates for New Castle County Executive', '2008-08-22', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><div style=\"float: right; width: 439px; height: 372px;\">\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_8314982a\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/8314982a/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_8314982a\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/8314982a/\"></embed></object>\n		</div>On Friday, August 22nd, Widener Law’s Delaware Campus hosted a live debate between Chris Coons and Tom Gordon, the two candidates running in the democratic primary for New Castle County Executive. WDEL 1150 AM News Talk Radio aired the debate live from the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court Room from 8:00 to 9:30 AM.<br><br>Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons gave a short welcome, saying, “On behalf of the faculty staff, and students of the Widener Law Center, I am pleased to welcome all of you here today for this debate between Chris Coons and Tom Gordon in the democratic primary race for county executive. Widener is very pleased, once again, to join 1150 AM WDEL to bring you this debate in a spirit of public service. We hope it goes far in educating the voters about this very important race.”<br><br>WDEL 1150 AM morning news anchor Peter MacArthur served as the moderator for the debate while a panel made up of local journalists Allan Loudell of 1150 AM WDEL, Jesse Chadderdon of The Community News, and Mark Eichmann of WHYY asked questions of the candidates. The debate touched on a number of issues ranging from budget cuts and taxes to the federal indictments of Gordon and top aide Sherry L. Freebury on racketeering charges. At times, the debate grew heated, but both candidates had the opportunity to get their messages across.<br><br>The primary is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9th.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(244, 'Obama Taps Senator Joseph Biden for Vice President', '2008-08-23', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"300\" height=\"266\" class=\"FloatLeft\" alt=\"Biden300x266Faculty_de\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/Biden300x266Faculty_de.jpg\">Senator Barack Obama selected Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of Delaware as his running mate. Currently serving his 6th term in the Senate, Biden, first elected in 1972, brings decades of political experience to the ticket.<br><br>Since 1991, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Senator Biden has served as an adjunct professor at Widener Law</a>, Delaware’s only law school, teaching a seminar on issues in constitutional law. For the last five years, he has jointly taught the seminar with Professor Robert L. Hayman, Jr., and despite the demands on his schedule, Senator Biden always ensures that he teaches at least half of the seminar’s instructional minutes. One of the most popular seminars offered at Widener Law’s Delaware campus, there is always a waiting list of students hoping that a seat will open. The next constitutional law seminar is scheduled to begin on August 23rd.<br><br>As a member of the Senate, Biden has served as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been a leader on a number of important legislative issues. He wrote the Violence Against Women Act in the 1990s and was instrumental in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which is sometimes referred to as the Biden Crime Bill.<br><br>Born November 20th, 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Joe Biden grew up in New Castle County, Delaware and graduated from Archmere Academy in Claymont, Delaware in 1961. After earning his J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1968, he was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 1969. He practiced law in Wilmington before he was elected to and served on the New Castle County Council from 1970 to 1972.<br><br>Senator Biden resides in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, who is a professor at Delaware Technical Community College, and he commutes to Washington from Delaware when the Senate is in session. He is the father of Beau, Hunter and Ashley, and has five grandchildren. Eldest son Beau is Delaware’s Attorney General.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(245, 'Widener Pride “Watch Parties”', '2008-08-24', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"\">\n				<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">\n						<img width=\"500\" height=\"345\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"biden DNC2008\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/biden%20DNC2008.jpg\"></span></span><span style=\"\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"><br><span>Join the fun TONIGHT as we celebrate Widener Law PRIDE and watch a law school alumnus and adjunct faculty member take the stage to address our nation.<br><br></span></span><span style=\"\"><span><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Viewing times:</span> (all times are approximate)<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">8:10 p.m. </span></span></span></span><span style=\"\"><a href=\"../../../../NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb082608murphydnc.aspx\">speech</a></span><span style=\"\"><span style=\"\"><span> by U.S. Rep. </span></span></span><span style=\"\"><a href=\"../../../../Gateway/Alumni/AlumniSpotlight/Murphy.aspx\">Patrick Murphy</a></span><span style=\"\"><span style=\"\"><span>, a 1999 Harrisburg campus law graduate<br><br>1<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">0 p.m. </span>speech by Sen. </span></span></span><span style=\"\"><a href=\"../../../../Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Joe Biden</a></span><span style=\"\"><span style=\"\"><span>, vice presidential nominee and Delaware campus adjunct law faculty<br><br>Student Lounge, Main Law Building.<br>Pizza and drinks served around 9 p.m.<br>Presented by the </span></span></span><span style=\"\"><a href=\"../../../../CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/StudentBarAssociationDelaware.aspx\">Student Bar Association</a></span><span style=\"\"><span style=\"\"><span>.</span></span><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"><span><br><br></span><br></span></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(246, 'Widener Law Alum Congressman Murphy to Speak at Democratic National Convention', '2008-08-25', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"500\" height=\"274\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"murphy DNC2008\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/murphy%20DNC2008.jpg\">On Wednesday, August 27th, <a href=\"/Gateway/Alumni/AlumniSpotlight/Murphy.aspx\">Patrick Joseph Murphy</a>, a Widener Law alum and Pennsylvania’s Congressman from the 8th Congressional district, will speak at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, leading a tribute to active-duty military personnel and their families.<br><br>The theme for Wednesday evening’s program is “Securing America’s Future”, and Congressman Murphy will present alongside Tammy Duckworth, a former Congressional candidate from Illinois and an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Murphy’s presentation will focus on a range of topics including providing adequate mental healthcare for veterans, how to shift foreign policy, and the future for Iraq and Afghanistan. Senator Joe Biden, the Vice Presidential nominee, will be the featured speaker for the evening.<br><br>Congressman Murphy graduated from Widener Law’s Harrisburg campus in 1999 after earning his B.S. from King’s College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where he participated in the ROTC program, graduating with the rank of Second Lieutenant. While at Widener Law, Congressman Murphy participated in the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/TrialAdvocacyHonorSocietyHarrisburg.aspx\">Trial Advocacy Honor Society</a> and was the President of the St. Thomas More Society.<br><br>In 2000, he joined the military faculty at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and taught constitutional law. After the September 11th attacks, he volunteered for overseas deployment, serving first in Bosnia in 2002, and then in Baghdad, Iraq in 2003 and 2004 as a paratrooper and JAG corps attorney with the 82nd airborne division. He returned to Pennsylvania after leaving Iraq and ran for Congress. He won the election for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, and was sworn into office on January 4th, 2007.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(247, 'Widener Law Hosts Debate Between Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates', '2008-08-27', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><div style=\"float: right; width: 440px; height: 370px;\">\n<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_53896b7c\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/53896b7c/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_53896b7c\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/53896b7c/\"></embed></object>\n</div>\n<br>Widener Law’s Delaware Campus hosted a live debate between the two candidates running in the primary to be the Democratic Party’s candidate for Governor of Delaware. WDEL 1150 AM News Talk Radio aired the debate live from the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court Room from 8:00 to 9:30 AM.<br><br>Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons offered a short welcome to open the debate, saying, “Widener Law is proud to be a part of this terrific public service, and we hope that it helps educate the voters about this very important race.”<br><br>Supporters of both candidates packed the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court Room, nearly filling it to capacity, and the campus was festooned with signs proclaiming support for each candidate. Markell stressed the need for a new direction for Delaware, saying that the state needed to move beyond the Minner-Carney years, and he discussed his successes in growing the Office of State Treasurer as well as his experiences working for Nextel. Carney stressed his eight years of active service as Lieutenant Governor, suggesting that he will continue to work to create new jobs by growing Delaware’s science and technology industries, and he cited his success working with the Delaware Biotechnology Institute as well as successful negotiations with Blue Water Wind to create an offshore wind park.<br><br>The debate touched on a number of topics ranging from reassessing property taxes to the significance of the city of Wilmington. The debate opened with a question about each candidate’s thoughts about whether Governor Minner or the incoming Governor should be responsible for picking a replacement for Senator Biden if he resigns his Senate seat to become the Vice President in the event of Barack Obama being elected. Both candidates agreed that the decision would be Governor Minner’s and that she should select whoever she believed would be best for the job.<br><br>WDEL 1150 AM morning news anchor Mellany Armstrong served as the moderator for the debate while a panel made up of local journalists Allan Loudell of 1150 AM WDEL, Mark Nardone of Delaware Today magazine, and Carl Kanefsky of 1150 AM WDEL asked questions of the candidates.<br><br>The primary is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9th.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(248, 'Widener Law Reacts to Obama’s Selection of Senator Biden as his Running Mate', '2008-08-28', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"250\" height=\"173\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"biden campus reacts small\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/biden%20campus%20reacts%20small.jpg\">“I was ecstatic. There was cheering in my house. We were praying for <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Biden</a>,” says Evan Liu, a former student who took Senator Biden’s Issues in Constitutional Law Seminar in the fall of 2005 and who is now an associate at the law firm of Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner, Weinstock &amp; Dodig in Philadelphia. Liu’s reaction to Senator Obama’s selection of Biden as his running mate is a typical one around the Delaware campus of Widener Law, where Senator Biden has served as an adjunct faculty member since 1991.<br><br>“It’s tremendously exciting. Of course, the students and I are very disappointed that we may not see Senator Biden much this semester. But his selection is a great thing for the school, a great thing for Delaware, and in my view, a truly great thing for our country,” says <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Professor Robert Hayman</a>, who has co-taught the seminar with the Senator since 2003. Widener Law’s Dean, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a>, said of Senator Biden, “He brings to this campus expertise in terms of his years as a Senator, his world view, and his great teaching that our students have been exposed to over these many years. We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber on our teaching staff.” <br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Listen to Dean Ammons:</span><br><object width=\"290\" height=\"24\" id=\"audioplayer1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" data=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\"><param value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/ammonsOnBiden082608.mp3\" name=\"FlashVars\">\n<param value=\"high\" name=\"quality\">\n<param value=\"false\" name=\"menu\">\n<param value=\"transparent\" name=\"wmode\"></object><br><br>Courtney McGinnis, another former student in Biden’s Issues in Constitutional Law Seminar says of the news, “I am very excited about Barack Obama\'s decision to ask Senator Biden to join his team.  When his name first surfaced, I was not sure whether Senator Biden would accept the nomination as he is deeply attached to representing the state of Delaware in the Senate.  I was proud of his decision to expand his record of public service to all Americans by accepting the nomination for Vice-President.” <br><br>“I was jumping up and down, pinching myself. I couldn’t believe it,” proclaims Elsie Klein, a technical services assistant in the <a href=\"/LawLibrary.aspx\">Legal Information Center</a> who has known the Senator for more than thirty years after serving as a volunteer on his first senate campaign in 1972. “When he talks to you, he makes you feel like you’re very special. That’s his charm,” she adds. Senator Biden attended the wedding of Elsie’s niece Lisa Borin, a lawyer who works for Senator Biden as a Legislative Director. With a smile, Elsie says, “At the wedding, he said to everyone; In case you don’t know who I am, I’m Senator Biden, and I work for Lisa Borin.”<br><br>Many people were more than eager to share their personal recollections of Senator Biden. Elsie described one particularly amusing incident, saying, “He was coming to his office one year, and he walked by and saw the Biden campaign signs up in my office. Apparently, he asked whose office it was, and when he found out it was mine, he had someone let him in, and he left me a note on a brown paper bag.”<br>        <iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshowBidenReaction/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 600px; margin: 4px; height: 458px; float: left;\"></iframe><br>Certainly, Senator Biden’s impact on the students he has taught cannot be underestimated. “It was such a rare opportunity to have someone of that stature teach us, and it was good to see the human side of the people that run our government,” remarks Evan Liu, adding, “He was so down to earth and relatable. What you see is what you get. He was incredibly passionate about the issues in constitutional law, and that he was willing to sit down and share that was great. Working with Senator Biden and Bob Hayman was amazing. They compliment each other so well.” Courtney McGinnis adds, “As a professor, Senator Biden surprised me. I took the class expecting him to be a typical Washington politician who would want students to reiterate his philosophies and serve as a reflection of himself rather than a scholar interested in the divergent viewpoints of the individuals in the class.  Senator Biden encouraged us to argue against his points and delighted as we increased our abilities to debate.   I think the thing that impressed me the most, however, was how seriously he took the commitment to teach us.”<br><br>Remarking on what the future might hold, Professor Hayman says, “Senator Biden has a genuine passion for the Constitution. We see it in the classroom, as well in his ‘day job’. ”<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(249, 'Dean’s Leadership Forum Highlights Distinguished Alumnus', '2008-09-02', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"233\" height=\"320\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"aiello_michael\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/aiello_michael.jpg\">On September 15th, 2008, Widener Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a> will welcome Michael J. Aiello, Esquire, Class of 1994 to Widener Law’s Delaware Campus for the Third Annual Dean’s Leadership Forum. From 11 AM until 12 PM in The Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom, Mr. Aiello will discuss leadership qualities and answer questions posed by Dean Ammons in a talk-show style setting. An open question and answer session will follow.<br><br>A partner in the New York Office of international law firm Weil Gotshal &amp; Manges, Mr. Aiello’s primary area of practice is corporate mergers and acquisitions. A graduate of New York University, he earned his J.D. from Widener Law in 1994 and started his legal career in 1995 as an associate at Weil Gotshal &amp; Manges. Since rejoining the firm in early 2007, he has represented boards of directors, special committees, investors, shareholder groups, and investment banks in a variety of both negotiated and unsolicited transactions involving such luminaries as the Walt Disney Company, Sony Corporation of America, Merrill Lynch, GE Commercial Finance, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.<br><br>Crain’s New York Business selected Mr. Aiello as one of the “40 Under 40” honorees for 2008. In 2005, The National Law Journal named him as one of the “40 Under 40” for his work in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers recognized him as a leader in the field of mergers and acquisitions in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.The author of several articles on the fiduciary duties of corporate directors and officers, recent developments in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and corporate compliance matters, he received a received the Burton Award for Legal Achievement in 2006 for his article, “Taking a Hard Look at Poison Pills” (New York Law Journal, November 7, 2005).<br><br>All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend the Dean’s Leadership Forum on Monday, September 15th, 2008 from 11 AM to 12 PM in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(250, 'Minority Student and Alumni Networking Social', '2008-09-03', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08AlumniMinority/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; margin: 4px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br><br><span>Dean Linda Ammons, again this year, hosted at her home a Minority Student and Alumni Networking Social on the evening of August 26, 2008. There were more than 70 students and alumni in attendance including members of the judiciary. From the group, 14 countries and 13 states were represented.<br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(251, 'Attorney General Beau Biden Addresses Widener Law’s Delaware Campus', '2008-09-04', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 2px; float: right; width: 504px;\">\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"beau 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/beau%201.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden speaks to the crowd in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.</p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"beau 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/beau%202.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden posed with student leaders. From left, Bill Newman, Dan Devlin, Biden, Kevin Gallagher, Robyn Airey-Rose, Sylvia Siegel and Grant McDowell</p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"beau 3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/beau%203.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden speaks to the crowd in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.</p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"beau 4\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/beau%204.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Law Dean Linda L. Ammons, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden and Professor Erin Daly, associate dean of faculty research and development.</p>\n</div>Students, faculty, and staff filled the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court to capacity on Tuesday, September 2nd to listen to remarks by Delaware’s Attorney General, Joseph R. “Beau” Biden III. It was the Attorney General’s first public appearance since returning from the Democratic National Convention in Denver where he introduced his father, United States Senator, democratic vice presidential candidate, and long-time Widener Law adjunct faculty member <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Joe Biden</a>.<br><br><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Dean Linda L. Ammons</a> welcomed the Attorney General and several members of his staff to the campus, including Richard Gebelein, the Chief Deputy Attorney General and a former Attorney General himself, Chief of Staff Teresa Mason, and Patricia Dailey Lewis, the Director of the Family Services Division. Like Senator Biden, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/GebeleinRichardS.aspx\">Mr. Gelebelein</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/DaileyLewisPatricia.aspx\">Ms. Dailey Lewis</a> have also been Adjunct Professors at Widener Law for many years. Biden noted his father’s connection to the school, saying, “He loves coming here.”<br><br>Addressing the gathered students, Dean Ammons spoke of the school’s mission to train citizen lawyers, saying, “We want you to leave here today with a sense of the importance of civic engagement.” Indeed, civic engagement was a prominent theme of General Biden’s remarks, as he explained that he was originally drawn to public service in order to work for those who are the most vulnerable in our society – children and the elderly.<br><br>The Attorney General then discussed the importance of gathering the right people around him in order to make the Attorney General’s Office function properly. He noted that many of the State’s deputies are graduates of Widener Law, including three of the four division directors.<br><br>The Attorney General also discussed measures to improve crime prevention in Delaware, noting that Delaware’s violent crime rate is too high. He discussed several initiatives to help combat this disturbing trend, beginning with Community Prosecution, which mirrors Community Policing by getting teams of prosecutors out into the community. He also touched on the implementation of a more vertical prosecution system in which a single prosecutor would take a specific case through each step from the Grand Jury all the way to the appellate level rather than the current horizontal system in place where prosecutors have only a limited amount of time to familiarize themselves with the specifics of a given case. Finally, he talked about the creation of the Family Division of the Department of Justice, and changes to the Child Protection Unit that would approach cases in a more holistic way.<br><br>During the question and answer portion of the program, Attorney General Biden answered a question about how the Attorney General’s Office is treating elder abuse from <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/JohnsonLeslieA.aspx\">Professor Leslie Johnson</a>. He also answered questions about the office’s relationship with the Department of Corrections, making sure that crime prevention efforts comply with 4th Amendment rights, and a question from Dean Ammons about providing legal advice to administrative agencies.<br><br>Born February 3rd, 1969 in Wilmington, Delaware, Attorney General Biden, graduated from Archmere Academy and the University of Pennsylvania, and earned his J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law. He began his career in public service in 1995 at the United States Department of Justice, where he served as a Counsel in the Office of Policy Development until 1997. From 1997 until 2002, he worked as a Federal Prosecutor in the United States Attorney\'s Office in Philadelphia, with Widener Law Professor Geoff Moulton who, at the time, was First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.<br><br>A Captain in the Delaware Army National Guard\'s Judge Advocate General\'s Corps, Beau Biden is assigned to the 261st Signal Brigade in Smyrna, Delaware. He was deployed to Kosovo in 2001 to serve as Interim Legal Advisor for the United States Department of Justice. He is scheduled to be deployed on October 3rd for a tour of duty in Iraq.<br><br>In closing his remarks, Attorney General Biden encouraged the students in the audience to go into public service, remarking, “If you go into it early, it pays dividends to you personally and to your community.”<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(252, 'Widener Law and the Environment Series: Measuring U.S. Progress Towards Sustainable Development', '2008-09-05', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">\n				<img width=\"300\" height=\"207\" alt=\"widenerLawEnvironment\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/widenerLawEnvironment.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">This story is the first in a series of articles looking at environmental law efforts by Widener Law’s faculty.</span> <br><br>“Environmentally friendly rarely means restorative, but rather, less damaging,” notes <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">Professor John C. Dernbach</a> as he discusses the effort to achieve sustainable development. “A sustainable America,” he explains, “would be more prosperous, healthier, and more secure, with a higher quality environment. This would be true not just for our generation, but also for those that come after us.”<br><br>“My project is about using law and policy to move the United States in a more sustainable direction,” he says of Agenda for a Sustainable America, a volume he is editing that examines U.S. progress in achieving sustainable development. Agenda for a Sustainable America scrutinizes the efforts of the United States to achieve sustainable development since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002. The book’s 41 contributing authors also offer recommendations for the next five to ten years.<br><br>Agenda is the most recent of Dernbach’s efforts to look at progress toward sustainability in the United States.  They began with the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, or Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. “The United States and other countries agreed at the Earth Summit to work toward sustainability,” he says.  “Instead of making progress on economic, security, and social goals at the expense of the environment, they decided to do something that has never been done. They agreed to make progress on the environment and on these other goals at the same time. Instead of the environment vs. the economy, sustainability is about the environment and the economy.”<br><br>His first review of U.S. efforts came with an article in 1997 that he prepared with students in a seminar. It looked at U.S. efforts in the first five years after the Earth Summit.  In 2002, for the ten-year anniversary of the Earth Summit, he edited a book called Stumbling Toward Sustainability, which reviewed progress over the previous ten years and made recommendations for the next decade. Experts in particular fields wrote the book’s 32 chapters.<br><br>“There is good news and bad news” in Agenda for a Sustainable America, says Professor Dernbach. “The good news is that we are near a tipping point on awareness of sustainability. We are recognizing that environmental problems also limit economic opportunity, job creation and social wellbeing, and even compromise our national security. It is also increasingly evident that we can build a more robust economy, improve national security, and create good new jobs by protecting and restoring the environment.  Among the leaders in efforts toward sustainability are many colleges and universities, local governments, religious organizations, and corporations.”  <br><br>“The bad news is that we continue to move in the wrong direction - toward greater consumption of energy, materials, land and other resources, and toward greater greenhouse gas emissions and more negative environmental impacts. All of this has or will have unhappy consequences, not just to the environment but also to our security and welfare. With the world population expected to grow by 3 billion by mid-century, the world cannot sustain a situation in which everyone is consuming resources at the same level as the average American,” points out Professor Dernbach.<br><br>The central message of the book is that there is a way for the United States to achieve sustainability. The agenda for sustainability contained in the book is based on more than 100 recommendations by the book’s 40 contributing authors. “A major obstacle for many people is their lack of awareness of how we should proceed, and their fear that good choices don’t exist,” Dernbach says. Yet the recommendations contained in the book would create more opportunities for more people, reduce pollution, create new jobs and new technologies, and provide a better quality of life for Americans.<br><br>“If the challenges are great,” he concludes, “so are the opportunities.”', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(253, 'It’s class as usual for Sen. Biden', '2008-09-06', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"\">\n				<a href=\"%7E/media/Images/News2008/biden%20class.ashx\">\n						<img width=\"500\" height=\"212\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/biden%20class%20500px.jpg\" alt=\"biden class 500px\" class=\"FloatLeft\"></a>U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential candidate<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\"> Joe Biden</a> took time out of his busy campaign schedule to teach his Saturday morning seminar “Selected Topics in Constitutional Law” on the Delaware campus Saturday.<br><br><span>“It says a lot about his love of the constitution, affection for teaching and commitment to Widener students that he led today’s class,” said Law Dean Linda L. Ammons.</span><br><br>Biden has taught a Saturday morning class on constitutional law every fall and spring semester for Widener since 1991, and has co-taught the class for about six years with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Robert L. Hayman Jr. Hayman</a> also attended Saturday’s seminar.<br><br>U.S. Sen. Barack Obama selected Biden Aug. 23 to run with him on the Democratic ticket in the race for the White House. That was the same day the Widener seminar got underway for the fall semester. This Saturday marked Biden’s first appearance in class since the school year got underway.<br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(254, 'Supreme Court justice administers oath to eight students', '2008-09-09', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 2px; float: right; width: 505px;\">\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"341\" alt=\"swear1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/swear1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Dean Linda L. Ammons spoke to the group before they took the oath.</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"swear2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/swear2.jpg\">.</p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Law students recited the oath together.</span></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" alt=\"swear3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/swear3.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Student inductees, standing from left included Juliette E. Lewis, Christopher C. Cooper, Karen E. Palazzo, Sara L. McGeever, Ozge Otarsi, Tracy L. Pearson, Andrew K. Fabian and Jennifer N. Bergin. Seated from left are Professor Janine Howard O\'Rangers, Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland, Law Dean Linda L. Ammons and Law Professor Dana Harrington Conner.</span></p>\n</div>\n		<span>Delaware <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HollandRandyJ.aspx\">Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland</a> recently presided over a special session of the court on the Delaware campus, where he administered an oath that admitted eight Widener students to the limited practice of law.<br><br>The students were admitted under a special rule that allows them to appear in some Delaware courts under very stringent guidelines. The students were admitted in relation to their work in the Delaware Civil Clinic at Widener. They will largely be representing clients who are victims of domestic violence, who also need assistance with child custody and visitation issues. <br><br>“This is a very important moment in your fledgling legal career,” Holland told the group, explaining people they encounter in court will not see the “limited practice” aspect of their admission. “No one is going to be looking at you as a law student. They are going to be looking at you as a lawyer, so you need to think of yourself like an officer of the court.”<br><br>The Delaware bar has admitted attorneys since 1676, and has a running total of about 4,000 members, Holland said. Comparing that to the more than 8,000 attorneys the New York bar admits each year, he told the students they have joined an exclusive group. He encouraged them to be humble servants of the public who use respectful language and treat their legal adversaries with civility.<br><br>“You are personifying justice,” he said.<br><br>Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HowardJanineN.aspx\">Janine Howard O’Rangers</a>, who supervises the Delaware Civil Clinic with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HarringtonConnerDana.aspx\">Dana Harrington Conner</a>, moved the students’ admissions to the limited practice of law. Law Dean Linda L. Ammons attended the Sept. 8 swearing in ceremony and also spoke. She told the students they were crossing an important threshold and she encouraged them to “go the extra mile.”<br><br>“You’ll be representing not only your clients, but you’ll be representing Widener Law,” she said.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Students who took the oath included:</span><br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span>Juliette E. Lewis</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Christopher C. Cooper</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Karen E. Palazzo</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Sara L. McGeever</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Ozge Otarsi</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Tracy L. Pearson</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Andrew K. Fabian</span> </li>\n<li><span>Jennifer N. Bergin</span></li>\n</ul>\n<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(255, 'Dr. Pietro Saitta Speaks to Faculty About the Plight of the Roma', '2008-09-10', '<object id=\"audioplayer1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" height=\"24\" width=\"290\" data=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\">\r\n				<param value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/saitta%20pietro%20090908.mp3\" name=\"FlashVars\">\n<param value=\"high\" name=\"quality\">\n<param value=\"false\" name=\"menu\">\n<param value=\"transparent\" name=\"wmode\"></object>\r\n		<br><img class=\"FloatRight\" height=\"367\" alt=\"saitta pietro facdev\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/saitta%20pietro%20facdev.jpg\" width=\"380\">On Tuesday, September 9th, Dr. Pietro Saitta, a sociology professor at the University of Messina in Italy visited Widener Law’s Delaware campus and spoke to members of the faculty and staff about the plight of Italy’s Roma population. Often referred to as gypsies, the Roma have historically been marginalized throughout Europe. Dr. Saitta presented findings from his paper entitled “Immigrant Roma in Sicily: The Role of the Informal Economy in Producing Social Advancement”.<br><br>Dr. Saitta discussed discriminatory practices against the Roma such as the digital fingerprinting of Roma children. He received a number of interesting questions from faculty members and discussed the legal basis for discriminatory practices against the Roma, the unspoken use of race in Europe as a basis for immigration quotas, and the lack of proper advocacy to prevent the criminalization of such marginalized groups.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(256, 'Law School announces plans for Constitution Day', '2008-09-11', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/constitution%20300px.jpg\" alt=\"constitution 300px\" class=\"FloatRight\"> The 2008 race for the White House and its implications for the Constitution provide the central theme for this year’s annual observance of Constitution Day at Widener Law, the only law school in America’s “First State” of Delaware.<br><br>Widener student groups <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">The Federalist Society</a>, <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionSociety.aspx\">American Civil Liberties Union</a> and <a href=\"http://widenerlawreview.org\">Widener Law Review</a> will jointly sponsor a panel discussion, \"The future of the Constitution: The presidency,\" on <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom</span>. The event is free and open to the public.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Panelists include:</span><br><ul>\n<li>\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Todd Gaziano</span>, director of the Center of Judicial and Legal Studies at the Heritage Foundation and a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Francis Lee</span>, chairman of the political science department at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Joseph Pika</span>, professor of political science and international relations at the University of Delaware. </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Widener Law </span><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/GarfieldAlanE.aspx\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Professor Alan Garfield</a> will moderate.</li>\n</ul>Professor Garfield has been an instrumental figure in the law school’s annual Constitution Day celebration. <a href=\"http://law.widener.edu/constitution/2008/\">The online project he launched three years ago continues this year</a>. It was designed to capitalize on Widener’s location in the first state to ratify the Constitution, and it serves to enlighten the public about Constitution Day. This year the website features a collection of essays on the presidency. Contributing authors include professors, politicians and the executive director of the Delaware chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. The site includes essays from Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for vice president, and former Delaware Gov. Pete Du Pont, who was once a candidate for the Republican nomination for president.<br><br>“The website was created to give the public an opportunity to collectively celebrate Constitution Day,” Professor Garfield said. “Widener Law is proud to lead this organized effort and we are grateful to the many distinguished authors who have contributed to our online collection over the years.”<br><br><br><span style=\"\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"></span></span>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(257, 'Widener Law announces 2008 alumni awards', '2008-09-17', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08AlumniAwards/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; margin: 4px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br><span>The School of Law recently handed out its 2008 alumni awards, given annually to recognize outstanding leadership, service, and achievement of its graduates. Widener Law has honored and awarded its distinguished alumni since 1976. This year’s event was held Sept. 15 in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on the Delaware campus.<br><br>“Whether student, alumni or faculty member, we all understand that when we are called to the practice of law, we must give back,” Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said. “Tonight’s recognition captures the passion of civic engagement that is known at Widener Law.”<br><br>Widener University President James T. Harris III also attended the event, and spoke of the school’s Washington Monthly ranking, which puts Widener among the top 50 universities that do the most for our country. In determining the rankings, the Washington-D.C.-based magazine and website looks in part at alumni contributions to society. Harris said people like the 2008 alumni honorees help Widener shine. “Thank you for all you do for your communities, and for helping to raise the profile of Widener Law,” he said.<br><br>The awards were handed out by Steven P. Barsamian ’75, president of the Widener Law Alumni Board. Recipients were:<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Alumna of the Year Award</span> was given to Risa Vetri Ferman ’92 of Montgomery County. The award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who, through service to her or his community or profession, or by honors received, service rendered or other accomplishments, has brought honor, recognition and distinction to the Widener University School of Law. Ferman graduated from Widener’s Delaware campus. She was elected Montgomery County district attorney in November 2007 and took office in January. She is the first woman to be district attorney in her county and she oversees a staff of more than 130 full-time employees, including about 40 assistant district attorneys. They open roughly 10,000 new adult cases annually.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Outstanding Service Awards</span> were presented to Sharon R. Lopez ’93 of Lancaster, Pa.; Maria C. McLaughlin ’92 of Philadelphia and Gregory E. Sciolla ’75 of Moorestown, NJ.<br><br>Lopez graduated from Widener’s Harrisburg campus. She is a partner at the Lancaster firm of Deem, Farney &amp; Lopez. McLaughlin graduated from Widener’s Delaware campus. She is an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, where she serves as chief of <br>the child support enforcement division. Sciolla was a member of the law school’s first <br>graduating class, when it was known as the Delaware Law School. He is a partner in the firm of Leonard, Sciolla, Hutchison, Leonard &amp; Tinari, LLP, and based in their New Jersey office.<br><br>Service awards are granted for outstanding alumni service to the law school as a whole, to a particular concentration within the school, and/or to one’s profession where the Widener University School of Law is involved in the service.<br><br>The Outstanding Recent Alumna Award was presented to Dana Vinograd Reynolds ‘06 of Wilmington. The award recognizes work by a recent graduate who shows energy and dedication as a community leader or provides invaluable service to the Widener University School of Law. <br><br>Vinograd Reynolds, a Delaware campus graduate, is an attorney with Richards Layton &amp; Finger in Wilmington. <br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(258, 'Temple Law Professor Discusses the Effect of Globalization on Citizenship', '2008-09-18', '<object width=\"290\" height=\"24\" id=\"audioplayer1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" data=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\">\n				<param value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/spiro091708.mp3\" name=\"FlashVars\">\n<param value=\"high\" name=\"quality\">\n<param value=\"false\" name=\"menu\">\n<param value=\"transparent\" name=\"wmode\"> </object><img class=\"FloatRight\" style=\"width: 130px; height: 180px;\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/spiro%20peter.jpg\" alt=\"spiro peter\">“The basic thesis is that citizenship practices are broken and they can’t be fixed,” said Professor Peter J. Spiro in defining the premise of his book, <em>Beyond Citizenship: American Identity After Globalization</em>. On Wednesday, September 17th, Spiro, the Charles R. Weiner Professor of Law at Temple Law School, discussed how globalization degrades the concept of citizenship, and how the practice of birthright citizenship no longer makes sense the way it did when people were less inclined to move across national borders. The talk included an examination of the “disjuncture between citizenship and the actual community” as well as how the right to vote and the paying of taxes play into the citizenship discussion.<br><br>Peter J. Spiro is a graduate of Harvard University and earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. A former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, Professor Spiro has written extensively on international, immigration, and constitutional law for a variety of law reviews as well as such publications as <em>Foreign Affairs</em>, <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, <em>The New Republic</em>, and the leading international law blog, <a title=\"Opinio Juris\" href=\"http://opiniojuris.org/\">Opinio Juris</a>.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(259, 'Widener Law Holds Second Annual Professionalism Day', '2008-09-19', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08Professionalism/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; margin: 4px; height: 420px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br>Widener Law held the second annual Professionalism Day on Tuesday, September 16th, offering students a valuable opportunity to learn about life as a legal professional.<br><br>On the Harrisburg camps, three different programs were set up for students. Students in their final year enjoyed an extensive afternoon program entitled “Making the Transition to the Practice of Law” that included presentations from several practicing lawyers. First year students and extended division students in their second year were treated to an evening program themed around achieving success in law school, while both second year students and third year extended division students witnessed a program entitled “Becoming a Professional”.<br><br>Harrisburg Dean of Students Ann Fruth offered a short welcome before “Making the Transition to the Practice of Law”, introducing Saul Ewing LLP attorney and Widener Law graduate Joel Hopkins, Esq. ’99. Hopkins spoke to students about what a student could expect from the first year of practice, noting, “You will never be smarter than the day after you take the bar exam, and you will never be dumber than the day you start work as a lawyer.” He discussed the traits needed to succeed in the professional world, emphasizing that law firms look for a good attitude, solid research and analytical skills, the ability to write, interpersonal skills, and a commitment to supporting colleagues and working hard. <br><br>The program also featured a talk by Patti Bednarik, Esq., of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a presentation on the professional implications of social networking sites like Facebook by Patricia Fox, Esq., Associate Director of the Legal Information Center, and a talk on professional networking given by Edward Spreha, Jr., Esq., the President of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Dauphin County Bar Association.<br><br>The Delaware Campus conducted its own Professionalism Day activities, offering a variety of panel discussions featuring legal professionals and moderated by members of the faculty. The programs for second and third year students ran from 9:00 in the morning until 12:00 and featured topics such as Success on the Bar Exam, Transitioning from Law Student to Law Professional, and Success in Finding and Keeping Employment. Smaller breakout sessions focused on Large and Medium Firm Practice, Small Firm and Solo Practitioner, Government Service, Alternative Careers in the Law, Public Interest, Judicial Clerkship, and In-house Counsel. <br><br>First year students on the Delaware campus had their turn in the afternoon. Members of the faculty discussed how students could find success in law school while the Career Development Office and members of the library staff presented a joint program discussing personal marketing messages and reputation. Extended Division students attended similar programs in the evening, capping a long but successful day.<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(260, 'Panel Discussion Offers Insight into the Constitutional Powers of the Presidency', '2008-09-22', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 505px;\">\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"372\" alt=\"conday1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/conday1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"201\" alt=\"conday2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/conday2.jpg\"></p>\n<p><img width=\"500\" height=\"314\" alt=\"conday3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/conday3.jpg\"></p>\n</div>“Let the record reflect that I prefer declared wars, I just prefer undeclared wars to being killed,” offered Todd Gaziano in response to an audience question about how there could be a middle ground in regards to the declaration of war.<br><br>In celebration of Constitution Day on Wednesday September 17th, three Widener Law student groups, <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">The Federalist Society</a>, <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionSociety.aspx\">American Civil Liberties Union</a>, and <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/WidenerLawReview.aspx\">Widener Law Review</a>, sponsored a panel discussion entitled \"The future of the Constitution: The presidency,” that took place in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.<br><br>The panel consisted of director of the Center for Judicial and Legal Studies at the Heritage Foundation Todd Gaziano, University of Delaware professor of political science and international relations Joseph Pika, and Franics Lee, the chairman of the political science department at St. Joseph’s University. Widener Law Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/GarfieldAlanE.aspx\">Alan Garfield</a> served as the moderator for the discussion.<br><br>The evening program opened with a general welcome from student Brian Kisielewski, the president of both The Federalist Society and American Civil Liberties Union student groups. Widener Law Review Editor-in-Chief Robyn Airey-Rose introduced the distinguished panelists before turning the program over to professor Garfield.<br><br>Professor Garfield thanked both Brian and Robyn for putting the program together and commented on the creation of Constitution Day and what it means, mentioning the special <a title=\"The First State Celebrates Constitution Day 2008\" href=\"http://law.widener.edu/constitution/2008/\">Constitution Day website</a> with essays gathered from prominent scholars including Professor Pika as well as Senator Joseph Biden, Jr., the Democratic nominee for vice president, and former Delaware Governor Pete DuPont.<br><br>The first point of discussion raised by Professor Garfield involved the issue of presidential war powers. Todd Gaziano noted, “Congress has most of the cards, but likes to pass the responsibility on to the President and then nitpick the way the President exercises those powers.” Professor Pika disagreed with that contention, asserting that the “pattern that has emerged is not so much one of congressional nitpicking as it is the aggressiveness of the presidential assertion of power.” Professor Lee wryly noted, “It’s nice that we honor the Constitution, but I wonder if we take it very seriously. It says here that it is Congress’s duty to declare war.” While all three panelists agreed that the framers of the Constitution intentionally left some clauses vague to allow for flexibility in the face of uncertain situations, there was some disagreement regarding the prosecution of wars not officially declared by Congress, although all three panelists did espouse a preference that wars be declared.<br><br>The panel touched on a wide range of topics ranging from whether or not the increased use of signing statements by Presidents that has occurred since the Ronald Reagan administration represents an attempt at backdoor line-item veto power and the necessity of creating a civil liberties advisory office to the President. The panelists then took questions from the audience. The first question related to whether state and local government officials or federal officials were more responsible for the slipshod response to Hurricane Katrina. While Mr. Gaziano asserted, “Sometimes things are better handled at the state level, Professor Pika simply replied, “Yes. All of them,” and Professor Lee wondered what sense a federalist system that divides the country into states even makes in the modern age. Additional questions from the audience focused on the lack of recent Constitutional Amendments, Congress’s decision not to renew the Office of Special Counsel, and how strict constructionist Supreme Court Justices view the idea of interpreting the Constitution.<br><br>The event provided a fitting cap to Constitution Day, offering an engaging and lively discussion.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, '');

INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(276, 'Environmental law students visit U.S. Supreme Court', '2008-10-15', '<div style=\"PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; FLOAT: right; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; MARGIN: 3px; WIDTH: 505px; PADDING-TOP: 3px\">\n<p><img height=\"491\" alt=\"ussc enviro law clinic students 100808\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ussc%20enviro%20law%20clinic%20students%20100808.jpg\" width=\"500\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">Widener Law students from left, Joel Hollaar, William O\'Shaughnessy, Matthew McCrystal, Jordan Schlossberg, Robert Gordon, Adam Flager, Daniel Moran, and Sonya Dore.</span></p>\n</div>\r\n		<span>\r\n				<img class=\"FloatLeft\" height=\"162\" alt=\"widenerLawEnviroSupreme235px\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/widenerLawEnviroSupreme235px.jpg\" width=\"235\"></span>\r\n		<span>A group of eight Delaware-campus law students recently traveled to the U.S. Supreme Court, where they heard arguments in two cases.<br><br>The students, all enrolled in the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/EnvironmentalandNaturalResourcesLawClinic.aspx\">Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clini</a>c, were accompanied by <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/KristlKennethT.aspx\">clinic Director and Associate Professor Kenneth T. Kristl</a> on the Wednesday, Oct. 8 excursion.<br><br>Their timing was perfect. The court heard two significant environmental cases that day: <br><br></span>\r\n		<br><span>\r\n				<span style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic\">Winter, et al. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., et al.,</span> which focused on whether the U.S. Navy was improperly prohibited from conducting training exercises off the coast of California that used a type of sonar thought to be harmful to whales and dolphins. The students heard U.S. Solicitor General Gregory Garre argue on behalf of the U.S. military and Los Angeles attorney Richard Kendal argue for the environmental group.<br><br></span>\r\n		<span>\r\n				<span style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic\">Summers, et al. v. Earth Island Institute, et al. , which looked at U.S.</span> Forest Service regulations, including public comment opportunities in response to nationwide forestry decisions. Deputy Solicitor General Edwin Kneedler argued for the forestry service and Colorado attorney Matt Kenna argued for the Earth Island Institute.</span>\r\n		<br><span>\r\n				<br>Kristl said he arranged reserved seating for the Widener group, so the students could stay for both cases. It was the second year in a row he took a student group to the court and he hopes to continue making it an annual event. Those who went this year included:<br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span>Joel Hollaar</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>William O\'Shaughnessy</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Matthew McCrystal</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Jordan Schlossberg</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Robert Gordon</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Adam Flager</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Daniel Moran</span> </li>\n<li><span>Sonya Dore</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(277, 'Widener Law Hosts Debate Between Candidates for U.S. Representative from Delaware', '2008-10-15', '<div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right;\">\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\" id=\"viddler_8837a8a9\">\n						<param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/8837a8a9/\">\n<param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\">\n<param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/8837a8a9/\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" name=\"viddler_8837a8a9\"></embed></object>\n		</div>\nOn Tuesday, October 14th, Widener Law’s Delaware Campus hosted a live debate between incumbent Mike Castle and challenger Karen Hartley-Nagle, the candidates for U.S. Representative from Delaware. WDEL 1150 AM News Talk Radio aired the debate live from the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court Room from 8:00 to 9:30 AM.<br><br>Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons offered a short welcome to open the debate, saying, “We are pleased once again to partner with 1150 AM WDEL in the spirit of public service to bring you this debate. With the state of our economy and world affairs in general so unstable at this moment, this is indeed a pivotal time for Delaware voters. We thank both Karen Hartley-Nagle and Representative Mike Castle for being here today to share their positions on the critical issues we face. I also want to express appreciation for the journalists joining us this morning and to thank them for representing the voice of the people as they ask their questions. To everyone listening over the radio or watching online, welcome. Widener Law is glad to have you with us today.”<br><br>The debate covered a wide range of topics, but much of the discussion centered on the nation’s current economic woes. Representative Castle acknowledged that the bailout package was not a perfect solution, but suggested that the package that was finally passed should help with economic recovery. He noted his own involvement in making changes to the original bailout package to make it more palatable, including limiting golden parachutes for outgoing executives of failing financial companies. Karen Hartley-Nagle said that she would not have supported either bailout package and suggested that any solution should have offered more protections for the people on “Main Street”.<br><br>The candidates also discussed efforts to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel, the situation in Iraq, the potential expansion of NATO to include the Ukraine and Georgia, the standing of the United States in the world, the potential impact of the Presidential election on Roe v. Wade, and nuclear proliferation. Senator Castle put an emphasis on his ability and willingness to work across party lines, saying of whichever ticket wins the Presidential election, “I don’t care what their political affiliation is we need to make the decision that is best for this country.” He noted his long record of service as Governor of Delaware and as the state’s U.S Representative and his record as a centrist as reasons he should be reelected. Karen Hartley-Nagle talked about her record of creating jobs and her service as director of the Nagle Foundation, and suggested that she has the vision necessary to serve in Congress.<br><br>WDEL 1150 AM morning news anchor Peter MacArthur served as the moderator for the debate while a panel made up of local journalists Allan Loudell of 1150 AM WDEL and Mark Nardone of Delaware Today magazine asked questions of the candidates.<br><br>Election day is Tuesday, November 4th.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(278, 'Pizza and Politics: Election Series Looks at Health Care Policy', '2008-10-16', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: left; width: 440px;\"><object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_34dba9e6\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/34dba9e6/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_34dba9e6\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/34dba9e6/\"></embed></object></div>\nOn Tuesday, October 14th, the Pizza and Politics series looked at the health care policies of Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Students, faculty, and staff congregated in the student lounge for an informative discussion led by Associate Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/GoldbergSusanL.aspx\">Susan Goldberg</a> and Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/FichterAndrewJ.aspx\">Andrew Fichter</a>.<br><br>Associate Dean Goldberg opened with a look at the state of health care in the United States, noting that some 47 million Americans have no health care coverage, adding that despite the fact that the United States spends more money on health care than any other nation, the World Health Organization only rated the country 37th in overall health care performance in a 2000 report. Professor Fichter followed with a look at the health care proposals of both candidates, first discussing McCain’s plan to offer tax credits and deregulate health care providers in the hope that market forces would drive costs down. He then discussed Obama’s plan to expand the current employer-based system by enforcing a “play or pay mandate” on employers that would force them to provide insurance or pay into a government fund.<br><br>To open the discussion to student participation, Associate Dean Goldberg echoed moderator Tom Brokaw’s question from the second presidential debate, asking the audience whether they considered health care a right, a privilege, or an obligation. The discussion touched on the potential outcomes of each candidate’s policies, examining what the expected costs of the respective plans would be as well as which plan would extend coverage to more currently uninsured people.<br><br>The final Pizza and Politics discussion will be on Monday, October 20th at 4 pm in the student lounge off of Main Street. Professors Jim May and David Hodas will lead a discussion about the environment and energy policy.<br><br><strong>Pizza and Politics Series:</strong> \n\n<ul>\n<li>Sept. 22, 4 pm: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de092408pizzapolfp.aspx\">FOREIGN POLICY</a> with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/StraussAndrewL.aspx\">Andrew Strauss</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/KellyJPatrick.aspx\">Patrick Kelly</a>. </li>\n<li>Sept. 30, 12 noon: the <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de100108pizzapolvp.aspx\">VICE PRESIDENCY</a> with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Robert Hayman</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReganPaulL.aspx\">Paul Regan</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct. 6, 4 pm: the <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de100808pizzapolsc.aspx\">SUPREME COURT</a>, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/LipkinRobertJustin.aspx\">Robert Lipkin</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/RayLauraK.aspx\">Laura Ray</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct. 14, 12 noon: HEALTH CARE POLICY, with Associate Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/GoldbergSusanL.aspx\">Susan Goldberg</a> and Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/FichterAndrewJ.aspx\">Andrew Fichter</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct 20, 4 pm: ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY POLICY, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/MayJamesR.aspx\">Jim May</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HodasDavidR.aspx\">David Hodas</a>.</li>\n</ul>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(279, 'Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series Looks at Origins of the Current Financial Crisis', '2008-10-17', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; float: left; width: 440px;\">\n		<object width=\"437\" height=\"368\" id=\"viddler_4db78f49\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/4db78f49/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"368\" name=\"viddler_4db78f49\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/4db78f49/\"></embed></object>\n		</div>On Monday, October 14th at 12 pm, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/MoringielloJulietM.aspx\">Juliet Moringiello</a>, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/JonesKatherineMason.aspx\">Katherine Jones</a>, and Dean of Students <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/FruthAnnElizabeth.aspx\">Ann Fruth</a> spoke to students, faculty, and staff about the origins of the current financial crisis. The first of several Policy and Pizza in the Pit events, the engaging discussion offered students insight into the problems facing the economy.<br><br>Professor Jones spoke first, describing some of the legislative history of banking regulation, focusing specifically on the Glass-Steagell Act of 1933, which mandated the separation of commercial banking from investment banking and created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group on April 7, 1998 to create Citigroup challenged the provisions of the Glass-Steagell Act that forbade banks to merge with insurance underwriters. Under the then current regulations, Citigroup had two to five years to divest the prohibited assets, but the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act on November 12, 1999 reversed Glass-Steagell and allowed financial services companies to offer commercial banking, investment banking, insurance underwriting and brokerage services.<br><br>As Professor Jones noted, “The moral hazard was saying that ‘we will let banks do things that are very risky’. If they make money on them, they get to keep the money. On the other hand, if they lose the money, FDIC is going to come in and pay everybody, and they’re not going to have to go under if the risk turns bad. This incentivizes people to take big risks that they wouldn’t take if they knew that there was a bigger downside to their losing. So, even some very conservative economists said that you should restrict what people are allowed to do with money that the government is going to insure.”<br><br>Professor Moringiello then spoke about how loans, including those people took to purchase homes and cars, turned into the securities that have dragged down the financial market. In addition to issuing loans that allowed people to spend beyond their means, financial institutions packaged the bad loans together as securities and then sold them off. As Professor Moringiello noted, “When the mortgages are carved up and sold to lots and lots of investors, the risk is removed from the originator.”<br><br>Dean Fruth then spoke about why these securities had become such a problem. Imprudent lending resulted in people being unable to pay their loans, which in turn resulted in foreclosures. Those foreclosures drove down the values of homes, making the securities less valuable, and tying up bank assets so that additional lending became more difficult because of the lack of liquidity in the market.<br><br>At the conclusion of their presentation, the three faculty members took questions from the student audience. One student asked about how the bank bailout package would help individuals. The three panelists essentially agreed that the package would do very little to help individuals, but Dean Fruth noted, “When banks stopped lending money, that caused the economy really to grind to a very slow pace,” adding later, “I think that the bleeding was so bad that this was triage.”<br><br>The next Policy and Pizza discussion will be on Thursday, October 23rd at 12 pm in the Pit. Professors Wesley Oliver, Harry Witte, and Amanda Smith will recap and critique the debates between Barack Obama and John McCain.<br><br><strong><img width=\"347\" height=\"283\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/Policy%20PizzaHbgKickoff.jpg\" alt=\"Policy PizzaHbgKickoff\" class=\"FloatRight\">Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series:</strong> \n\n<ul>\n<li>Oct. 14, 12 pm: \"The Financial Crisis\" with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/MoringielloJulietM.aspx\">Juliet Moringiello</a>, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/JonesKatherineMason.aspx\">Katherine Jones</a>, and Dean of Students <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/FruthAnnElizabeth.aspx\">Ann Fruth</a> </li>\n<li>Oct. 23, 12 pm: \"Presidential Debate Recaps and Critiques\" with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbgAdj/WitteHarryL.aspx\">Harry Witte</a>, and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a> </li>\n<li>Oct. 31, 12 pm: \"The Impact of the Election on the Supreme Court\" with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Robert Power</a> </li>\n<li>Nov. 6, 12 pm: \"Implications of the Presidential Election Results\" with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John Dernbach</a>, and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a><br>\n</li>\n</ul>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(280, 'Law school announces general-election debates', '2008-10-20', '<img width=\"399\" height=\"301\" alt=\"2008ElectionDebate10 22 08\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/2008ElectionDebate10%2022%2008.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\"><span class=\"FloatRight\"></span>The Law School Public Relations Office is pleased to announce our partnership with 1150 AM WDEL news radio will continue with general-election debates on the Delaware campus. The school is proud to provide facilities for the events, which are presented in the public interest and broadcast live over the radio and on its website, <a href=\"http://www.wdel.com/\">WDEL.com</a>. <br><br>All debates happen in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom and are open to the public. We encourage students, faculty and staff to attend, listen and take advantage of this opportunity to see the candidates up close. Show your Widener Pride and let them know our law school community is interested in the future of the First State!<br><br>The races featured this fall include:<br><br><div style=\"margin-left: 40px;\">Race for Delaware governor<br style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Wednesday, Oct. 22, 8 to 9:30 a.m.</span><br>Republican Bill Leevs.Democrat Jack Markell<br><br><a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de101508castledebate.aspx\">Previous Debate: U.S. House of Representatives seat for Delaware<br>Tuesday, Oct. 14, 8 to 9:30 a.m.</a><br>Republican Mike Castle (incumbent)vs.Democrat Karen Hartley-Nagle<br><br>\n</div>\n<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(281, 'Widener Law Hosts Debate Between Delaware Gubernatorial Candidates', '2008-10-23', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 447px;\">\n<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_2136d5df\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/2136d5df/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_2136d5df\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/2136d5df/\"></embed></object>\n		</div>On Wednesday, October 22nd, Widener Law’s Delaware Campus hosted a live debate between democrat Jack Markell and republican Bill Lee, the candidates for Governor of the state of Delaware. WDEL 1150 AM News Talk Radio aired the debate live from the Ruby R. Vale Moot Court Room from 8:00 to 9:30 AM.<br><br>Widener Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a> offered a short welcome to open the debate, saying, “On behalf of the faculty, students, and staff of the Law Center, it is my great pleasure to welcome all of you here today for this second in a pair of general election debates that Widener and 1150 AM WDEL have teamed up to bring to the voters of the First State. As Delaware’s law school, we look upon this contest for Delaware Governor with keen interest, and we thank Bill Lee and Jack Markell for spending part of their morning with us in what I am sure will be an exciting and enlightening exchange. I also want to thank all of the journalists who are here today posing the questions and everyone watching on <a title=\"WDEL.com\" href=\"http://www.wdel.com/index.php\">WDEL.com</a>, in person, or listening over their radios. Widener Law is proud to be a part of this terrific public service, and we hope it helps educate the voters about this important race. Again, good morning and welcome.”<br><br>The debate opened with a question about whether it would be better to target a specific industry to bring new jobs into Delaware or if a more open strategy would be better. Both Markell and Lee seemed to agree that the state needs a broader strategy. Lee noted, “I don’t believe there is a silver bullet out there. I don’t think that there is one industry that is going to save Delaware and turn our economy around. I think we have to create a business environment that will allow small companies to start up here.” Markell noted the differences between now and his childhood in Newark, saying, “Most of the big companies from back then are much smaller then they used to be or they’ve moved away all together. People often ask me what’s the next big thing, what will take the place of the Financial Center Development Act. I think that’s the wrong question to ask because I don’t think that anyone is really smart enough to know what the next big thing is going to be. I think what we need to do instead is create an economic climate here where entrepreneurs can thrive across a number of industries.”<br><br>The candidates touched on a number of issues important to Delaware’s future including education, treatment of prisoners and the mentally ill, agricultural zoning, traffic woes and the future of DelDOT, and how they would deal with the state’s budget deficit. Markell cited his experience when asked about achieving budget savings, declaring, “First of all, I’m the one candidate in this race who has laid out very detailed plans, actually twice during the course of the campaign - once during the primary and once during the general election – in terms of how we can achieve savings. I’m also the one candidate in this race who has a track record of delivering savings. I’ve done it twice in the private sector and once in the public sector.” Lee, however, seemed concerned with Markell’s plan, saying, “He hasn’t told us how he’s going to pay for his Blueprint for Delaware, and without that plan, the Blueprint for Delaware is a blueprint for disaster.” Lee closed his pitch to be elected by saying, “We’re facing very critical economic times. State government has grown at an unparalleled rate over the last couple years,” adding, “I think it’s very important that we hold the line for the next couple years, and that’s a tough, hard stance to take.”<br><br>WDEL 1150 AM morning news anchor Peter MacArthur served as the moderator for the debate while a panel made up of local journalists Allan Loudell of 1150 AM WDEL and Jesse Chadderdon of The Community News asked questions of the candidates.<br><br>Election day is Tuesday, November 4th.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(282, 'Harrisburg Environmental Law and Policy Society Lends a Helping Hand', '2008-10-23', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08HbgCleanup/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><br>On Saturday, October 18th, eight students from the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/EnvironmentalLawandPolicySociety.aspx\">Environmental Law &amp; Policy Society</a> joined Friends of Midtown and the Harrisburg Clean Streets Project to help remove trash and debris from about fifteen miles of road in midtown Harrisburg. Widener Law student and Harrisburg Clean Streets Project Organizer Shawn Westhafer organized the event.<br><br>Nearly fifty people participated in the cleanup, filling eighty garbage bags with litter, weeds, and other debris. In addition to helping with the work, The Environmental Law &amp; Policy Society contributed funding for food, water, and supplies. Several other organizations offered material support as well, with the Friends of Midtown’s Beautification Committee providing organizational support and promotion, Harrisburg Area Community College offering the use of its facilities for a staging area, and Tito’s Pizza giving a discount on food. Shawn is organizing a similar cleanup for April 2009 in Allison Hill.<br><br>In addition to the Environmental Law &amp; Policy Society’s efforts with the Great Midtown Cleanup, society President Allison Miles is organizing a Shoe Drive in cooperation with the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/WidenerLawRunningClub.aspx\">Widener Law Running Club</a> that is set to begin on Monday, October 27th. Collection boxes will be placed in the Pit, and the community is encouraged to donate old athletic shoes and new or gently used shoes of any type. The old athletic shoes should be devoid of any metal, as they will be given to the <a title=\"Nike Reuse-A-Shoe\" href=\"http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/\">Nike Reuse-A-Shoe</a> program to make athletic playing surfaces across the world. The new and gently used shoes will be donated to <a title=\"Soles 4 Souls\" href=\"http://www.soles4souls.org/\">Soles 4 Souls</a>, an organization that donates shoes both domestically and internationally to victims of natural disasters as well as orphanages.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(283, 'Hotel Rwanda Inspiration to Speak at Widener Oct. 27', '2008-10-23', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"162\" height=\"170\" alt=\"RusesabaginaPaul\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/RusesabaginaPaul.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">The law school community is invited to view remarks by Philadelphia Speaker Series lecturer Paul Rusesabagina via remote access, broadcast live to the two law campuses this month.<br><br>Rusesabagina, the inspiration for the Academy award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda, will speak in Alumni Auditorium on the main campus at <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27</span> about his own experience with the horrors of genocide. Those interested in watching from the Delaware campus are invited to <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">room 126 in the Main Law Building</span>, or <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">room 178 in the Administration Building on the Harrisburg campus.</span><br><br>For two months in 1994, Rusesabagina held insanity at bay as he watched his country fall into the grips of genocide. A Hutu manager of a luxury hotel in Rwanda, he sheltered more than 1,200 people, including his own Tutsi wife and children, saving their lives at a time when extremists massacred more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi and moderate Hutu tribes in just 100 days.<br><br>Today, Rusesabagina travels the world with his message of hope, peace, and “never again.” He founded the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation, which provides support, care, and assistance to children orphaned by, and women abused during, the genocide in Rwanda.<br>Rusesabagina’s afternoon appearance at Widener is in advance of his appearance in the Philadelphia Speakers Series presented by the university at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Rusesabagina will appear at 8 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the Kimmel Center, but tickets for that event are sold out. <br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(284, 'Senator Barack Obama to Visit Widener University\'s Main Campus in Chester October 28', '2008-10-24', '<span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"> <img width=\"400\" height=\"403\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ObamaAbingtonPA.jpg\" alt=\"ObamaAbingtonPA\" class=\"FloatRight\"></span> <span style=\"\"><proffc></proffc>@mail.widener.edu&gt;<campus_members_214149></campus_members_214149>@mail.widener.edu&gt;<span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\">Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama will visit Widener University’s Main Campus in Chester, PA, on Tuesday, October 28. Senator Obama is scheduled to speak in the field behind Old Main at 10:00 a.m. The event is free and open to all students, faculty, staff, and the public.</span> <br><br>All classes will be cancelled on Main Campus in Chester until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, so students and faculty may attend if they so desire. In addition, offices may close for staff to attend the event if they so choose. <span>  <br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\">Please note:  Classes will be held as usual on the Delaware, Harrisburg, and Exton Campuses. </span></span><br><br>Preparations for Senator Obama’s visit will begin on Monday. During this time, expect stricter security and limited access to parking. All students, faculty, and staff must carry their Widener I.D. with them at all times on Monday and Tuesday, October 27 and 28.<br><br>Because access to the Main Campus in Chester and to some parking lots may be limited beginning Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon, students, faculty, and staff may need to change their parking and/or travel plans accordingly. The university will continue to update members of the campus community about the event, parking, and logisitics as more information becomes available. Look for updates on Campus Cruiser.<br><br></span>Senator Barack Obama selected Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of Delaware as his running mate. Currently serving his 6th term in the Senate, Biden, first elected in 1972, brings decades of political experience to the ticket.<br><br>Since 1991, <a href=\"http://law.widener.edu/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Senator Biden has served as an adjunct professor at Widener Law</a>, Delaware’s only law school, teaching a seminar on issues in constitutional law. For the last five years, he has jointly taught the seminar with Professor Robert L. Hayman, Jr., and despite the demands on his schedule, Senator Biden always ensures that he teaches at least half of the seminar’s instructional minutes. One of the most popular seminars offered at Widener Law’s Delaware campus, there is always a waiting list of students hoping that a seat will open.<br><span style=\"\"><proffc></proffc>@mail.widener.edu&gt;<campus_members_214149></campus_members_214149>@mail.widener.edu&gt;<br><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Widener is proud to present this educational opportunity for members of the university to participate more fully in the political life of our community. The views expressed by the candidate do not represent official Widener University support or endorsement of any one presidential candidate or political party.</span><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(285, 'Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series Looks at the Presidential Debates', '2008-10-27', '<div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 442px;\">\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"368\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\" id=\"viddler_5c4b0ac7\">\n						<param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/5c4b0ac7/\">\n<param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\">\n<param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"368\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/5c4b0ac7/\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" name=\"viddler_5c4b0ac7\"></embed></object>\n</div>\nOn Thursday, October 23rd, the Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series looked at the results of the Presidential Debates, with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a>, and student Bryan Depowell, the Vice President of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">Federalist Society</a>, providing their thoughts and insights into how the candidates performed.<br><br>Professor Oliver showed clips from the debates and then the panelists gave their reactions to those clips. Speaking generally as an undecided voter about what she wanted to see from the candidates, Professor Smith said, “I wanted to see the candidates actually answer the questions that are posed to them. Because I was undecided, I wanted to actually know their positions, and a lot of times I feel like they could answer the question, and I still don’t have any sense of what their position is. They haven’t answered the question. They just talk about what they want to talk about.” In describing what he was looking for, Professor Oliver stated, “I was looking for someone who had great facility with the facts and the positions that they wanted to advance. I want to see that they’re rational, thinking, thoughtful people.”<br><br>The first clip dealt with the financial crisis and government earmarks that result in wasteful spending. Senator McCain’s answer involved vetoing any bills filled with government earmarks, and while Obama agreed with McCain on that point, he took the opportunity to take a shot at McCain’s tax plan. Professor Smith noted that in this particular clip, the candidates actually answered the question and offered a clear picture of how their opinions differ. Bryan Depowell was curious to see their demeanor when answering the question, and he noted, “I took some issue with Senator Obama minimizing $18 billion in earmarks and transferring it to $300 billion in taxes.” <br><br>Professor Oliver discussed the value of putting out a single sound bite that can encapsulate the candidate’s agenda, and he suggested that Senator McCain did a nice job of that when he said, “We came to Washington to change government, and government changed us.” In judging the performance of both candidates, he said, “I don’t care whom you are in favor of in this election. I think that what we’re seeing here in the first half of this first debate is either one of these men could be President, and from a competence standpoint, I think either is demonstrating that they do have that sort of rational, reasonable – to use a McCain phrase – cool hand at the tiller.”<br><br>The discussion also touched on the issue of Iraq and the differences of the candidates on how best to deal with the situation, the economic realities of military intervention, and the negative tone that the campaign had taken on.<br><br>The Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series continues on Tuesday, November 4th with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Robert Power</a> speaking about “The Impact of the Election on the Supreme Court,” at 12 pm in the Pit.<br><br>Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series: \n\n<ul>\n<li>Oct. 14, 12 pm: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb101608pppfincris.aspx\">\"The Financial Crisis\"</a> with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/MoringielloJulietM.aspx\">Juliet Moringiello</a>, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/JonesKatherineMason.aspx\">Katherine Jones</a>, and Dean of Students<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/FruthAnnElizabeth.aspx\">Ann Fruth</a> </li>\n<li>Oct. 23, 12 pm: <strong>\"Presidential Debate Recaps and Critiques\"</strong> with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a>, and Bryan Depowell, Vice President of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">Federalist Society</a>. </li>\n<li>Nov. 4, 12 pm: <strong>\"The Impact of the Election on the Supreme Court\"</strong> with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Robert Power</a> </li>\n<li>Nov. 6, 12 pm: <strong>\"Implications of the Presidential Election Results\"</strong> with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John Dernbach</a>, and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a>\n</li>\n</ul>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(286, 'Barack Obama Speaks at Widener’s Chester Campus', '2008-10-28', ' 		<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08Obama3/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 435px; float: left;\"></iframe><br><br>\"I just want all of you to know that if we see this kind of dedication on Election Day, there is no way that we\'re not going to bring change to America,\" said Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to roughly ten thousand rain-soaked individuals gathered to hear him speak at Widener’s Chester campus on Tuesday morning, October 28th. Several members of the Law School community braved the harsh rain, wind, and cold to hear Obama, including <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Dean Linda Ammons</a>, who had the opportunity to meet with the candidate briefly.<br><br>Obama spoke just after 10:00 am on Memorial Field behind Old Main, making the case a week before the election that he is the candidate most equipped to deal with the country’s current financial crisis. He also sounded a populist note, suggesting that change would come not from a political candidate, but rather from the American people themselves, saying, “When times are tough, when it\'s cold, when it\'s raining, when it\'s hard — that\'s when we need to stand up.\"<br><br>Both Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and Widener University President James T. Harris III spoke briefly before Obama arrived. Harris welcomed everyone to Chester and noted that Obama\'s running mate, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.</a>, is a long-time member of the Delaware campus law faculty. Senator Biden has taught a seminar on issues in constitutional law at Delaware’s only law school since 1991.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(287, 'Perceptions of Women in Politics Event Draws a Crowd', '2008-10-29', '<style type=\"text/css\">\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 { overflow: auto; width: 500px; float: right; }\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 h2 { clear: both; }\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 ul { list-style-type:none; margin: 0; padding: 0; overflow: auto;}\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 li { float: left; margin: 0 0 10px 10px!important; padding: 0; width: 117px; overflow: hidden; text-align: center; }\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 li.first { clear: left; margin-left: 0!important; }\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 li a { display: block; }\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 li img { display: block; position: relative; right: 15%; }\nhtml #loading_viddler_1982185687 { text-align: center; }\nhtml #loading_viddler_1982185687 img { background-color: #fff; padding: 5px; clear: both;}\nhtml #vidget_1982185687 p {text-align:center;}\n</style>\n<div id=\"vidget_1982185687\">\n  \n<h3 id=\"loading_viddler_1982185687\">\n<img alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http://vidgets.viddler.com/widgets/images/ajax-loader.gif\"><br>Loading Viddler Videos</h3>  \n<div id=\"vidget_player_1982185687\"></div>	\n<ul id=\"vidget_list_1982185687\"></ul>\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://viddler.com/js/viddler.js\"></script><script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://vidgets.viddler.com/widgets/callback.php?user=widenerlaw&amp;tags=perceptions&amp;max=12&amp;videos_per_row=4&amp;show_player=on&amp;source=user&amp;style=grid&amp;player_type=simple&amp;widget_type=js_list&amp;widget_width=500&amp;v=1.1&amp;whichbar=1&amp;id=1982185687\"></script>\n</div>\n\"Perceptions of Women in Politics: A Dialogue About Work, Family, Sex Appeal and Elections,” drew quite a crowd to the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on the evening of Thursday, October 23rd. Put together by the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/WomensLawCaucus.aspx\">Women’s Law Caucus</a>, the event assessed the images and portrayal of women in the political arena and looked at the work family conflict and sexism as well as women’s experiences and challenges in running for election to public office.<br><br>Panelists for the discussion included Widener Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda Ammons</a>, Delaware County Council Chairperson Linda Cartisano, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/JohnsonLeslieA.aspx\">Leslie Johnson</a>, and Women’s Law Caucus Vice President Jennifer Weiler. Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/KellyAliciaBrokars.aspx\">Alicia Kelly</a> served as both the moderator and a speaker.<br><br>After a short introduction from Women’s Law Caucus President Destiny Prater, Dean Ammons spoke about her experiences as an executive assistant to Ohio Governor Richard F. Celeste from 1988 to 1991. Dean Ammons described one incident in which an official from another state kept looking to other members of a delegation that she was in charge of, noting, “It was always interesting to deal with people for the first time as a woman, and as an African-American woman.”<br><br>Linda Cartisano spoke next about her experiences running for office and as an elected member of Delaware County Council. A graduate of Widener, she earned her J.D. from Temple Law School. She served as Solicitor for Upland Borough from 1988-2001 and became only the fifth woman elected to Delaware County Council in 2002.  Discussing potential prejudice against women in politics and campaigning, she said, “I have not in my elected career experienced that,” but she noted that the “authority of being a lawyer” might have made her experience different from that of other women running for political office. She discussed the work-family conflict as a potential source of much of the difficulty women experience in the political arena, prompting Professor Kelly to say, “Work-family conflict is the biggest obstacle according to the literature. The evidence shows that women win as often as men when they do run, but they run less.”<br><br>Professor Kelly then showed a series of three videos related to the perception of women in the current election cycle. The first video was a clip from the video-biography of Sarah Palin shown at the Republican Convention the night after her speech. The second video showed a portion of Michelle Obama’s speech from the Democratic Convention, and the third clip came from a Saturday Night Live sketch in which Tina Fey portrayed Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler portrayed Hilary Clinton as they delivered a “non-partisan” message about sexism having no place in an American election. Each of the videos offered a particular angle on how gender can play a role in the campaign, and they led to several interesting discussions.<br><br>Professor Leslie Johnson cracked several amusing jokes as she spoke about her experience as a child in the fifties with no female political role models, and then described the changing climate over the ensuing decades. She showed a sign that exists in Alaska that says, “Alaska the coolest state with the hottest governor,” and contrasted that with two signs she made saying, “Rendell: Sexy as Hell” and “Richardson: Our Best Butt”. She powerfully stated that “If there is sexism in politics – and I believe that there is – then sometimes, women contribute to it, and I think its because we want it both ways.”<br><br><img width=\"600\" height=\"269\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/wom%20in%20pol%2008.jpg\" alt=\"wom in pol 08\">Jennifer Weiler finished up the panel’s presentation noting some of the differences she had perceived between the treatment of Sarah Palin and the male candidates, speaking especially of the recent attention paid to the amount of money spent on the Governor’s wardrobe. She also observed, ”75% of women do not consider themselves Feminists because the word has a negative connotation.”<br><br>The panel then opened the event up to audience participation and questions, precipitating some great discussion. Topics included whether or not it was fair to attack Palin on her skills as a mother, the treatment of Hilary Clinton by the media in the primary, and why much less attention seemed to be paid to how Todd Palin might be able to help his wife raise the children than was paid to how Michelle Obama could help her husband. A reception followed the event, allowing people to continue the discussion as they enjoyed some refreshments.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(288, 'Widener Law hosts program that reflects on election results', '2008-10-30', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span>\n				<img width=\"400\" height=\"281\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"forumElection400px\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/forumElection400px.jpg\">Widener University School of Law will host a forum that reflects on the national election results on <span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\">Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. on its Delaware campus. The program “Election 2008: The Aftermath” is open to the public.</span><br><br>The forum will feature remarks from <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/LipkinRobertJustin.aspx\">Professor Robert Justin Lipkin,</a> a constitutional law scholar and political enthusiast, and Widener University Professor Richard Cooper, a sociology expert. Cooper hosts a show on Philadelphia radio station 900 AM WURD.<br><br>“This event is intended as an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on what is next for our country,” said Associate <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/NicholsNathanielC.aspx\">Professor Nathaniel C. Nichols</a>, an organizer. “No matter who wins the presidency it will represent a changing of the guard at our nation’s front door. I look forward to a lively discussion and hearing what these professors, and our students, think about what happened.”<br><br>The event is presented by the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/WidenerJournalofLawEconomicsandRace.aspx\">Delaware Journal of Law, Economics &amp; Race</a> and will be held in room 126 of the Main Law Building.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(289, 'Pizza and Politics: Final Event in Election Series Looks at Taxes', '2008-11-02', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><div style=\"margin: 5px; padding: 4px; float: right;\">\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_98656104\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\">\n						<param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/98656104/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_98656104\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/98656104/\"></embed></object>\n		</div>\nOn Wednesday, October 29th, the final Pizza and Politics event looked at the tax proposals of Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Students, faculty, and staff congregated in the student lounge off Main Street to learn more about the proposals from Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/MirkayNicholasA.aspx\">Nicholas Mirkay</a>.<br><br>Professor Mirkay presented a detailed breakdown of each candidate’s tax proposals in a side-by-side comparison, showing clearly where and how the tax policies of the two candidates differed. There were a lot of similarities between the two plans, including a desire by both candidates to make permanent the 2001 deduction for married couples, the child tax credit, and the research tax credit for corporations. The primary area of difference between the two proposals is in the restructuring of the tax brackets and the rates for those brackets. McCain’s plan would make permanent President George W. Bush’s elimination of the pre-2001 36% and 39.6% brackets on top earners as well as cuts in the capital gains and dividend rates. Obama’s plan would allow the higher rates cut in the Bush tax legislation to lapse to the pre-2001 percentages while maintaining the current rates on individuals making less than $200,000 and joint-filers earning less than $250,000.  Obama’s plan would also institute overall tax cuts for middle- and low- income taxpayers through several means, including tax credits.<br><br>Other topics discussed included the Alternative Minimum Tax, corporate taxes, and the estate tax. Professor Mirkay took questions from the audience as well. Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/DalyErin.aspx\">Erin Daly</a> asked if “Presidential candidates always have such detailed tax plans,” and he answered that they typically have, but suggested that he thought that there was considerably more scrutiny on the issue this year due to the economy.<br><br>Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th.<br><br>Pizza and Politics Series: \n\n<ul>\n<li>Sept. 22, 4 pm: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de092408pizzapolfp.aspx\">FOREIGN POLICY</a>, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/StraussAndrewL.aspx\">Andrew Strauss</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/KellyJPatrick.aspx\">Patrick Kelly</a>. </li>\n<li>Sept. 30, 12 noon: the <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de100108pizzapolvp.aspx\">VICE PRESIDENCY</a>, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Robert Hayman</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReganPaulL.aspx\">Paul Regan</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct. 6, 4 pm: the <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de100808pizzapolsc.aspx\">SUPREME COURT</a>, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/LipkinRobertJustin.aspx\">Robert Lipkin</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/RayLauraK.aspx\">Laura Ray</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct. 14, 12 noon: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de101608pizzapolhc.aspx\">HEALTH CARE POLICY</a>, with Associate Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/GoldbergSusanL.aspx\">Susan Goldberg</a> and Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/FichterAndrewJ.aspx\">Andrew Fichter</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct 20, 4 pm: ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY POLICY, with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/MayJamesR.aspx\">Jim May</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HodasDavidR.aspx\">David Hodas</a>. </li>\n<li>Oct 27, 12 pm: TAX POLICY, with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/MirkayNicholasA.aspx\">Nicholas Mirkay</a>.</li>\n</ul>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(290, 'Harrisburg campus observes Election Week', '2008-11-03', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><br><span style=\"\">\n				<img width=\"409\" height=\"431\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ElectionWeekHBG08%20OvalOffice.jpg\" alt=\"ElectionWeekHBG08 OvalOffice\" class=\"FloatRight\">The Harrisburg campus will mark Election Week with two events in which students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in discussions connected to the presidential race.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">First:</span><br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">WHAT: “<a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb100908pppannouncement.aspx\">Policy and Pizza in the Pit</a>” - </span><span style=\"\">The impact the next president will have on the U.S. Supreme Court.</span>\n</li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: bold;\">\n<span style=\"\">WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 4 *Election Day* at noon.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">WHERE: The Pit, student lounge, Main Law Building.</span> </li>\n<li><span style=\"\">WHO: Widener Law <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Professor Robert C. Power</a>, the H. Albert Young fellow in constitutional law, speaks about the impact the next president will have on the U.S. Supreme Court.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span style=\"\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Second:</span><br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">WHAT: “<a href=\"../../../../NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb100908pppannouncement.aspx\">Policy and Pizza in the Pit</a>” - </span><span style=\"\"> The impact of the election: a thoughtful examination of the results</span> </li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: bold;\">\n<span style=\"\">WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 6 at noon.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">WHERE: The Pit, student lounge, Main Law Building.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">WHO: Featured speakers are</span> \n\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\"><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">Professor John C. Dernbach</a>, expert on environmental law and climate change.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\"><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Associate Professor Wesley M. Oliver</a>, constitutional law expert and Obama/Biden supporter.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">Second-year law student Bryan DePowell, McCain/Palin supporter.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span style=\"\">Guest: California attorney Rishi Batra, who will serve as a volunteer poll monitor in Pennsylvania on Election Day.</span> </li>\n<li><span style=\"\">Guest: Attorney Kevin Lovecchio, a Democrat working on a Republican New York State Senate campaign, former clerk to Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.</span></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<span style=\"\"><br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(291, 'Harrisburg Faculty Roundtable Focuses on the Financial Crisis', '2008-11-04', '<script language=\"JavaScript\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/scripts/audio-player.js\">\n		</script><object width=\"290\" height=\"24\" id=\"audioplayer1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" data=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\">\n				<param value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/hbgroundtable103008.mp3\" name=\"FlashVars\">\n<param value=\"high\" name=\"quality\">\n<param value=\"false\" name=\"menu\">\n<param value=\"transparent\" name=\"wmode\"></object>\nMembers of the Harrisburg faculty gathered on Thursday, October 30th for a roundtable discussion on the country’s ongoing financial crisis. Adjunct faculty member <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbgAdj/ForbesMaryJane.aspx\">Mary Jane Forbes</a> joined Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/MoringielloJulietM.aspx\">Juliet Moringiello</a>, <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/HusseyMichaelJ.aspx\">Michael Hussey</a>, and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/JonesKatherineMason.aspx\">Katherine Jones</a> as presenters, with each faculty member speaking about a specific aspect of the crisis.<br><br>Professor Moringiello spoke first, saying, “What really poisoned the system are these mortgage-backed securities.” She described the process that led to the proliferation of mortgage-backed securities, and how and why they created the financial risk and liquidity problems currently plaguing the banking industry in the United States. A back and forth discussion about oversight ensued, with Professor Moringiello noting, “Interest only loans were not supposed to be made to people who could barely afford a home.”<br><br><img width=\"600\" height=\"311\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/HbgPanel103008.jpg\" alt=\"HbgPanel103008\">The conversation moved from oversight to risk assessment, prompting Professor Jones to ask who was responsible for doing risk assessment. Professor Forbes responded that independent risk assessment firms were usually responsible, but she wondered, “Where were the auditors? Where were the Boards of Directors?” She later pondered whether or not Boards would be held accountable for their questionable decision-making.<br><br>Professor Jones spoke next, describing some of the legislative history of banking regulation, focusing specifically on the Glass-Steagell Act of 1933, which mandated the separation of commercial banking from investment banking and created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act passed on November 12, 1999, reversed Glass-Steagell and allowed financial services companies to offer commercial banking, investment banking, insurance underwriting and brokerage services. Unfortunately, the removal of the restrictions came with no new regulations.<br><br>The conversation turned eventually to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and Professor Michael Hussey spoke about some of the provisions contained in the legislative package, focusing specifically on the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP. The discussion also covered the issue of executive compensation. Professor Hussey noted that while companies that took money from TARP would have limitations placed on so-called golden parachutes, those limitations were deductions rather than an actual cap on executive compensation, and offered “no limit on performance-based compensation.”', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(292, 'Senator Biden becomes Vice President-elect', '2008-11-06', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><br><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08Obama3/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 435px; float: right\"></iframe>“This is an extremely big night for Delaware,” said Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a>, adding, “We are extremely proud of our colleague.” Vice President-elect and Delaware Senator <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Joseph R. Biden, Jr</a>. has served as an adjunct faculty member at Widener Law, Delaware’s only law school, since 1991, teaching a seminar on issues in constitutional law.<br><br>As Election Day results rolled in late Tuesday night, it became clear that Senator Barack Obama of Illinois would be elected the 44th president, and that Biden would join him as Vice President. Biden’s class has always been one of the most popular seminars offered at Widener Law’s Delaware campus, and usually has a waiting list of students hoping that a seat will open. Senator Biden was also the commencement speaker at Widener University’s Chester campus in May 2006, and he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the university in May of 2000. “If he is as good a Vice-President as he is a faculty member here, then the nation is in good hands,” noted Dean Ammons. Discussing Senator Biden’s future with the school, she declared, “He will just be on leave here, and I hope to see him back.”<br><br>Dean Ammons commented on Barack Obama’s historic victory in the presidential race as well, saying, “We as a nation have decided that talent comes in many different packages,” echoing others who have noted the significance of the 2008 election. In a gracious concession speech, Obama’s opponent, Senator John McCain, recognized the significance of the evening’s results as well, and he called for unity, saying, “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.”<br><br>In his victory speech, Senator Obama too spoke of unity and urged a more civil political discourse; “Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.” He invoked the words of Abraham Lincoln, adding, “As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, ‘We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.’ And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.”<br><br>President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden are set to take office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(293, 'Visiting Scholar Speaks to Students', '2008-11-07', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><img width=\"400\" height=\"500\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"djcl davidoff\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/djcl%20davidoff.jpg\">On Friday, October 31st, the Institute of Delaware Corporate &amp; Business Law’s 4th Annual Visiting Scholar, Professor Steven Davidoff, spoke over lunch in the Barrister’s Club to students from the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/DelawareJournalofCorporateLaw.aspx\">Delaware Journal of Corporate Law</a>, the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/WidenerLawReview.aspx\">Widener Law Review</a>, and the corporate LL.M. program.<br><br>After a nice introduction from Ruby R. Vale Professor of Corporate and Business Law <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HamermeshLawrenceA.aspx\">Lawrence Hamermesh</a>, Professor Davidoff joked, “I want to thank Larry for that. I should record it and play it for my wife when she asks me to take out the trash.”<br><br>Professor Davidoff addressed private equity and strategic transactions in his talk, and he spoke the students about challenges they might face in their future careers. He also discussed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, calling the Federal Government “the biggest dealmaker of all right now.” He also touched on the problems that led to the country’s current economic troubles and why people were “drafting contracts that just didn’t work.”<br><br>Professor Davidoff stressed two important points to future transactional lawyers. “Inform your clients of the risk,” he said, and, “The second thing is that you have to know the flaws in the structure of your deal.” He emphasized that lawyers had been relying too much on the way that things had been and urged the students to “get creative” when structuring contracts. In his parting remarks, he called the current atmosphere exciting and wished the students good luck. He also took a round of questions from the audience at the conclusion of his talk.<br><br>An Associate Professor of Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, Professor Davidoff is a visiting professor at Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law during the 2008-09 academic year. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, earned his J.D. from the Columbia Univeristy School of Law, and possesses a master\'s degree in finance from the London Business School. Professor Davidoff was a practicing attorney for 10 years with Shearman &amp; Sterling in both the New York and London offices and with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in its London office. A regular columnist for The New York Times \"DealBook\" site, Professor Davidoff writes as The Deal Professor, focusing primarily on mergers and acquisitions.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(294, 'Widener Law presents conference on veterans law', '2008-11-09', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><img width=\"500\" height=\"333\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"VetCleAnnounce111408\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/VetCleAnnounce111408.jpg\">Widener Law will showcase its position as one of the country’s leading law schools offering services to veterans when the school presents a continuing legal education program <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Friday, Nov. 14</span> aimed at enhancing the skills of attorneys who represent veterans.<br><br>The Veterans Law continuing legal education conference will be held on the school’s Harrisburg campus at 3800 Vartan Way from <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room A180 of the administration building</span>. Registration and continental breakfast run from 8 to 8:30 a.m. The event will also be videoconferenced onto Widener’s Delaware campus, where attendees may participate fully. <br><br><a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/VeteransLawClinic.aspx\"><img width=\"15\" height=\"17\" class=\"FloatLeft\" alt=\"pdf icon\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/bullet_pdf.gif\">Download the PDF Brochure</a><br><br><br>The day includes a host of speakers from legal practitioners to academics on topics ranging from a VA claim process overview to the ethical concerns that come from working in the VA system. Presenters include:<br><ul>\n<li>\n<span>Douglas J. Rosinski, of Ogletree Deakins in Columbia, S.C. and an adjunct professor and director of the Veterans Clinic at the University of South Carolina School of Law.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Robert Chisholm, of Chisholm, Chisholm &amp; Kirkpatrick LLP of Providence, R.I. He is past president of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association and past president of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Craig Martin, an associate at Edwards Angell Palmer &amp; Dodge LLP in Wilmington, Del. and chair of the Delaware State Bar Association Veterans Law Committee.</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/NivalaJohnF.aspx\">John F. Nivala</a>, professor of law at Widener University School of Law’s Delaware campus, where he is director of the <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/AdvocacyandTechnologyInstitute.aspx\">Advocacy &amp; Technology Institute</a>.</span> </li>\n<li><span>Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\">Thomas J. Reed,</a> the widely respected director of Widener’s <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/SpecialSites/VeteransLawClinic.aspx\">Veterans Law Clinic</a> and a professor at the School of Law.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span>Widener University was the first law school in the United States to start a clinical program for disabled veterans. First known as the Veterans Assistance Program, the school began its work under Reed’s direction in 1997 by co-sponsoring a program with the pro bono arm of the Delaware State Bar Association, to assist disabled veterans and their dependants with VA compensation claim appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals. The program became known as the Veterans Law Clinic in January 2006 although student interns – working as attorneys on behalf of indigent veteran clients – have been a part of the program since its start. The law school expanded the clinic services into Harrisburg last year with the help of grants from the Pennsylvania Legislature. <br><br>“There is no more fulfilling or patriotic civic service I can think of as an attorney than representing the interests of veterans who simply want the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Reed, a key organizer of the upcoming Harrisburg conference. “This program will allow Widener to share its knowledge of veterans law and our wealth of contacts on the subject with people who want to learn more about the veterans claim process.”<br><br>For practicing attorneys in Pennsylvania and Delaware, in-person attendance at the program on the Harrisburg campus will yield 6.5 continuing legal education credits, including one ethics credit. Practicing attorneys who participate via videoconference from the Delaware campus are also eligible to receive Delaware continuing-legal education credits. The registration cost for attorneys attending for credit is $250, or $200 for Widener Law alumni attorneys. The event is free for students and members of the general public.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">For more information or to register </span>to attend the in-person program on the Harrisburg campus, contact Sandra Graeff at 717.541.3965 or <a href=\"mailto:\">slgraeff@widener.edu</a>. For information or to register to attend the videoconferenced program on the Delaware campus, contact Constance Sweeney at 302.477.2177 or <a href=\"mailto:\">cmsweeney@widener.edu</a>.<br><br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(295, 'Widener Law salutes U.S. veterans; School is national leader in services for veterans.', '2008-11-10', '<span>\r\n				<img class=\"FloatLeft\" height=\"374\" alt=\"reed berg\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/reed%20berg.jpg\" width=\"500\">Every day is Veterans Day at Widener Law<br><br>As the nation marks Veterans Day this week, Widener Law continues to demonstrate that it is a national leader in assisting disabled veterans.<br><br>The school began the country’s first program 11 years ago to help these American heroes in their attempts to secure financial benefits from Veterans Affairs. Today, students under the direction of <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\">Professor Thomas J. Reed,</a> have collected more than $1.3 million in back-owed benefits on behalf of veterans predominantly in the Delaware and Pennsylvania areas.<br><br>The program has expanded in recent years, evolving into a full-fledged legal clinic, with offices in Dover, Del., on the Harrisburg campus and on the main campus in Chester.<br><br>This week, the clinic was the subject of a lengthy profile story in <a href=\"http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/34189874.html\">The Philadelphia Inquirer</a> <br><br>The school will also present a <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb111008vetcleannounce.aspx\">daylong symposium on veterans law Friday, Nov. 14 on the Harrisburg campus</a>. <br><a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\"></a><br>Widener Law salutes our nation’s veterans and demonstrates that with us, every day of the year is an opportunity to honor the courageous men and women who have given so much for our freedom.<br><br><br></span>\r\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(296, 'Panel Discussion Looks at Election Results', '2008-11-12', '<img class=\"FloatRight\" height=\"271\" alt=\"lipkinPostElectionChat\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/lipkinPostElectionChat.jpg\" width=\"400\">On Wednesday, November 5th, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/LipkinRobertJustin.aspx\">Robert Lipkin</a> and Professor Richard Cooper, a Sociology Professor at Widener’s Chester Campus, spoke about the results of the election at Election Aftermath 2008, an event sponsored by the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/WidenerJournalofLawEconomicsandRace.aspx\">Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race</a>.<br><br>Robert Hawkins, Jr. ‘08, one of the founders of the Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race, opened the program with a brief introduction before turning the podium over to Professor Nathaniel Nichols, who introduced the two panelists. Each panelist offered his perspective on the election victory of Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Professor Lipkin spoke first, calling Obama a ‘radical’, before further explaining, “Obama’s radicalism is strictly American. It resides in his commitment to civic virtue and to fashioning an inclusive deliberative dialogue or conversation between and among the citizenry of the United States and between and among the citizens and their governmental representatives.”<br><br>Professor Cooper emphasized that as a President, Obama would not be able to give each and every constituency what they wanted. “We must engage in a dialogue with each other, and we must be prepared to lose,” he added, suggesting that the change would come from even being able to have that dialogue. After Professor Cooper spoke, the discussion was opened to audience participation, sparking an interesting back and forth dialogue that touched on race relations, the idea of post-partisan politics, and how the Jeremiah Wright controversy reflected differences in how whites and blacks worship, with Professor Cooper calling Sunday mornings “the most divided time in America.”<br><br>The Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race also took the opportunity to announce its Midyear Membership Competition, open to 2RD and 3ED students. All competition papers must be submitted by 7:00 pm on January 5th, 2009. For more information, visit the journal’s <a title=\"Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race\" href=\"http://www.wjler.org/\">website</a>.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(297, 'Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series Looks at the Supreme Court', '2008-11-13', '<div style=\"margin: 5px; padding: 3px; width: 447px; float: right;\">\r\n				<object width=\"437\" height=\"368\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\" id=\"viddler_b9cb298d\">\r\n						<param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/b9cb298d/\">\n<param name=\"allowScriptAccess\" value=\"always\">\n<param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"368\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/b9cb298d/\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" name=\"viddler_b9cb298d\"></embed></object>\r\n		</div>\nOn Tuesday, November 4th, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Robert Power</a> spoke about the potential impact of the election on the composition of the Supreme Court as part of the Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series.<br><br>Professor Power opened his presentation with a consideration of what each presidential candidate had said about his philosophy for selecting judicial nominees. Of Obama, Professor Power noted, “He said he would appoint people with compassion and empathy, and that’s generally seen as looking for justices who are aware of the real effects of their rulings and interpretations of law.” Discussing Senator McCain’s philosophy, Professor Power said, “Senator McCain brought out a different answer. It was the more typical answer of Republican candidates, and that is; no judicial activists, and strict constructionists only for the Supreme Court.”<br><br>The two most common ways that a President can make appointments to the Supreme Court are when a Justice either retires or dies in office, so, as Professor Power articulated, the ultimate impact of the election on the composition of the court might be better measured by which Justices are likely to leave. He invited audience participation to show which Presidents had appointed which Justices and then talked about which Justices were most likely to retire. After citing Justices John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the most likely to leave based on their age, Professor Power concluded that an Obama presidency would not likely shift the balance of the court while a McCain presidency could shift the court in an even more conservative direction.<br><br>Professor Power finished up by talking about some of the Appeals Court judges that might make likely appointments for each candidate and then took questions from the audience. <br><br><strong>Policy and Pizza in the Pit Series:</strong> \n\n<ul>\n<li>Oct. 14, 12 pm: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb101608pppfincris.aspx\">\"The Financial Crisis\"</a> with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/MoringielloJulietM.aspx\">Juliet Moringiello</a>, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/JonesKatherineMason.aspx\">Katherine Jones</a>, and Dean of Students <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/FruthAnnElizabeth.aspx\">Ann Fruth</a> </li>\n<li>Oct. 23, 12 pm: <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/hb102708pppdebates.aspx\">\"Presidential Debate Recaps and Critiques\"</a> with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/SmithAmanda.aspx\">Amanda Smith</a>, and Bryan Depowell, Vice President of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherHarrisburgOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">Federalists Society</a>. </li>\n<li>Nov. 4, 12 pm: \"The Impact of the Election on the Supreme Court\" with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/PowerRobertC.aspx\">Robert Power</a> </li>\n<li>Nov. 6, 12 pm: \"Implications of the Presidential Election Results\" with Professors <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a> and <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John Dernbach</a>\n</li>\n</ul>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(298, 'Distinguished lecture in health law returns for discussion about consumer-driven health care', '2008-11-14', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><img width=\"358\" height=\"401\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"RaynesMcCartyLectureHealthRisk\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/RaynesMcCartyLectureHealthRisk.jpg\">The Widener University School of Law is pleased to announce that Professor Timothy S. Jost, one of the country’s leading academic experts on consumer health law, will deliver the fourth-annual Raynes McCarty Distinguished Lecture in Health Law on Widener’s Delaware campus and at the Union League in Philadelphia, both on <strong>Monday, Nov. 17.<br></strong><br>Jost is the Robert L. Willett Family Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law. His lecture, “Health Care at Risk: A Critique of the Consumer-Driven Movement,” is expected to explore one of the most pressing legal-policy issues of our time.<br><br>Jost will first give the lecture during a luncheon event at the <strong>Union League, 140 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia. The luncheon begins at noon and the lecture starts at 12:30 p.m. He will repeat it that day for the law school community at 4 p.m. in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on Widener’s Delaware campus. </strong><br><br>One Delaware and one Pennsylvania <a href=\"/Academics/Programs/ContinuingLegalEducation.aspx\">continuing legal education</a> credit is available for attendance at either lecture. There is no cost to attend either event, including the luncheon, thanks to a generous gift from the Raynes McCarty law firm, based in Philadelphia. Raynes McCarty attorneys represent the catastrophically injured in the courts and the legislature. It is one of the country’s most philanthropic and civic-minded firms.<br><br>The Health Law Institute on Widener University School of Law’s Delaware campus is ranked among the top-10 programs in the nation. Institute Director and Law Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/CulhaneJohnG.aspx\">John G. Culhane</a> said the Law School is proud to host Jost.<br><br>“We are delighted that Timothy Jost has accepted our invitation to be this year’s Raynes McCarty lecturer. Professor Jost is one of the leading health law experts in the country, and his critique of the consumer-driven health care movement is particularly timely given current controversies over the quality and financing of health care,” Culhane said. “Professor Jost is a much-sought public speaker, and we encourage the legal community and the Widener family to come out in force for this important event.” <br><br>Jost is a co-author of a casebook, “Health Law,” used widely throughout the United States in teaching health law. He also wrote “Disentitlement? The Threats Facing our Public Health Care Programs and a Rights-Based Response” and “Readings in Comparative Health Law and Bioethics,” the second edition of which appeared this spring.<br><br>He has also written numerous articles and book chapters on health care regulation and comparative health law and policy, and has lectured on health law topics throughout the world. His most recent book is the same title of his upcoming lecture, “Health Care at Risk: A Critique of the Consumer-Driven Movement.” It was published by Duke University Press in 2007.<br><br><em>To register to attend, contact Karla Harris at 302-477-2704 or email </em><a href=\"mailto:\"><em>kmharris@widener.edu</em></a><em>. There is no fee but space is limited. Business attire is required.<br></em><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(299, 'Scholar’s Workshop Features Professor Craig Green’s Work on Judicial Activism', '2008-11-17', '<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script><span id=\"sharethis_0\"><a class=\"stbutton stico_default\" title=\"ShareThis via email, AIM, social bookmarking and networking sites, etc.\" href=\"#\"><span class=\"stbuttontext\">ShareThis</span></a></span>\n\n<div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 447px;\"><object width=\"437\" height=\"370\" id=\"viddler_cc7f8fe7\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/cc7f8fe7/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"437\" height=\"370\" name=\"viddler_cc7f8fe7\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/cc7f8fe7/\"></embed></object></div>\nCraig Green, Associate Professor of Law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, spoke to faculty members on the Harrisburg campus about his historical analysis of judicial activism on Wednesday, November 12th.<br><br>Opening with the origins of the term judicial activism, Professor Green noted that the term came from Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.’s 1947 Fortune magazine article, \"The Supreme Court: 1947\". “Judicial activism is best reconceived as meaning a departure from accepted notions of judicial role,” suggested Professor Green, adding, “Most people feel like judicial activism is a meaningless term; it’s a useless term, a politically corrupted term, it’s the type of term that educated people should not use. My suggestion is in response to that point; it has been around for sixty years. It hasn’t died yet. It has political power, and it is not helpful, I suggest, to ignore a category of discourse about judges just because they are using the wrong word.”<br><br>Continuing, Professor Green suggested that it would be more helpful to engage with people using the term judicial activism than to ignore them. He also shot down a second position on judicial activism that suggests judges are being activist whenever they strike down a statute. Moving on, he touched on the third philosophy of judicial activism, which he termed a ‘fixed-point’ approach to judicial role, using the metaphor of “judges in chains.” This included a look at originalist philosophies, which he likened to extending the chains all the way back to the writing of the Constitution in 1787.<br><br>At the conclusion of his talk, Professor Green took questions and suggestions from the faculty members in attendance. Issues raised by the faculty members included the problem that originalist interpretations exclude women and minorities. Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/CapowskiJohnJ.aspx\">John Capowski</a> suggested that judicial activism has become largely a political term used to criticize those judges who hold different opinions, and that therefore it has lost some meaning. Professor Green responded that other terms such as federalism have suffered the same fate in terms of multiple meanings, and yet that term is still used as well, adding that “It’s not coincidence that judicial activism has succeeded as a term.” <br><br>Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a> asked whether or not Professor Green considered activism necessarily bad by his definition. “I can’t recommend that judges be activist. I think the way that I’ve constructed it – unlike the folks who think it’s overruling or something like this – all else equal, I have to recommend that judges not be activist,” answered Professor Green. <br><br>A graduate of Wake Forest University, Professor Green received his J.D. from Yale Law School. A former clerk for Judge Pollak of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Judge Garland of the D.C. Circuit, he served as a Bristow Fellow in the Solicitor General’s Office and as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice’s Civil Appellate Staff. Professor Green teaches in the areas of federal courts, administrative law, and constitutional law, and his research focuses on the role of federal courts in overseeing the executive branch.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(300, 'Widener Law announces U.S. Foreign Policy Forum:  “U.S. Policy in Africa: Theory &amp; Practice”', '2008-11-19', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"235\" height=\"247\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/USPOlicyForum235.jpg\" alt=\"USPOlicyForum235\">The Delaware campus of Widener University School of Law is pleased to present foreign service officer Daniel Whitman of the U.S. State Department, who will speak about U.S. foreign policy and Africa on <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Thursday, Nov. 20.</span><br><br>Whitman has served as deputy director in the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau of African Affairs since 2007. His career with the State Department has spanned more than 20 years.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">He will speak in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom at 1 p.m. and his presentation is free and open to the public.</span><br><br>Whitman speaks six languages in addition to English and has provided translation services for retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and the late French President Francois Mitterand, among others. He is the author of five books and 40 articles. He has traveled extensively throughout his career, including to Brazzaville, Congo, where he held a Fulbright Lectureship from 1980 to1981.<br><br>His visit to the law school is presented by Widener Law and the Delaware chapter of People to People International. It was organized by Widener Law Professor J. Patrick Kelly.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(301, 'Professor Timothy S. Jost Delivers 4th Annual Raynes McCarty Lecture', '2008-11-20', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\">\r\n		</script><img width=\"235\" height=\"263\" alt=\"RaynesMcCartyLectureHealthRiskPost235\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/RaynesMcCartyLectureHealthRiskPost235.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">On Monday, November 17th, Timothy S. Jost, Robert L. Willett Family Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law, delivered the 4th-annual Raynes McCarty Distinguished Lecture in Health Law. Jost gave his lecture, entitled “Health Care at Risk: A Critique of the Consumer-Driven Movement” at both the Union League in Philadelphia over lunch and later in the day on Widener’s Delaware campus in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom.<br><br>Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/CulhaneJohnG.aspx\">John Culhane</a>, Director of the Health Law Institute, welcomed those attending the lecture in the Ruby Vale, saying, “On behalf of the Health Law Institute, I would like to thank you all for attending the 4th-annual Raynes McCarty Lecture,” before introducing Professor Jost.<br><br>“Many of us hope that we are living in a time of change when it comes to Health Care,” opened Professor Jost before noting, “The Institute of Medicine in 2002 estimated that 18,000 people die each year due to a lack of health insurance.” With health care costs on the rise, more and more people have turned to high deductible, catastrophic health insurance plans in order to cut down on costs, taking to heart the idea, as Professor Jost put it, that “we need less health insurance, not more.” While noting, “Consumer-driven health care is an imprecise term,” he enumerated some of the advantages that proponents of the model often cite, including the idea that such point-of-service health care plans can drive down health insurance costs by limiting coverage to catastrophic events and eliminating the “over-insurance” that some plans provide now.<br><br>Despite the claims of consumer-driven health care advocates, however, Professor Jost suggested that there are several reasons to look at the movement with a more critical eye. He pointed out that any cost savings on insurance may simply push those costs to treatment, encouraging people to “forgo necessary preventative care such as colon cancer screening” in order to save money. He also questioned whether consumers were capable of making informed decisions about health care, especially when published information about price and quality is so sparse. Finally, he wondered if making the relationship between doctor and patient more of a business one was a good idea.<br><br>He concluded by asking of consumer-driven health care, “Should it proceed? Yes. I think it’s a good thing for consumers to have more information, but I draw the line at using consumer-driven health care as one more way to deny poor Americans access to health care.” After a round of applause, he took a couple of questions from the audience, including one on the issue of patient compliance in regard to health care savings accounts.<br><br>Professor Timothy S. Jost earned his B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He is a co-author of <em>Health Law</em>, a casebook used widely throughout the United States, and has written extensively in the area of health law, including the books <em>Health Care Coverage Determinations: An International Comparative Study</em>, <em>The Threats Facing our Public Health Care Programs and a Rights-Based Response</em>, and <em>Readings in Comparative Health Law and Bioethics</em>, now in its second edition. In 2007, Duke University Press published his most recent book, <em>Health Care at Risk: A Critique of the Consumer-Driven Movement</em>.<br><br>The Raynes McCarty Lecture is made possible thanks to a generous gift from the law firm of Raynes McCarty, a Philadelphia firm that represents the catastrophically injured and their families.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(302, 'Harrisburg Bar Passers Ceremony Held', '2008-11-23', '<span style=\"\">\n				<a href=\"%7E/media/Images/AlumniNews2008/hbgbarpassers08large.ashx\"><img width=\"500\" height=\"252\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/hbgbarpassers08.jpg\" alt=\"hbgbarpassers08\" class=\"FloatRight\"></a></span><iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08HbgBarPassers/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><br><span style=\"\">Twenty six graduates of Widener-Harrisburg joined together on <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">November 18, 2008</span>, to be sworn into the Pennsylvania Bar. Associate Provost and Dean Linda L. Ammons welcomed the alumni and their guests to the ceremony in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Courtroom. The Honorable Thomas G. Saylor, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania presided over the ceremony. The Honorable Richard A. Lewis, President Judge of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, also shared words of congratulations and advice for the graduates, some of whom were his past students, as they start their legal career.<br><br><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Graduates in Attendance:</span><br><br>1. Eric Bush, Esq.<br>2. Jonathan Chatham, Esq.<br>3. John Daroff, Esq.<br>4. Clarissa Freeman, Esq.<br>5. Melissa Goldberg, Esq.<br>6. Brian Gregg, Esq.<br>7. Michelle Groleau, Esq.<br>8. Bonnie Hershberger, Esq.<br>9. Kevin Hoffman, Esq.<br>10. Chad Julius, Esq.<br>11. Lisa Kelly, Esq.<br>12. Renae Kluk Kiel, Esq.<br>13. Joy Kolodzi, Esq.<br>14. Wayne Martin, Esq.<br>15. Tom McGlaughlin, Esq.<br>16. Scott McPartland, Esq.<br>17. Eyad Mizian, Esq.<br>18. Jeni Pilgrim, Esq.<br>19. Nathan Ramsey, Esq.<br>20. Jeremiah Runkle, Esq.<br>21. John Sanderson, Esq.<br>22. Anthony Seitz, Esq.<br>23. Stephanie Shatzer, Esq.<br>24. Rebecca Waldemar, Esq.<br>25. Sharon Williams, Esq.<br>26. Carrie Wright, Esq.</span> <br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(303, 'Daniel Whitman of the U.S. State Department Speaks About U.S Policy in Africa', '2008-11-24', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 4px; float: right; width: 254px;\"><object width=\"247\" height=\"207\" id=\"viddler_5878b64\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/5878b64/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"247\" height=\"207\" name=\"viddler_5878b64\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/5878b64/\"></embed></object></div>	\n\n<div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 4px; float: right; width: 254px;\">\n<object width=\"247\" height=\"227\" id=\"viddler_e2053f47\" classid=\"clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000\"><param value=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/e2053f47/\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"always\" name=\"allowScriptAccess\">\n<param value=\"true\" name=\"allowFullScreen\">\n<embed width=\"247\" height=\"227\" name=\"viddler_e2053f47\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allowscriptaccess=\"always\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" src=\"http://www.viddler.com/player/e2053f47/\"></embed></object>\n		</div>\nOn Thursday, November 20th, a substantial audience of students, faculty, and staff filled the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom to hear Dr. Daniel Whitman, Deputy Director of the Bureau of African Affairs in the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, speak on “U.S. Policy in Africa: Theory &amp; Practice.”<br><br>Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/KellyJPatrick.aspx\">Patrick Kelly</a> offered a brief introduction, thanking the Delaware Chapter of People to People for their help in arranging for Dr. Whitman to speak, before declaring, “Today we are very privileged to have with us Dr. Daniel Whitman, who has spent much of his career in Africa.”<br><br>Dr. Whitman opened his remarks with a quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower about how there are some individuals who stand in the way of efforts at peace. He also noted that the United States suffers from a perception problem around the world that puts added importance on diplomacy, before discussing the colonial system that led to the creation of the African countries, and how many westerners doubted that these African countries could make it.<br><br>“You can’t fix a problem unless you have the courage to say what it is,” asserted Dr. Whitman as he discussed the importance of seizing opportunities for communication and engagement with the rest of the world. “If you can assist a country in establishing itself, it is much cheaper in the long run than providing humanitarian aid,” he added. Diplomatic relations have many benefits, and, “We have an enormous amount to learn from Africa,” he concluded.<br><br>Dr. Whitman discussed the general values and goals of the State Department’s diplomatic mission, as well as specific efforts in Africa, including AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and AEI, the African Education Initiative. He also enumerated some of the challenges ahead on the African continent for the new administration to deal with, including genocide in Darfur, the tense border conflict between north and south in the Sudan, and the ongoing civil war in the Congo.<br><br>After concluding his remarks, Dr. Whitman fielded questions from the audience, including one about what the State Department was looking for in prospective employees. Other questions focused on the efforts of other G8 countries in Africa and how effectively the money set aside for aid to Africa was being used.<br><br>Dr. Whitman has served in the State Department for more than 20 years, serving in locations such as Denmark, Spain, South Africa, Haiti, and Cameroon. He is the author of five books including A Haiti Chronicle, the Undoing of a Latent Democracy 1999-2001. Dr. Whitman earned his PhD in French from Brown University, and he was a Fulbright lecturer at Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville, Congo from 1980 to 1981.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(304, 'Widener Law creates new health fellowship', '2008-11-25', '<img class=\"FloatRight\" height=\"395\" alt=\"health law fellow 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/health%20law%20fellow%202.jpg\" width=\"500\">The <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/HealthLawInstitute.aspx\">Health Law Institute </a>has awarded its inaugural Health Law Institute Distinguished Research Fellowship to Dr. Oluyomi Faparusi Sr. of Belcamp, Md.<br><br>Faparusi is a third-year law student who earned his medical degree in 1997 from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. He earned a Ph.D. in public health from Johns Hopkins University in 2005 and is expected to graduate from Widener Law’s Delaware Campus in May 2009.<br><br>Through the fellowship, which lasts until May, Faparusi is working 10 hours a week with Health Law Institute faculty members on their initiatives and research. To date, he has worked on the law of informed consent, and on the feasibility of starting a journal devoted to health-law issues. <br><br>“Yomi was the perfect choice as the inaugural recipient of this fellowship,” Health Law Institute Director <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/CulhaneJohnG.aspx\">John G. Culhane</a> said. “His rich background in both medicine and public health give him rare insight, and his research skills are outstanding.”<br><br>Faparusi, who chose to attend Widener in large part because of its signature health law program, received postgraduate training in psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center and St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C. <br><br>The Health Law Institute program on <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de032808healthlawranking.aspx\">Widener’s Delaware Campus is currently ranked ninth in the country and has appeared regularly on the national list, published by U.S. News &amp; World Report</a>, for a decade.<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(305, 'Professor John Culhane Discusses California’s Proposition 8 on WHYY', '2008-12-04', '“Can you take away what the court in May said was a fundamental right involving a suspect class - which is a class that’s historically been discriminated against – by simple majority vote, and the argument is that it creates sort of a mob rule without any kind of deliberation that would be created through the legislative process,” noted <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/CulhaneJohnG.aspx\">Professor Culhane</a> in discussing the upcoming California Supreme Court case challenging the legality of the recently based Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that passed on election day, altering the state Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman and eliminating the right of same-sex couples to marry.<br><br>On December 2nd, Professor Culhane spoke on the subject of the legal challenge to Proposition 8 as a guest on <a href=\"http://www.whyy.org/cgi-bin/newwebRTlookup.cgi\" title=\"WHYY Radio’s Radio Times program\">WHYY Radio’s Radio Times program</a> with host Marty Moss-Coane. Professor Culhane was joined by Gary Mucciaroni, chair of the political science department at Temple University and author of <em>Same Sex, Different Politics: Success and Failure in Struggles over Gay Rights</em>.<br><br>Professor Culhane discussed the difference between amendment and revision to California’s Constitution, and how the difference might have an impact on the legal challenge to Proposition 8. Where revision would have required the change to pass the legislature with a two-thirds majority before being voted on by the people, while an amendment only requires a majority vote. The legal challenge rests on the idea that Proposition 8 should have been considered a revision rather than an amendment. The discussion ranged over a number of other topics as well, including how the federalist system interacts with state laws on gay marriage and civil unions and how and why social equality has been so difficult for gays and lesbians to achieve. <br><br>When the discussion turned back to the courts, Professor Mucciaroni asserted that going through the courts might not always be the best way, saying, “The problem with going through the courts is that they often short-circuit deliberation.” He added that too often there is “No real discussion, and that’s what you really have to have with this kind of issue because it is a very controversial one and a difficult one for many Americans. And also of course the fact that the Courts, even when they’re elected, they’re viewed as an undemocratic agent that’s kind of imposing this decision on a reluctant populace.” Professor Culhane disagreed in part, noting, “I don’t think we would have gay marriage in any state if the courts hadn’t gotten involved,” before adding, “What can happen through the courts is - the courts don’t just make decisions, they also themselves provide an important educational function, so if the court says this, it gets people talking about it and thinking about it. So I don’t think it’s a simple as saying courts bad, courts good. I think they serve a purpose.”', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(306, 'New Lawyers Join the Pennsylvania Bar', '2008-12-05', '<span>\r\n				<a href=\"%7E/media/Images/AlumniNews2008/PaBarPassers2008.ashx\">\r\n						<img class=\"FloatRight\" height=\"250\" alt=\"PaBarPassers2008sm\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/PaBarPassers2008sm.jpg\" width=\"500\"></a>Widener University School of Law is pleased to announce its graduates recently took the oath and became members of the Pennsylvania Bar.<br><br>On Wednesday, December 3, 2008 twenty-five Widener Law graduates were admitted to the practice of law at a ceremony that was held in Philadelphia City Hall, Courtroom 653. The 25 new attorneys sworn in heard remarks from U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones II of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Other jurists who attended included Judge Joel S. Johnson ’’91 of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Family Division, Judge Margaret Murphy ’’77 of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division and Judge Esther Sylvester, president judge emeritus of the Court of Judicial Discipline.<br><br>This Widener-unique event allows the Law School graduates to be admitted to the bar alongside their friends and classmates. A reception that welcomed family and friends to celebrate with the graduates followed the ceremony.</span>\r\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(307, 'Widener-Harrisburg Celebrates December Graduates', '2008-12-05', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08DecGrads/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><span>The Dean of Students Office hosted a reception for Widener-Harrisburg December graduates and their guests on Thursday, December 4, 2008. Graduates enjoyed celebrating the occasion with friends, family, professors, and Law School staff. Dean of Students Ann Fruth ’92, Harrisburg Vice Dean John Gedid, and Dean Linda Ammons shared congratulatory remarks.<br>We are very proud of our newest alumni:<br></span>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<span>Moshe Bell-Jacobs</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Fateen Bullock</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Crystal Burkhart</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Julie Clouser</span> </li>\n<li>Julia Coelho </li>\n<li>\n<span>William Courtright</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Allison Doerfler</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Christine Kelly-Miller</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Robert MacFadyen</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Christopher Morris</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Jason Parrish</span> </li>\n<li>\n<span>Timothy Pucino</span> </li>\n<li><span>Thomas W. Smith</span></li>\n</ul>\n<span><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(308, 'Philadelphia Happy Hour Celebration', '2008-12-05', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08PhilaHappy/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><span><br>Philadelphia area alumni recently gathered at The Field House in Philadelphia for a happy hour celebration that enabled them to catch up, network, and just unwind with fellow graduates. More than 40 alumni attended. Class years ranged from the first graduating class of 1975 to our most recent 2008 graduates. Also attending was Patrick Murphy ‘99 who recently won a second term in the House of Representatives. Please plan to join us at our next Widener Law event.<br><br></span><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(309, 'Governor-elect speaks about volunteerism, shines spotlight on Widener Law student', '2008-12-09', '<script src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\" type=\"text/javascript\"></script><div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 3px; float: right; width: 505px;\">\n				<img width=\"500\" height=\"347\" alt=\"markell haushalter ludman\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/markell%20haushalter%20ludman.jpg\"><p> Delaware Governor-Elect Jack Markell with Widener Law students Laura Haushalter and Adam Ludman.</p>\n</div>\n<p>When Delaware Governor-Elect Jack Markell decided to hold a press conference where he talked, in part, about the power of volunteerism, his team tapped Widener Law student Laura Haushalter to take a turn at the podium during the news event.<br><br>The third-year law student coordinates the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/VolunteerIncomeTaxAssistanceProgram.aspx\">Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, or VITA</a>, on the Delaware campus. Student Adam Ludman, who co-directs the program, attended the Dec. 4 press conference in Wilmington, too.<br><br>“I’ve always been a public-service minded individual,” Haushalter said. The Pittsburgh native and Trolley Square resident said she has volunteered three years with the VITA program, in which students provide low-income people free assistance with their tax preparation.<br><br>“It was the best way I could work in the Delaware community, meet Delaware people and continue my work as a full-time law student,” she said of the VITA program. Haushalter also holds down a job in the office of U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania, where she provides constituent service to veterans and members of the military. That job draws on skills gleaned through her work with Widener’s Veterans Law Clinic.<br><br>Markell, currently Delaware state treasurer and slated to beome governor on Jan. 20, also spoke to the media about a new partnership between Goodwill and the Delaware Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign. Other participants at the press conference included Mary Dupont, executive director of the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation and Ted Van Name, president of Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County.<br><br>Markell touted plans to station VITA tax preparers, like Haushalter, in Goodwill store tax-preperation “super site locations” so they can reach out to people who will benefit from their services and benefit from learning about the earned income tax credit.<br><br>Widener Law students know the VITA campaign well, as the school has organized and trained hundreds of volunteers for it over the years. Haushalter said she expects about 60 of her Delaware-campus peers to volunteer during the upcoming tax season. The Harrisburg campus also has a thriving VITA program.<br><br><br><br></p>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(310, 'Speaker and Reception Event held in Washington, D.C.', '2008-12-11', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow08AlumniDC/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 550px; height: 420px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><span style=\"\"> Alumni and their guests gathered in Washington, DC, on December 10, 2008, for a regional event. Attendees enjoyed networking with each other and listen to Widener Law National Advisory Council member and guest speaker Michael Brown ’91 talk about the role of media in the recent presidential election. Mr. Brown, managing director for government affairs at Edwards Angell Palmer &amp; Dodge LLP, was a surrogate speaker for President-Elect Obama, frequently appearing on media such as Fox News and participating in speaking engagements on behalf of the Senator. Mr. Brown also won the Washington, D.C., City Council member at-large election in November.<br><br>The winter reception which was hosted by Mr. Brown was well-attended. The alumni event consisted of alumni from the first graduating classes all the way through our most recent 2008 graduates practicing in diverse fields of law, creating abundant networking opportunities. We look forward to seeing new attendees and all of the past attendees again in the near future as the Washington, D.C., regional chapter of Widener Law alumni continues to grow stronger in numbers and become more active.<br><br>For more information on alumni events in the Washington, D.C. area, contact Ashley N. Barton, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations &amp; Development at 717-541-3974 or <a href=\"mailto:\">anbarton@widener.edu</a>.</span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(311, 'Law School Community Strives to Help Those in Need', '2008-12-12', '<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script><img width=\"289\" height=\"420\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"OperationWarm\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/OperationWarm.jpg\">With Christmas nearing, members of the Widener Law Community are offering a helping hand to those in need. The annual Widener Law Center and Clinic Adopt a Family Program has chosen three deserving families in need to provide with food, clothing, and toys for Christmas. In addition, the <a href=\"/ParalegalLNC.aspx\">Legal Education Institute</a> and the <a href=\"/ParalegalLNC/CurrentStudents/StudentOrganizations.aspx\">Student Legal Association</a> have teamed with Wilmington radio station WJBR FM to support Operation Warm, a drive to provide new winter coats to children in need.<br><br>The Adopt a Family Program offers members of the Widener Law community a wonderful opportunity to give a child hope by demonstrating that you care. You can make a difference while doing your shopping this Holiday season by picking up some clothing or a toy for one of our adopted families while you buy presents for your loved ones. This year, students in the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/DelawareCivilLawClinic.aspx\">Delaware Civil Law Clinic</a> and the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/PennsylvaniaCivilLawClinic.aspx\">Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinic</a> selected three families from among those who received clinic aid.<br><br>The first adopted family has 8 children under the age of 14, and as Assistant Dean and Registrar Dottie Hemphill, the Coordinator of the Adopt a Family program, notes, “The mother is an immigrant to the United States and is trying her best to support her family on her own. The children’s father seriously physically abused both the mother and the children,” and they “were put in rooms and were padlocked in from the outside.   This family is in crisis and needs help!”<br><br>The second family consists of a mother and three boys ranging in age from 8 to 15. “The physical and emotional abuse has taken its toll on all the family members. The threats to kill were almost fulfilled this year when the father went after the mother with a box cutter. Luckily one of the children stepped in but then the father turned the weapon on himself and slit his wrists in front of the mother and children. The family is healing and doing its best to look forward, but it is difficult with such strong emotional scars. A wonderful Christmas will be the best therapy this family can have!” The third and final family consists of a mother, a 10 year old girl, and a 9 month old baby, and they need help every bit as much as the other families.<br><br>Students, faculty, staff, and friends of the Law Center are encouraged to bring new clothing and toys or very gently used items to the Registrar’s office by <strong>December 19th</strong>. <strong>Non-perishable food items</strong> will be collected at the <strong>Dean’s Holiday Party on December 17th</strong>, but can also be dropped off at the Registrar’s Office for those who cannot attend. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to participate in a “wrapping” party on December 19th. Information about what to donate for the adopted families can be obtained from Dottie Hemphill in the registrar’s office.<br><br>As for Operation Warm, $15 will buy a child a new coat, and donations in any amount can be brought to the LEI office. The donations will be collected and delivered to Grisillo’s Thriftway at 196 Pennmart Center in New Castle, DE between 5 and 6 PM on <strong>Thursday, December 17th</strong>, so any donations need to be brought to the LEI offices before that time.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(312, 'Delaware Bar Passers Ceremony', '2008-12-15', '<a href=\"%7E/media/Images/AlumniNews2008/DEBarReception08.ashx\">\r\n				<img width=\"500\" height=\"240\" alt=\"DEBarReception08sm\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/DEBarReception08sm.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\"></a>On Monday, November 17, 2008 Widener University School of Law faculty and staff helped celebrate with alumni who recently passed the July 2008 Delaware State Bar exam. Dean Linda Ammons and Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy Holland addressed the group and commended each graduate on their distinguished achievement of being admitted to the Delaware Bar.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(313, 'Professor Thomas Reed Named First Taishoff Professor of Law', '2008-12-19', '<img width=\"500\" height=\"345\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"ReedClinicPTSD\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ReedClinicPTSD.jpg\">As part of the creation of the new Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute, Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\">Thomas Reed</a> has been named the first Taishoff Professor of Law. Professor Reed came to the Delaware Law School in 1981 and has been a leading faculty member ever since, including serving as Associate Dean from 1984 until 1993. He has made many contributions to the school over those years, perhaps none more important than creating the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/VeteransLawClinic.aspx\">Veterans Law Clinic</a>. In 1997, he started a small, volunteer pro bono program known then as the Veterans Assistance Program that eventually grew into the Veterans Law Clinic.<br><br>“We’re here to extend the service learning experience for the students, and to serve the Veterans from Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey,” explains Professor Reed when discussing the Veterans Law Clinic. The program began with a simple mission to “assist veterans and dependents with Department of Veterans Affairs compensation claims and related VA benefits.” In 2006, the program became the Veterans Law Clinic after a change in regulations that allowed veterans to hire private attorneys to represent them before the Board of Veterans Appeal. The clinic now has branch offices on the University’s Chester campus and in Harrisburg, employs three part-time staff attorneys, a part-time paralegal, and offers students a clinical internship experience in which they assist a staff attorney or Professor Reed “on anywhere from three to five veterans compensation cases each semester.”<br><br>According to Professor Reed, the clinic is now assisting 138 active clients, but he is quick to acknowledge the difficulties inherent in the system, noting that veterans have been “a tragically underserved population.” A veteran himself, Professor Reed served in the Marine Corps in the 1960s, giving him insight into what his clients have been through. “It takes a year or two for claims to percolate through the system,” he notes, candidly discussing the bureaucratic issues that plague VA offices around the country, including recent stories about important disability claim documents being found in shredder bins at the VA Regional Offices in Detroit and New York. Given the difficulties that many veterans face in receiving a fair hearing, programs like the Veterans Law Clinic remain vitally important.<br><br>The Taishoff Advocacy, Technology, and Public Service Institute will open up new advocacy programs, create courses in military law and justice, and create the Taishoff Fellowship for students. Given his strong advocacy on behalf of veterans and his years of service to the law school, Professor Reed represents a natural choice as the first Taishoff Professor of Law.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(314, 'Widener Law professor leads national book project on sustainability', '2009-01-07', 'The national discussion about the future of America gets an influential new source of information this month with the release of the country’s only comprehensive assessment of U.S. progress toward sustainability. The assessment, put forth in a book edited entirely and authored in part by Widener Law Distinguished Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John C. Dernbach</a>, looks at what sustainability means to our national security, economic development, social well-being and environmental quality.<br><br><em>Agenda for a Sustainable America</em> is broken into 31 chapters authored by 41 writers. Dernbach conceived of the idea, chose the chapter topics, found the writers and edited the manuscript. He has worked on the project since 2006. The Environmental Law Institute is publishing the book, which will be released the week of Jan. 12.<br> <br>The book is the only publication of its kind. It examines U.S. actions since the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. It also contains recommendations for the next five to 10 years. It is intended to provide a broad framework for moving the United States toward sustainability. It also magnifies Dernbach’s standing as an international expert on sustainable development and global climate change.<br><br>“No one else outside of government comprehensively and continuously reviews U.S. actions from a sustainability perspective and makes recommendations for a sustainable future. This is it,” said Dernbach, who teaches on the Harrisburg Campus.<br> <br>The book comes as the nation prepares for a change in administration, which presents an opportunity to revisit policies and start anew. It contains many chapters that focus on the role of the executive branch, making it a key resource for new efforts by Washington – and it has already caught the attention of law and policymakers at the national level.<br><br>U.S. Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin said of the book, “This comprehensive review of the United States’ environmental efforts is a reminder that despite our progress, we have further to travel on the road toward sustainability. As this book makes clear, we must pursue new, sustainable solutions that will allow future generations, and the environment they depend on, to thrive.”', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(315, 'Widener Law Adjunct Speaks in Argentina About U.S. Consumer Law', '2009-01-12', '<img width=\"418\" height=\"306\" alt=\"FlitterArgentina09\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/FlitterArgentina09.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">This past August, Widener Law adjunct <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/FlitterCaryL.aspx\">Cary Flitter</a> gave a guest lecture about “Comparative U.S. Consumer Protection Laws” to an audience of law students, faculty members, and private practice lawyers at the University of Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina.<br><br>After meeting University of Salvador law professor Martina L. Rojo at a consumer law conference in Texas, Professor Flitter received an invitation to come down and speak to her Economic Environment of Law class and a select group of practicing attorneys. He gave an overview of key consumer protection laws in the United States, and spoke on key issues such fair credit reports and debt collection abuse. “The students and faculty were really engaged. I think they found this sort of partial regulation interesting. Argentina, of course, is one of the largest economies in South America yet they do not have such regulation or private remedy in their consumer lending and credit,” says Professor Flitter.<br><br>Vice Dean Carlos I. Salvadores DeArzuaga of the University of Salvador sent Professor Flitter a letter expressing the gratitude of everyone in attendance, and expressing a desire for future academic exchanges.<br><br>Professor Flitter is a partner at Lundy Flitter Beldecos &amp; Berger, P.C in suburban Philadelphia. A graduate of Philadelphia University, he earned his J.D. from the Delaware Law School of Widener University in 1981. He teaches in the areas of Consumer law and Identity Theft.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(316, '2009 Alumni Events Kick-Off With San Diego Reunion', '2009-01-13', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow09SanDiego/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 520px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><br>Widener Law visited with its West Coast constituents this January. Alumni and current students from San Diego to Los Angeles enjoyed a reception at the Marriott Hotel &amp; Marina in San Diego, California, on the first Tuesday of the New Year. Event host Kyle Bowser ’91 addressed the audience after Dean Ammons welcomed the group to the event. Faculty and staff attending the Association of American Law School’s conference being held at the hotel also joined the festivities and had a wonderful time catching up with their former students who now represent Widener Law on the West Coast. For more information about Widener Law alumni events in California, contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 302-477-2172.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(317, 'Alumnus receives distinguished lecturer award', '2009-01-13', '<script type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"http://w.sharethis.com/widget/?tabs=web%2Cpost%2Cemail&amp;charset=utf-8&amp;services=reddit%2Cdigg%2Cfacebook%2Cmyspace%2Cdelicious%2Cstumbleupon%2Ctechnorati%2Cpropeller%2Cnewsvine%2Cblinklist%2Cmixx%2Cgoogle_bmarks%2Cyahoo_myweb&amp;style=default&amp;publisher=a4274665-474d-4c7c-9c69-e72d2ce66c83\"></script><div style=\"margin: 4px; float: right; width: 403px;\">\n\n<img width=\"400\" height=\"332\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ccti%20brady%201.jpg\" alt=\"ccti brady 1\"><p><span class=\"Caption\">Kevin Brady, left, and Richard Herrmann, presenting the award</span></p>\n<img width=\"400\" height=\"406\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ccti%20brady%202.jpg\" alt=\"ccti brady 2\"><p><span class=\"Caption\">Kevin Brady giving his talk after receiving the award</span></p>\n</div>\n\n\nThe <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/AdvocacyandTechnologyInstitute/CorporateCounselTechnologyInstitute.aspx\">Corporate Council Technology Institute </a>at Widener University School of Law has given its annual distinguished lecturer award to Wilmington attorney Kevin F. Brady.<br><br>Brady, a partner in the business law group at Connolly Bove Lodge &amp; Hutz LLP, is a 1982 magna cum laude graduate of Widener Law’s Delaware campus. He received the honor Thursday, Jan. 8 before delivering the keynote address during a two-day, intensive course on Technology and the Law at the school. Brady represents clients in a variety of areas including corporate litigation, commercial litigation, electronic discovery and records management, insurance litigation and arbitration and mediation. <br><br>Wilmington attorney <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HerrmannRichardK.aspx\">Richard K. Herrmann</a> presented Brady with an engraved crystal obelisk and honorarium. Herrmann is visiting professor and co-chair of the Technology Law Practice Technology Center at Widener. He also directs the Corporate Council Technology Institute, which was established to become the major legal technology resource for the corporate law community. Its mission is to provide the corporate law community with the tools necessary to efficiently manage complex litigation through smart use of technology, assist in litigation costs and help create a knowledge management culture. It provides education and consulting services to the law school faculty and corporate counsel and develops law curricula with an increased focus on the technology needs of corporate counsel.<br><br>“Kevin has shown himself to be an outstanding member of the Delaware bar in his efforts to further education on legal issues related to technology locally, nationally and internationally,” Herrmann said. “We value his contributions and felt he richly deserved this recognition.”<br><br>Brady regularly guest lectures at the law school on the topic of electronic discovery. He frequently writes on electronic discovery issues and has guest lectured in China on litigation procedures.<br><br>The Corporate Counsel Technology Institute gave the first distinguished lecturer award in 2005. The honor is intended to recognize in-house counsel attorneys, jurists or other legal professionals who have been exemplary in their efforts to teach others about technology and the business of law. <br><br><br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(318, 'Democratic Law Caucus and SBA Sponsor Bus Trip to Inauguration', '2009-01-14', '<img width=\"289\" height=\"353\" alt=\"InaugurationTrip289PX\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/InaugurationTrip289PX.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">“This is going to be a historic event, something someone may only see once in a lifetime,” says Democratic Law Caucus President Michael Follet of next Tuesday’s Presidential Inauguration. Thanks to the efforts of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/StudentBarAssociationDelaware.aspx\">Student Bar Association</a> and the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/DemocraticLawCaucus.aspx\">Democratic Law Caucus</a>, students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to travel to Washington and witness the Inauguration on <strong>Tuesday January 20th</strong>.<br><br>Buses to the Inauguration will be departing at <strong>5:30 am sharp</strong> from the <strong>Upper Parking Lot by the Concord Hall dormitory</strong>. In order to secure a spot on the trip, students should <strong>purchase a $20 ticket from Deb Berry in the Student Services Office</strong> no later than <strong>Friday, January 16th</strong>. Payment may be in the form of <strong>cash</strong> or a <strong>check made payable to the WUSL Student Bar Association</strong>.<br><br>The buses will travel to Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, and individuals will then be free to make their way into the city either via the Washington Metro from the Stadium-Armory station or on foot. The $20 tickets cover the cost of transportation to Washington, D.C. for the day and will not grant access to the ticketed seating area for 240,000 people straight back from the platform. Instead, the Widener group will be welcome to join the general public in the area beyond the ticketed space, which is expected to stretch down the National Mall to the Lincoln Monument. There will be 20 Jumbotron screens scattered throughout the mall area to aid in viewing the ceremony.<br><br>Everyone will be given a time to meet back at the buses, which are <strong>scheduled to arrive back in Delaware at 8:30 pm</strong>. Those making the trip are advised to wear comfortable shoes, dress warmly, and bring pocket money.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(319, 'Vice President-Elect Joe Biden Delivers Senate Farewell Speech', '2009-01-16', '<img width=\"235\" height=\"287\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"BidenFarewell235px2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/BidenFarewell235px2.jpg\"> “I may be resigning from the Senate today, but I will always be a Senate man. Except for the title father, there is no title, including Vice President, that I am more proud to wear than that of United States Senator,” said Delaware Senator and Vice President Elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. in his <a href=\"http://www.cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-14358\">farewell address to the United States Senate</a> on the morning of Thursday, January 15th. First elected in 1972, Biden leaves the Senate after 36 years of service, a term that only 19 Senators in history have exceeded.<br><br>Since 1991, Senator Biden has served as an <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">adjunct professor at Widener Law’s Delaware campus</a>, teaching a seminar on issues in constitutional law that has annually been one of the most popular seminars offered. After watching the Senator’s farewell speech, Widener Law Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley Oliver</a>, who worked on Senator Biden’s 2008 Presidential campaign, said, “Today, Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., resigned from the United States Senate as one of the most important figures ever to sit in its chamber and gave a farewell speech that reflected why he has had such an extraordinary impact on, and in, that institution.”<br><br><strong>The Institutional Power of the Senate</strong><br><br><a href=\"~/media/Images/News2008/biden%20dc%201.ashx\"><img width=\"300\" height=\"182\" class=\"FloatLeft\" alt=\"biden dc 1sm\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/biden%20dc%201sm.jpg\"></a>During his speech, Senator Biden shared a story about the conference table in his office that he had previously told to a group of <a href=\"/NewsandEvents/Articles/2008/de022108biden.aspx\">Widener Law students who visited him in Washington on February 13th, 2008</a>. He inherited the table when he assumed the Russell Senate Office Building space from the late Senator John C. Stennis, a Mississippi Democrat. The table had served as a meeting place for southern lawmakers attempting to plot the demise of the civil rights movement. When he talked with Stennis about taking over the office space, Stennis recalled that the first time the men had met 18 years earlier, Biden had told him he was running for office out of a desire to support civil rights.<br><br>In the speech, Biden recalled Stennis telling him, “It’s time that this table passes from a man who was against civil rights into the hands of a man who is for civil rights.” Biden noted that he found Stennis’s words “genuinely – without exaggeration – moving.” Continuing the story, Biden said, “We talked a few more minutes, and I got up, and when I got to the door, he turned to me in that wheelchair and he said, ‘One more thing, Joe.’ He said, ‘The civil rights movement did more, more to free the white man than the black man’. I looked at him and I said Mr. Chairman, how is that?” Finishing the story, Biden noted that Stennis replied, “It freed my soul.”<br><br>“Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, I can tell you that by his own account, John Stennis was personally enlarged by his service in the Senate. That’s the power of this institution,” concluded Biden.<br><br><strong>Living His Dream</strong><br><br>The Vice President Elect also told a story about his first visit to the Senate chamber as a 21-year old college student. He ended the story with a comedic flourish, saying, “Next thing I know, I feel this hand on my shoulder and a guy – a capitol policeman – picks me up and spins me around. I said ‘What are you doing?’ And, after a few moments, he realized I was just a dumbstruck kid, and he didn’t arrest me or anything, but that was the first time I walked on the senate floor.” When he returned nine years later as a Senator, he encountered that same officer, who said, “I welcome you back to the Senate.”<br><br>Senator Biden spoke of his deep respect for his fellow Senators, and mentioned friendships he never imagined developing with ideologically opposed Senators such as Strom Thurmond and John C. Stennis. Professor Oliver found Biden’s account of his friendship with Thurmond particularly moving, saying, “On his death bed, Thurmond asked that Biden give his eulogy, something Biden described as one of the great honors of his life. Biden used his friendship with Strom Thurmond to demonstrate how people of widely different views can come together and make compromises in the interests of the country they all love. He also used his story about Thurmond to demonstrate how a lifetime of respectful interactions can change people – by the end of his career, Sen. Thurmond had voted for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act and came to employ more African Americans in his office than any other member of the Senate.”<br><br>He discussed all of the changes that occurred over his long career, mentioning arguments over whether or not taxpayer money should be “wasted” on putting computers in Senate offices. “I’m almost embarrassed to acknowledge that,” he cracked, adding, “That makes me a pretty old dude as the kids would say.”<br><br><strong>Saying Goodbye and Looking to the Future</strong><br><br>Biden thanked a number of people as he neared the end of his speech, saying, “To the people of Delaware, who have given me the honor of serving them, there is no way that I can ever, ever express to them, how much this meant to me.” He also thanked all of his the Senators and staffers past and present, and concluded by saying, “To my children, Hunter and Ashley and Beau, if I was nothing else, I’d be content to be the father of such wonderful people. To my grandchildren, who constantly remind me why the decisions we make in this august body are so important. And to my Jill, who once saved my life, you are my life today. I thank all of you.”<br><br>He closed the speech by linking the past to the future, stating, “I came here to fight for civil rights,” before adding, “I leave here today to begin my service to our nation’s first African American President. The arch of the Universe is long, but it does indeed bend toward justice, and the United States Senate has been an incredible instrument in assuring that justice. So, although you’ve not seen the last of me, I say for the last time – and with confidence in all of you, optimism in our future, and a heart with more gratitude than I can express – I yield the floor.”<br><br>Summing up his thoughts on Biden’s speech, Professor Oliver said, “Biden’s time in the United States Senate will certainly be remembered for his expertise in foreign relations and constitutional law, for his tireless fight for ordinary working people, and for his simultaneously articulate and off-the-cuff speaking style which has been both a blessing and a curse. But he will also be remembered in the Senate as a man who was extremely well respected by his colleagues and who had enormous respect for them. Today, in a very eloquent and personal fashion, he demonstrated why.”<br><br>You can watch Senator Biden\'s speech, including introductory remarks from Harry Reid (D-NV) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), at <a title=\"Senator Biden\'s Farewell Address\" href=\"http://www.cspan.org/Watch/watch.aspx?MediaId=HP-A-14358\">C-SPAN\'s website</a>.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(320, 'Martin Luther King Commemoration Focuses on Historic Inauguration', '2009-01-21', '<div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 4px; float: right; width: 405px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"540\" alt=\"inauguration09 1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/inauguration09%201.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Professor Lipkin addresses the Law School<br></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"300\" alt=\"inauguration09 2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/inauguration09%202.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Gathering: Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom<br></p>\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"284\" alt=\"inauguration09 3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/inauguration09%203.jpg\"></p>\n<p>Live coverage on CNN<br></p>\n</div>\n\n\n“As far as I know, Professor Lipkin is the only faculty member who actually marched with Dr. King,” said Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Robert Hayman</a> in introducing Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/LipkinRobertJustin.aspx\">Robert Lipkin</a> at the Delaware campus’s Martin Luther King Day Commemoration before deadpanning, “The rest of us aren’t actually old enough.”<br><br>The Widener Law community packed the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom on Tuesday, January 20th to hear some remarks from Professor Lipkin on the significance of the Inauguration and its connection to Martin Luther King before watching Widener Law Adjunct and new Vice President <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Joseph Biden Jr</a>. and President Barack Obama take their oaths of office.<br><br>In his comments prior to the Inauguration, Professor Lipkin called the Obama presidency “a new chapter in the American narrative.” He described Martin Luther King Jr. as “the beginning of a prophecy,” and added, “I am incredulous. I am amazed at what’s going on today.”  Drawing on his own experiences growing up during the Civil Rights movement, Professor Lipkin described Obama’s Inauguration as a huge step on the trail blazed by Dr. King. He closed by saying, “Though we still have a lot to do, our world will never be the same.”<br><br>After watching Vice President Biden take the oath of office from Justice John Paul Stevens, the Widener audience cheered loudly. Following President Obama’s own chance to take his oath of office, he gave a stirring speech, saying, “For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job, which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter\'s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent\'s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.”<br><br>While acknowledging and even highlighting the challenges facing the country, the President also offered hope, stating, “Let it be said by our children\'s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God\'s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations,” before closing with the words, “Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”<br><br>Prior to Professor Lipkin’s comments, Professor Hayman also announced the Martin Luther King Semester of Service, a program jointly sponsored by the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/PublicInterestOpportunities/PublicInterestResourceCenter.aspx\">Public Interest Resource Center</a> and the <a href=\"/Academics/SpecialProgramsandInitiatives/LawandInequalityProject.aspx\">Law and Inequality Project</a>. Students interested in learning more about the program should contact the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/PublicInterestOpportunities/PublicInterestResourceCenter.aspx\">PIRC office</a>.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, '');
INSERT INTO `news` (`id`, `headline`, `date`, `body`, `image`, `image_alt`, `blue-box-text`, `link`, `is_featured`, `alumni`, `faculty`, `box_content`) VALUES
(321, 'Widener Law receives $1.2 million gift Taishoff Family Foundation', '2009-01-23', '<p>\r\n				<img width=\"400\" height=\"475\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"taishoff gift 2009\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/taishoff%20gift%202009.jpg\">Widener University School of Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a> today announced that the charitable foundation overseen by Delaware campus alumnus CAPT. Robert Taishoff ’89, has committed $1.2 million in support of the newly renamed <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/AdvocacyandTechnologyInstitute.aspx\">Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute</a> at Widener Law.<br><br>The endowed gift from the Florida-based Taishoff Family Foundation is the largest ever given to Widener Law. <br><br>“We are grateful to CAPT. Taishoff and his family’s foundation for this generous gift,” Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said. “Their support of Widener Law will strengthen our ability to educate the next generation of public advocates. Not only do our students benefit, but in the long run, society will as well.”<br><br>The gift will be used to:<br></p>\r\n		<ul>\n<li>Fund new programs and special training for students enrolled through the institute, who are interested in advocacy-law careers.</li>\r\n				<li>Provide fellowships that offer financial assistance to law students studying through the institute, which was formerly known as the Advocacy and Technology Institute.</li>\r\n				<li>Lend support to Widener’s <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/VeteransLawClinic.aspx\">Veterans Law Clinic</a>, which under the direction of Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\">Thomas J. Reed</a> provides legal representation to a growing number of disabled veterans as they challenge denials of their medial benefits. The school was one of the nation’s first to offer such a program. The clinic operates on Widener’s law campuses in Delaware and Harrisburg, Pa. and the university’s main campus in Chester, Pa.</li>\r\n				<li>Create a named professorship, which will go to Reed, who will become the first Taishoff Professor of Law. </li>\r\n				<li>Create a visiting distinguished scholar position, to be filled by a lawyer, jurist or social scientist who is undertaking research that improves the quality of advocacy.</li>\r\n		</ul>\n<p>The Taishoff Foundation has long supported Widener’s Veterans Law Clinic on an annual basis and the endowed gift ensures its support will continue in perpetuity – for the clinic and programs beyond. It will enable Widener students to combine the theoretical with the practical by gaining <br>hands-on experience in the practice of law, learning under the supervision of experienced professionals and absorbing real-world knowledge.<br><br>“This gift will go far in supporting our efforts to provide programs and experiences that best equip our law students for advocacy careers,” Widener University President James T. Harris III said. “The assistance to our Veterans Law Clinic, in particular, assures that our students will continue to master the law through service to our nation’s veterans. This kind of civic engagement is the hallmark of a Widener education and I thank the Taishoff Family Foundation for recognizing it in this way.”<br><br><br><br></p>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(322, 'Widener Law group attends inauguration', '2009-01-24', '<iframe class=\"iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/slideshow09President/slideshow.swf\" style=\"width: 600px; height: 520px; float: right;\"></iframe><br><br><span style=\"\">About 75 students, staff and friends were a part of history on the National Mall Tuesday when they attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/BidenJosephR.aspx\">Joe Biden</a>.<br><br>Student Michael Follett, president of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/DemocraticLawCaucus.aspx\">Democratic Law Caucus</a>, organized the trip with support from the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/StudentBarAssociationDelaware.aspx\">Student Bar Association</a> and Debra Berry in the <a href=\"/CampusLife/AdvisingandCounseling/OfficeofStudentAffairsDelaware.aspx\">Office of Student Affairs</a>. A news crew from CBS3 traveled with the students and reported on their day.<br><br>Law Dean<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\"> Linda L. Ammons</a> also attended the inauguration at the invitation of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, and she witnessed the event from the ticketed area of the mall. <br><br>Fourth-year student Joanne Spruill attended and wore her Obama T-shirt over her warm clothes. Spruill was a student in the constitutional law seminar taught on the Delaware campus by Biden and Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HaymanRobertL.aspx\">Robert L. Hayman</a> during the spring 2008 semester.<br><br>“When Vice President Biden was our professor he explained how he had championed for civil rights all his life.  It made me like him all the more.  He also explained when class began that this campaign was bigger than him, and bigger than any of us,” she said. “To see him sworn in and be able to say ‘I know that guy! He taught me!’ was truly an honor, and being there in D.C. for the moment made me understand how this really was bigger than all of us.”<br><br>While some of those who attended were challenged to find a viewing space on the mall that offered a meaningful look at the Jumbotrons set up for the event, that didn’t quell their enthusiasm.<br><br>“It was such an amazing day. There was a real energy in the crowd,” said Berry. “I am just so glad I was there.”<br><br>Follett said the experience was remarkable.<br><br>“I felt empowered by the words Obama spoke, the message he pronounced and the reaction he received,” he said. <br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(323, 'New Jersey Alumni Gather to Celebrate', '2009-01-26', '<div style=\"margin: 4px; padding: 4px; float: right; width: 405px;\">\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"295\" alt=\"nj1\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/nj1.jpg\"></p>\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">NJ Photo 1 (l-r) Megan Phillips, Tom Cushane \'07, Carol Sciolla, and Brian<br>Phillips \'07</span></p>\n\n\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"178\" alt=\"nj2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/nj2.jpg\"></p>\n\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">NJ Photo 2 (l-r) Ken Funkhouser (first-year law student \'11), Jennifer Stonerod (Chair, NJ Chapter), Professor Michael Goldberg, Braheme Days(accepted applicant) and his guest Mindy Milbrun</span></p>\n\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"179\" alt=\"nj3\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/nj3.jpg\"></p>\n\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">NJ Photo 3 (l-r) Steven Barsamian \'75 (President, Alumni Association), Steven Barsamian II, Thomas Sciolla, Judge Lee Solomon \'78, Gregory Sciolla \'75</span></p>\n\n<p><img width=\"400\" height=\"343\" alt=\"nj4\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/nj4.jpg\"></p>\n	\n<p><span class=\"Caption\">NJ Photo 4 (l-r) Ivan Lee \'08 and Sarah Kaplan \'08</span></p>\n	</div>	\n	The New Jersey Alumni Chapter gathered for a celebration at the Double TreeGuest Suites in Mt. Laurel, NJ on January 15, 2009 to congratulate recently<br>admitted members of the New Jersey Bar.  The evening also provided an opportunity for first year law students who reside in New Jersey to network with the more than 40 alumni and judges who attended.  Jennifer Stonerod \'05, Chair of the NJ Chapter welcomed the group and Steven Barsamian \'75, President of the Alumni Association spoke as well.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(324, 'Widener Law creates corporate fellowship award', '2009-01-27', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"400\" height=\"334\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/schmutz%20award%2009.jpg\" alt=\"schmutz award 09\">Widener Law’s prominent Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law announced today it has named third-year law student Kevin Gallagher as the inaugural recipient of its John F. Schmutz Corporate and Business Law Institute Fellowship Award.<br><br>The fellowship has been made possible through the generosity of Schmutz and his wife, Eileen Schmutz. He is a member of the law school’s Board of Overseers and is the former general counsel of the DuPont Co. <br><br>As the award recipient, Gallagher will be expected to spend about five hours a week attending and assisting with major functions of the <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/InstituteofDelawareCorporateandBusinessLaw.aspx\">Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law</a>, assisting in the publication of a print and online institute newsletter and assisting institute faculty with their research.<br><br>As the inaugural recipient, Gallagher will hold the fellowship through the spring 2009 semester. The next fellow will hold the honor for a full academic year, beginning in the fall 2009 semester.<br><br>“Thanks to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Schmutz, the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law can expand its visibility and its contribution to the national and even international discourse on corporate and business law, in which the state of Delaware plays such an important part,” said institute Director <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HamermeshLawrenceA.aspx\">Lawrence A. Hamermesh</a>, the Ruby R. Vale Professor of Corporate and Business law at Widener.<br><br>Gallagher, a Widener Law merit scholar, expects to graduate in May 2009. He has accepted a position as an associate at Richards, Layton &amp; Finger beginning this fall. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and he is a Josiah Oliver Wolcott Fellow under Delaware Chief Justice Myron T. Steele. <br><br>\"I\'m excited to be the inaugural John F. Schmutz Corporate and Business Law Institute Fellow.  I look forward to working alongside Professor Hamermesh, and I\'m eager to attend the various institute functions throughout the spring semester,” Gallagher said. “I would also like to thank Mr. Schmutz and his wife for their generosity in providing me with an additional avenue to explore the study of corporate and business law, especially here in Wilmington. \"<br><br>The </span><span style=\"\"> <a href=\"../../../../Academics/Institutes/InstituteofDelawareCorporateandBusinessLaw.aspx\">Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law</a></span><span style=\"\"> offers a formal concentration focused on developing a fundamental knowledge of business and corporate law. Law students enrolled in the institute program earn a business organizations law certificate upon graduation by participating in the business organizations law concentration. Graduate legal studies leading to an LL.M. in corporate law and finance are also available. <br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(325, 'Delaware Journal of Corporate Law Recognized', '2009-01-28', '<img width=\"235\" height=\"287\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"DJCLTopTenPromo235\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/DJCLTopTenPromo235.jpg\">The recently released Washington and Lee Law Review Rankings rank the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/DelawareJournalofCorporateLaw.aspx\">Delaware Journal of Corporate Law</a> 10th out of 411 specialized law reviews and journals based on federal and state court citations to articles appearing in the law review or journal. The rank represents an improvement of three spots from the <em>Journal</em>’s 2007 position at 13th.<br><br>Explaining the significance of the ranking, Editor-in-Chief Kevin M. Gallagher notes, “The principal purpose of the <em>Journal</em> is to provide an avenue for leading scholars and practitioners in the corporate and business law community to convey their thoughts regarding evolving issues currently before federal and state courts, specifically the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court.  The rankings demonstrate that the judges presiding over corporate and business law cases rely upon articles published by the <em>Journal</em> in formulating their opinions.”<br><br>The <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/DelawareJournalofCorporateLaw.aspx\">Delaware Journal of Corporate Law</a> ranks first out of nine law journals among student-edited journals based upon citations in federal and state court opinions under the subject matter heading \"Corporate Law” and first among forty-one journals under the subject matter heading “Business Law”.<br><br>Students interested in joining the <em>Journal</em> can look for information sessions and flyers regarding the summer write-on competition, which takes place beginning in May. The next issue of the <em>Journal</em> includes articles from E. Norman Veasey, former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court; Mark Roe, professor of corporate law at Harvard; Brett H. McDonnell, professor of corporate law at the University of Minnesota; and Faith Stevelman, professor of corporate law at New York Law School.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(326, 'Clinic Students Receive Oath from Delaware Supreme Court Justice', '2009-01-30', '<img width=\"235\" height=\"287\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"OathClinic09_235px\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/OathClinic09_235px.jpg\">“I hope that someday you will come and argue before the Delaware Supreme Court,” concluded Delaware Supreme Court Justice <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HollandRandyJ.aspx\">Randy J. Holland</a> after administering an oath admitting two students to the limited practice of law.<br><br>On Monday, Janurary 26, 2009, Delaware Civil Clinic students Ada U. Chiejina and Amy B. Minnich were sworn in under Rule 56, which permits them to appear in certain Delaware courts as part of their work with the Delaware Civil Clinic. Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HarringtonConnerDana.aspx\">Dana Harrington Conner</a>, Director of the <a href=\"/Academics/ClinicalProgramsandProfessionalTraining/Clinics/DelawareCivilLawClinic.aspx\">Delaware Civil Clinic</a>, moved the admission of two students for admittance to the limited practice of law. Chiejina and Minnich join Christopher C. Cooper and Juliette E. Lewis, who were sworn into the limited practice of law on September 8, 2008 and are returning to assist the clinic during the spring semester.<br><br>Calling Associate Professor Harrington Conner and Adjunct Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HowardJanineN.aspx\">Janine Howard O’Rangers</a> excellent role models, Justice Holland noted, “Legal education at Widener is very important,” and he told the students, “When you graduate, you will be ready to enter the legal profession.”', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(327, 'Widener Law Professor Lectures on Global Democracy in Austria', '2009-02-01', '<img width=\"400\" height=\"453\" alt=\"strauss peace univ\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/strauss%20peace%20univ.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">“Many of my students had worked in the world’s conflict zones and had an great depth of experience.  I felt a real bond with them, and I learned a tremendous amount,” says Distinguished Professor of Law <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/StraussAndrewL.aspx\">Andrew Strauss</a> of his opportunity to teach at the European University Center for Peace Studies located in Stadtschlaining, Austria.<br><br>An international organization with no governmental ties, the <a href=\"http://www.epu.ac.at/start.html\" title=\"European University Center for Peace Studies\">European University Center for Peace Studies</a>, or EPU, was founded in 1988 with the mission of spreading peace. Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, the EPU pulls in students from across the world. The program seeks to give scientific and educational support to global peace and promotes policies such as sustainable development, cooperative responsibility and ecological security.<br><br>From December 15th to December 19th of 2008, Professor Strauss visited at the European University Center for Peace Studies. He spoke to students from across the world, including countries such as Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, about global democracy and the idea of a global parliament.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(328, 'Widener Law welcomes Taiwanese professor as visiting scholar', '2009-02-02', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"300\" height=\"232\" alt=\"visiting scholar wu\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/visiting%20scholar%20wu.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">Widener Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda L. Ammons</a> today announced the school’s Delaware campus has welcomed Professor Kuang-Ming (Carl) Wu to the school as a visiting scholar. <br><br>Wu will maintain an office at the school through March and will be doing research on the role of arbitration in business law disputes. Ammons has invited him to attend all School of Law faculty development programs and he will also do a presentation of his own to the faculty, likely on the subject of legal culture and Taiwan arbitration law.<br><br>Wu is a professor of law and director of the Center for Financial and Economic Law Studies at National Taipei University in Taiwan. He earned a doctoral degree from National Taiwan University College of Law in 1992, and while pursuing that degree studied at the University of Vienna for a year. More recently, Wu has studied law at Georgetown University and the University of Munich. <br><br>Plans for his visit to Widener have been coordinated through the school’s <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/InstituteofDelawareCorporateandBusinessLaw.aspx\">Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law</a>. The institute offers students a formal concentration focused on developing a fundamental knowledge of business and corporate law. Law students enrolled in the institute program earn a business organizations law certificate upon graduation by participating in the business organizations law concentration. <br><br>“We are pleased to have Professor Wu on our Delaware campus and to make our many resources available for his research,” Law Dean Linda L. Ammons said. “His presence here enriches our faculty and students and adds a valuable and diverse perspective on legal education.”<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(329, 'Widener Law administrator to lead Dauphin County court system review', '2009-02-04', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"400\" height=\"333\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/gedid%20con%20con%203.jpg\" alt=\"gedid con con 3\">Widener Law today announced that Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/GedidJohnL.aspx\">John L. Gedid</a>, vice dean of the school’s Harrisburg campus, will lead a committee charged with making recommendations for restructuring operations at the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.<br><br>President Judge Richard A. Lewis named Gedid to the chairperson’s role of a group known as the Resolution Committee. The group will review the court system with an eye for ways the addition of two judges may affect day-to-day operations. The committee has been asked to make recommendations on how the court might adjust its work flow, divisions and space needs to accommodate the additional jurists and optimize efficiency.<br><br>The Pennsylvania Legislature recently authorized the addition of two judges to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas bench. Voters will choose the new judges in an upcoming election. The changes will bring the number of jurists to 10.  <br><br>Gedid, who directs the <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/LawandGovernmentInstitute.aspx\">Law &amp; Government Institute</a> at Widener Law, was also recently reappointed as one of Pennsylvania’s nine commissioners to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. Sen. Robert Mellow made that appointment to an undefined term after Gedid’s previous, five-year term expired in November.<br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(330, 'Scholar’s Workshop Focuses on Sustainability', '2009-02-05', '<script language=\"JavaScript\" src=\"http://law.widener.edu/scripts/audio-player.js\">\n		</script><object width=\"290\" height=\"24\" id=\"audioplayer1\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" data=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\">\n<param value=\"http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/swf/mp3player/player.swf\" name=\"movie\">\n<param value=\"playerID=1&amp;soundFile=http://law.widener.edu/App_Media/audio/Dernbach021509.mp3\" name=\"FlashVars\">\n<param value=\"high\" name=\"quality\">\n<param value=\"false\" name=\"menu\">\n<param value=\"transparent\" name=\"wmode\"></object>\n\n“My goal for this book is to reignite a national dialog on sustainability,” stated Distinguished Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John C. Dernbach</a> as he discussed his new book, <a href=\"http://www.agendaforasustainableamerica.com/\"><em>Agenda for a Sustainable America</em></a>, with fellow faculty members on the Harrisburg campus on January 15th, just before the book’s release.<br><br>“Sustainable development is based on the premise that the Environment is connected to everything else we care about,” explained Dernbach while describing what led him to make sustainability his scholarly focus. He noted, “Negative environmental impacts compromise security, compromise economic development, and compromise human quality of life. This is not an ideological position, this is an empirical position,” stressing that sustainability development is not just about the environment, but rather that it cuts across all disciplines.<br><br>Professor Dernbach shot down old notions about progress being at odds with environmental preservation, declaring, “When we talk about sustainable development, we’re changing what our idea of progress is all about.” He continued by stating, “The end points of sustainable development are human freedom, human quality of life, and human opportunity. They’re the same endpoints as conventional development.” He was unequivocal in explaining that sustainable development is not just about the environment, explaining, “This is not about the environment instead of these other things. This is not about the environment ahead of these other things. This is a structure that changes the way we would do business.”<br><br>Throughout his talk, Professor Dernbach took questions from an involved audience, and the discussion covered a wide range of topics, including whether or not America could be a leader on sustainable development given the current economic uncertainties. Other topics covered included renewable energy, the subsidizing of fossil fuels, and climate change.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(331, 'Tax Notes Editor Lee Sheppard Gives Featured Address at Tax Law Institute', '2009-02-05', '<img width=\"425\" height=\"282\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"TaxREturnblue\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/TaxREturnblue.jpg\">“I got little done that day because the women’s clothes were giving me the vapors,” joked noted Tax Notes Editor Lee Sheppard about the Inauguration at the opening of her featured talk as part of the 2009 Delaware Tax Institute on Friday, January 30th.<br><br>Sheppard interspersed salient points about taxes with humorous remarks on everything from politics to fashion. Early in her talk, she cracked, “There’s a lot of people running around slapping themselves on the forehead because they’re realizing that Obama’s not a socialist, and they thought they voted for one.” She discussed a wide range of topics including the stimulus bill currently being worked on by the Senate and the Alternative Minimum Tax. Talking about Obama’s economic team, she commented, “A lot of these people caused the problem that they’re being asked to solve,” and she noted that when assigning blame for the current economic failures in the country, there was plenty to go around to political and financial leaders of all stripes.<br><br>The daylong program also featured two plenary panel discussions in the morning, as well as a talk on Tax Preparer Penalty Rules and the “Know Your Client” Disclosure Initiative given by Peter S. Gordon of Gordon, Fournaris &amp; Mammarella and Miguel D. Pena of Fox Rothschild LLP. In addition to Sheppard’s distinguished address, the afternoon featured several smaller breakout sessions covering topics such as “Making the Most of Retirement Assets” and “Developments in Case Law Affecting Trusts.”<br><br>Widener Law Associate Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/MirkayNicholasA.aspx\">Nicholas Mirkay</a> along with local tax practitioners organized the 2009 Delaware Tax Law Institute. Widener Law co-sponsored the Institute along with the Delaware Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Wilmington Family Office. Widener Law Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda Ammons</a> opened the program in the morning with a short welcome.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(332, 'Innovation and sustainability on show at Widener Law', '2009-02-08', '<img height=\"353\" width=\"289\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"DJCSustainabilityPromo\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/DJCSustainabilityPromob.jpg\">As the new administration in Washington promotes an agenda for America that includes doing more to protect the environment and create jobs, Widener Law announces a program that examines the impact of government efforts toward fostering innovation in energy efficiency and renewable energy. <br>[ Learn more and see <a href=\"%7E/media/Files/cle/SustEnergyAgenda09.ashx\">the Agenda</a>(.pdf)  and a Brochure: <a href=\"http://law.widener.edu/energy\">law.widener.edu/energy</a> (.pdf)]<br><br>The event, “Sustainable Energy: The Intersection of Innovation, Law and Policy,” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10 in room A180 of the school’s Harrisburg campus, 3800 Vartan Way. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 8 a.m. The program runs 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.<br><br>The day will feature an array of speakers, including a panel discussion by – and about – innovators. The school will also host an exhibition of alternative-energy technology, including hydrogen-, hybrid- and biofuel-powered vehicles.<br><br>The program is intended to educate participants about a variety of legal issues the green energy boom will present: from the ramifications facing homeowners who install insulation or solar panels to requirements on major utility companies for saving energy or providing renewable energy. The conference will provide participants with a working knowledge of government regulations and incentives for green-energy businesses.<br><br>The event is sponsored by the <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/LawandGovernmentInstitute.aspx\">Widener Law &amp; Government Institute</a> and the <a href=\"http://widenerlawjournal.org/\">Widener Law Journal</a>, the student-run official law journal of the Harrisburg campus. The program was conceived and organized by Professor<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/DernbachJohnC.aspx\">John C. Dernbach</a> and Associate Professor<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/OliverWesleyM.aspx\">Wesley M. Oliver</a>. Dernbach is an expert in environmental law, climate change and sustainability. <a href=\"http://www.agendaforasustainableamerica.com/\">His most recent book, “Agenda for a Sustainable America,”</a> was released this month. Oliver, an associate director of the Law &amp; Government Institute, has an interest in connecting law schools with the people, businesses, and technologies the law regulates.<br><br>The program has been approved for <em>6.5 continuing legal education credits for Pennsylvania and Delaware attorneys (no ethics).</em> <em>There is a $100 registration fee for attorneys who attend for credit. The cost is $85 for Widener Law alumni and $60 for government and public-interest attorneys.</em> The program is free to students and members of the general public who do not seek credits. Lunch is included for paying participants.<br><br>To register, <strong><em>contact Sandra Graeff at 717.541.3965</em></strong> or <a href=\"mailto:\">slgraeff@widener.edu</a>. <br><br>.<br><br><br><br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(333, 'Widener Law Professor to Speak at West Virginia University College of Law Symposium', '2009-02-09', '<img width=\"289\" height=\"353\" alt=\"TanyaEvansWallsHIPHOPPRomo\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/TanyaEvansWallsHIPHOPPRomo.jpg\" class=\"FloatRight\">Widener Law Assistant Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/EvansTonyaM.aspx\">Tonya Evans-Walls</a> will <a href=\"http://www.law.wvu.edu/streetknowledge/participants\">participate in a panel discussion</a> as part of West Virginia University College of Law\'s Symposium entitled \"The Evolution of Street Knowledge: Hip Hop\'s Influence on Law and Culture.” She will be a featured speaker on a panel titled \"When MCs Meet JDs: Hip Hop\'s Complex Relationship with Intellectual Property.\" In her remarks, Professor Evans-Walls will explore the real and burgeoning impact of hip hop as an art form – through its use of sampling and “mashups” – on copyright law and fair use principles, in particular.<br><br>The two-day symposium, sponsored by the West Virginia University College of Law’s Sports and Entertainment Law Society, will be held on February 12th and 13th at the Marlyn E. Lugar Courtroom on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Featured speakers at the event include Princeton University Professor Dr. Cornel West and rapper Talib Kweli.<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(334, 'Widener Law Team Wins Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition Regional', '2009-02-10', '<div style=\"float:right; width: 400px; margin: 5px;\">\n<img width=\"400\" height=\"438\" alt=\"moot win 2009\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/moot%20win%202009.jpg\"><p>Adrienne L. Robertson, Sylvia\nK. Siegel, Professor Leslie A. Johnson, Angelina W. Freind.\n</p>\n</div>On Saturday, February 7th, Widener Law students Sylvia Siegel, Adrienne Robertson, and Angelina Freind won the New York regional portion of the The Saul Lefkowitz  Moot Court Competition, advancing to the Nationals, which will be held in Washington, DC on Saturday, March 21st.<br><br>In addition to placing<span style=\"font-style: italic;\"> first among the East Regional teams</span> at the competition – which was held at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York – the team also won awards for <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Best Brief</span> and <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Best Oral Advocates</span>.<br><br>“I could not be more proud of our team or more grateful to our coach, Professor<a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/JohnsonLeslieA.aspx\"> Leslie Johnson</a>,” said 3rd year student Sylvia K Siegel. “Bringing the First Place Award, Best Brief Award, and Best Oralist Award back home to Widener is a tremendous honor. We’ve worked so hard for the last months and have learned so much about trademark and unfair competition law,” she added.<br><br>“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Professor Leslie Johnson, who will continue to coach and help prepare the team in advance of the National round.<br><br>Established in 1990 in honor of Saul Lefkowitz, Chairman of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, The Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition is the only competition in the United States with a focus on trademark and unfair competition law. The competition consists of Regional rounds in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco, followed by the Nationals in Washington, D.C. The Eastern Region won by the Widener Law team consists of thirteen states running from Maine down to Virginia, and the competition included teams from William and Mary Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, Boston College, University of Virginia, Rutgers Law, Seton Hall, and Franklin Pierce Law School.<br><br>Sylvia K. Siegel is a 3rd year student and serves as the President of the Moot Court Honor Society and is an Associate Editor of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/WidenerLawReview.aspx\">Widener Law Review</a>. Angelina W. Friend, a 2nd year student, is a member of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/MootCourtHonorSocietyDelaware.aspx\">Moot Court Honor Society</a> and the Treasurer of the <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/RepublicanLawCaucus.aspx\">Republican Law Caucus</a>. Adrienne L. Robertson is a 2nd year Extended Division student balancing a full-time job with a family and school, and she too is a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.<br><br>Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/AmmonsLinda.aspx\">Linda Ammons</a> and the entire Widener Law Community congratulate Sylvia, Angelina, and Adrienne and wish them the best of luck in the next round!<br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(335, 'Professors Epstein and Henderson Debate the Death Penalty', '2009-02-11', '<img width=\"400\" height=\"193\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"death pen debate09\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/death%20pen%20debate09.jpg\">“If you can’t accept human fallibility, then I don’t know how you can get out of bed in the morning,” opined Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/HendersonStephenE.aspx\">Stephen Henderson</a> when discussing the possibility of wrongful executions. He made the comment after pointing out that a wrongful conviction of any kind is devastating, saying, “I’m not at all confident that those injustices are more common in death penalty cases than non-death penalty cases,” before noting that death penalty cases are likely to be more heavily scrutinized.<br><br>Henderson’s comments came as part of a debate about the death penalty with Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/EpsteinJules.aspx\">Jules Epstein</a>. Sponsored by two student organizations, the Federalist Society and American Civil Liberties Union, the debate offered students the opportunity to hear a spirited and nuanced debate between the two professors on the evening of Monday, February 9th. <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/FederalistsSociety.aspx\">Federalist Society</a> and <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/OtherDelawareOrganizations/AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionSociety.aspx\">ACLU</a> President Brian Kisielewski offered a brief introduction at the beginning of the program before turning the show over to the Professors.<br><br>Professor Henderson opened the debate with a discussion of the philosophical underpinnings of the debate about capital punishment, citing both the retributive and utilitarian arguments for the death penalty, but he focused primarily on the utilitarian argument. He focused particularly on deterrence and incapacitation, noting that the death penalty is “the ultimate form of incapacitation” for a convicted criminal.<br><br>Professor Epstein countered by noting “death penalty cases take longer to try,” and that “the studies supporting the deterrence argument are flawed.” He also asserted that, “The more you execute, the more you condone killing,” and he also observed, “Unless you have a mandatory death penalty, you run the risk of uneven application.”<br><br>The second topic examined whether or not the administration of the death penalty could be done fairly, and Professor Epstein showed a series of power point slides offering a statistical analysis that demonstrated that jurors in Pennsylvania did not understand the law in regards to the death penalty and how to apply it. Professor Henderson countered with the suggestion that this demonstrated that the jury system is flawed, and that any issues with the death penalty are simply a symptom of the real problem.<br><br>Other topics addressed included alternatives to the death penalty, the death penalty and race, what crimes should be eligible for the death penalty, and a cursory examination of methods of execution. The spirited debate ended with Professor Epstein encouraging the students present to continue to organize and participate in such events because they make for a vibrant and engaging law school experience.', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(336, 'Widener Law to welcome visitors from China', '2009-02-12', ' <img width=\"289\" height=\"353\" class=\"FloatRight\" alt=\"ChinaVisitorsPRomo2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/ChinaVisitorsPromo3.jpg\">The Delaware campus of Widener Law will host a contingent of legal academics and a judge from China, who will travel to Wilmington this month to share ideas and learn more about corporate law.<br><br>The six-person group is made up of professionals from the <a href=\"http://http//www.swupl.edu.cn/english/index.htm\">Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, China</a>. It includes law professors, the vice president of the university and a senior judge of the Chongqing Higher Court, who is also a visiting professor at the university. They will be on Widener’s Delaware campus Monday, Feb. 16. <br><br>The daylong visit further enhances a relationship Widener University has developed with the prestigious Chinese academic institution in recent years – a relationship begun by businessman David W. Oskin, chair of the Widener University Board of Trustees, and Widener University President James T. Harris III, and supported by the full administration.<br><br>The group visiting Widener’s Delaware campus will capitalize on the law school’s highly respected <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/InstituteofDelawareCorporateandBusinessLaw.aspx\">Institute of Delaware Corporate &amp; Business Law</a>, which is sponsoring the visit, and the expertise of professors in that subject matter. Associate Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReganPaulL.aspx\">Paul L. Regan</a>, who teaches for the institute, is organizing the visit. Regan said the group will make private presentations on Chinese corporate law to a group of professors he is forming, and then discuss their positions with the audience. The Chinese presenters have already sent papers outlining the theses of their presentations. Regan has also invited some Delaware corporate law attorneys who do business in the Pacific Rim and students from the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law to participate.<br><br>Judge Kent A. Jordan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit and Delaware Supreme Court Justice Randy J. Holland will be on hand for part of the day to share some remarks from a judicial perspective. The visitors intend to stay in Delaware a second day to tour Wilmington and the surrounding areas, before they will move on to other visits planned at the University of North Carolina and Chicago – Kent College of Law.<br><br>“It is gratifying to have such talented people looking across the world to Widener Law as a place where they can share ideas and learn more about corporate law,” Regan said. “We welcome them and look forward to a day of stimulating discussions.”<br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(337, 'Widener Law names Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice as its first “jurist in residence”', '2009-02-15', '<span style=\"\"><img width=\"300\" height=\"420\" class=\"FloatRight\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/SaylorJusticeinREsidence.jpg\" alt=\"SaylorJusticeinREsidence\">Widener Law Dean Linda L. Ammons announces Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Thomas G. Saylor has been named the first distinguished jurist in residence on the school’s Harrisburg campus.<br><br>Saylor, a member of the Supreme Court since 1997, is teaching a seminar on constitutional law for students in the school’s <a href=\"/Academics/Institutes/LawandGovernmentInstitute.aspx\">Law &amp; Government Institute</a>. As the distinguished jurist in residence, he will also give lectures to the law school community on topics of constitutional law, and he will be available for consultation and exchanges with faculty and law students. <br><br>Widener created the Law &amp; Government Institute in 1999, in response to a growing need for the study and development of administrative and constitutional law, especially in the states. Students who study through the institute program earn certificates at graduation that reflect their specialty in areas of administrative/constitutional law, consumer law, environmental law or legislation.<br><br>Saylor earned his law degree from Columbia University in 1972 and a master of laws degree in judicial studies from the University of Virginia.  He worked in private practice and served as first assistant district attorney of his native Somerset County until 1982, when he was appointed director of the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Protection. In 1984 he was appointed first deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania. Saylor was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 1993 and to his current position on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1997.  He was retained in 2007 for a second, ten-year term on the Supreme Court. His law review and judicial opinion writing establish his expertise in constitutional law – especially state constitutional law, administrative law and judicial review.<br><br>Harrisburg campus Vice Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesHbg/GedidJohnL.aspx\">John L. Gedid</a>, the director of the Law &amp; Government Institute, said the school was pleased to welcome Saylor in this capacity. Saylor is already a member of the school’s Board of Overseers.<br><br>“We are delighted Justice Saylor has agreed to take on this role. He is an expert at constitutional theory and its actual application in the world of legal practice. He will give our students hands-on advice and counsel that will add an important component to the Law &amp; Government curriculum,” Gedid said. <br><br>Ammons said Saylor’s contributions will be significant. “Justice Saylor is a distinguished member of the judiciary. It is remarkable for our students and faculty to have this personal access to his legal reasoning and depth of knowledge of the constitution. We are grateful to him for making time to invest in tomorrow’s attorneys this way. They will be better lawyers for it,” she said. <br><br></span>\n		<br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, ''),
(338, 'Historical program considers Lincoln and the Law', '2009-02-15', '<div style=\"margin: 5px; float: right; width: 293px;\">\n<img width=\"289\" height=\"353\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/LincolnPromo.jpg\" alt=\"LincolnPromo\"><p>[  Download the PDF brochure<span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"> </span> ]</p>\n</div>\n\nAs the nation observes the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, Widener Law will celebrate by teaming up with two historical organizations to present a unique, first-of-its kind program on the Delaware campus.<br><br>“Lincoln and the Law,” a three-hour event that examines everything from the assassination of the 16th president to Lincoln’s positions on ethics and civil liberties, <span style=\"font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;\">will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 in the Ruby R. Vale Moot Courtroom, 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington.</span><br><br>The program is jointly sponsored by the law school, the Civil War Round Table of Wilmington, Del., and the Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. It will include an hour-long talk by James L. Swanson of the Heritage Foundation, author of the 2006 New York Times bestseller <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">“Manhunt: The 12-day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer.”</span> He will speak from 6 to 7 p.m. about the search for Lincoln’s assassins and the truth about the assassination and trial of the conspirators.<br><br>The evening will also include a panel discussion from 4 to 5 p.m. on Lincoln and legal ethics, moderated by Widener Law Professor <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/ReedThomasJ.aspx\">Thomas J. Reed</a>. Panelists will include Delaware Supreme Court Justice Henry DuPont Ridgely, who chairs the Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, and University of Houston Law Center Professor Mark E. Steiner.<br><br>A panel discussion from 5 to 6 p.m. will feature Delaware Supreme Court Justice <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDeAdj/HollandRandyJ.aspx\">Randy J. Holland </a>and Widener Associate Dean <a href=\"/Academics/Faculty/ProfilesDe/SlingerMichael.aspx\">Michael J. Slinger</a>, moderated by Swanson. They will discuss Lincoln and civil liberties.<br><br>“Lincoln was a successful lawyer, but his professional life is a study in contradictions,” said Reed, who is organizing the event for Widener. “This program should yield some stimulating conversation because the general public has a mostly one-dimensional understanding of his persona. Yes, he was the president who freed the slaves, but he was even more than that.”<br><br>As a lawyer, Lincoln represented large corporations, but his client list also included the underprivileged. He was known to be “hyper-ethical” but also overstepped the boundaries of ethical conduct on behalf of his clients. He fought to overturn the Dred Scott U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld slavery, but during his years in the White House he curtailed civil liberties by, for example, having people suspected of disloyalty picked up and imprisoned until the end of the Civil War – without the right to an attorney.<br><br>Attorneys who attend the program will be eligible for three continuing legal education credits in Delaware and Pennsylvania, including one ethics credit. The registration fee for attorneys who attend for credit is $70, or $60 for Widener Law alumni. General admission is $20 and students of all ages may attend for free. To register, contact Constance Sweeney at 302.477.2177 or <a href=\"mailto:\">cmsweeney@widener.edu</a>.<br><br><br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'on', NULL, ''),
(339, 'Former Philadelphia mayor to visit Delaware campus', '2009-02-16', '<div style=\"FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 4px; WIDTH: 292px\">\n<img width=\"289\" height=\"353\" alt=\"JohnSTreetPromo2\" src=\"/site/files/oldnewsfiles/JohnSTreetPromo2.jpg\">  <p><span class=\"Caption\">  <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:George_W._Bush_and_John_Street_Philadelphia_July_4_2001.jpg\">Original Image Source</a> courtesy of Wikipedia<p></p></span></p>\n</div>Former Philadelphia Mayor John Street will visit the Delaware campus on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4:30 p.m. in the student lounge of the Main Law Building. His talk will be about leadership. <br><br>Street’s visit is the first in an occasional series inviting leaders from Philadelphia and Wilmington to meet with students, faculty and the Widener Law community to discuss issues of current interest and public importance. The series builds on the success of the “Pizza and Politics” events that were held on campus during the weeks leading up the presidential election in the fall semester.<br><br>Street was the 97th mayor of the city of Philadelphia and served two terms, beginning in January 2000. His mayoral service was preceded by 19 years of service on the Philadelphia City Council.  Since leaving public office he has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the Temple University Department of Political Science.<br><br>The event is sponsored by the Widener Law <a href=\"/CampusLife/ActivitiesandOrganizations/StudentBarAssociationDelaware.aspx\">Student Bar Association</a>.<br><br>', NULL, NULL, '', NULL, 0, 'off', NULL, '');
