Politics
Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
LSAT Prep Classes: What Advantages Do They Offer?
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2013 14:44
- Written by DYLAN MAYNARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As a prequisite for all law school applications, the LSAT is important in evaluating a student’s ability to place in the best legal program possible.
Many people believe that the LSAT is a test on the law; this is not the case. The LSAT is an exam that primarily tests one’s skills in logical thinking and critical analysis.
With “Logic games,” logical reasoning, and reading comprehension, the test focuses on three main sections in addition to a writing sample and an experimental section, and is scored from 130 (lowest) to 180 (perfect). As the test draws closer, many students have a myriad of questions regarding how anyone should prepare for the LSAT. Generally, there is no specific time one should begin preparation. Many students begin their training at different times before test-day.
The most popular test dates are in June and October, according to Dr. Gregroy Bordelon, lecturer of the political science department and the pre-law advisor for students at the University. Bordelon explains there are several reasons he pushes for students to take the LSAT in June.
“First, the June test will allow a reportable score to come back before the fall semester of the student’s senior year starts and that way, the student has more time to realistically research law schools, look at historical LSAT scores of those schools prior admitting classes, speak often with their pre-law advisor, and really do their homework on whether law is for them.”
New SGA President and Vice President Hope to Tackle: Priority Registration, Perspectives Courses and Others
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2013 14:41
- Written by CHRISTOPHER ORLANDO POLITICS EDITOR
Kelly Craig and Alexandra Tuyahow have been elected President and Vice President of the Student Government Association for the 2013-2014 school year and are looking to take their prior experiences and apply them to their new positions.
Craig is a 21-year-old junior political science major from Monroe Township. She is currently a residential assistant and a member of the Political Science Club on campus. Next year, in addition to being SGA President, she will be co-captain of the University Debate Team and will serve as President of the political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha. She also works for human resources on campus.
When Craig joined SGA in her freshman year, she was involved in the “Giving Tree” Campaign. During her sophomore year, she was chairperson of Spring Fest and named historian, which is an executive position for SGA. This year she served as Vice President with Oscar Sanchez, senior communication major.
Tsarnaev Charged as American Citizen: MU Reaction
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2013 14:40
- Written by BRITTANY HARDAKER STAFF WRITER
As alleged suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, lies in a hospital bed awaiting police interrogation just two weeks after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings and several days after the manhunt that resulted in his capture and the death of his brother Tamerlan, 26, questions have turned to motive.
As the investigation commences, a new question arises as to whether the surviving Tsarnaev brother, a naturalized American citizen, should be tried as a U.S. citizen under the American legal system, or as an “enemy combatant.”
Dr. Michele Grillo of the Criminal Justice Department explained that the term “enemy combatant” is a general category that includes two sub-categories: lawful and unlawful combatants.
She described that while lawful combatants receive prisoner of war (POW) status and the protections of the Third Geneva Convention, a treaty that defined humanitarian protections for prisoners of war, unlawful combatants do not receive POW status or the full protections of the Third Geneva Convention.
In the case of Tsarnaev, Grillo expressed, “Many in the U.S. government wanted surviving suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to be treated as an unlawful enemy combatant. As such, he would not receive protections under the Third Geneva convention, nor the civil or federal laws of the United States.”
Christie Tax Cuts Could Affect Students’ Housing Rentals
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2013 12:20
- Written by JESSICA ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is proposing a new tax plan for all residents, which will be the focus for his upcoming campaign. The plan proposed is a compromise from the last tax cut he proposed in order to settle the plan with the state Democrats and Republicans.
Last year, the Governor proposed a plan that would cut 10 percent across the board on income taxes. The state’s lawmakers informed him they would prefer tax cuts that link to property instead, to which he agreed. However, the deal did not pass because lawmakers and economists were fearful of the revenue’s projections being too optimistic.
His new plan is based off of the one from last year, to which Christie put the tax cuts into property taxes. The major difference in the plan, however, is the benefit it will be to higher-income households. The old plan called for household’s making $250,000, the new plan raised up to $400,000.
Political Journalism Around the World
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2013 12:18
- Written by CHRISTOPHER ORLANDO POLITICS EDITOR
What are Some of the Risks and Rewards in Political Reporting in America and Abroad?
Political journalism around the world offers unique challenges for journalists to reveal the truth to people when, in some countries, the government will do anything, including harming the journalist, in order to keep their control over the press.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2013 alone, 13 journalists were killed around the world and 62 percent of the 13 journalists were covering politics. In 2012, 232 journalists were imprisoned around the world, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
In the past decade, the most dangerous place for journalists has been Iraq. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, around 89 media people were murdered and another 50 died in crossfire or other acts of war between the start of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and 2010.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2011, during the turmoil of the Arab Spring, at least 33 journalists and media personnel were killed: One in Algeria, one in Bahrain, two in Egypt, one in Iran, 11 in Iraq, six in Libya, one in Syria, one in Tunisia, five in Yemen, and four in Somalia.
Seton Hall Law Professor Visits Campus
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2013 12:15
- Written by DAN ROMAN STAFF WRITER
Mock Law Class Gives Students a Glimpse into a Law School Learning Environment
Seton Hall Law School Professor John “Kip” Cornwell taught a mock 1L class to the University students in Young Auditorium on Thursday, April 18. About 20 students interested in applying to law school attended the event.
Prior to attending, students had to read a criminal law case regarding pre-meditated murder. Professor Cornwell simulated a law school class by using the Socratic Method. This method, used primarily in law school, was created in order to effectively teach large groups of students.
In the Socratic Method, the professor will randomly call on students and ask questions. By doing this, the professor is able to keep the entire class engaged, as no one knows who will be called on next.
The students who went to the mock 1L class read the case of United States V. Watson. This was a murder trial in which the defendant was found guilty of first degree murder of a police officer.
The defendant appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, because he claimed that he did commit murder, however, it was in self-defense and not pre-meditated. The case then revolved around how a judge can decide whether or not a murder had been planned out.
MU Student Highlights Involvement at the U.N.
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:45
- Written by BRITTANY HARDAKER STAFF WRITER
Alexandria Fitzgerald, a senior communication major and U.N. Student Ambassador for the University, presented a session entitled, “Bringing the U.N. to MU” as part of the 12th Annual Global Understanding Convention on April 9, 2013.
Fitzgerald explained how her presentation sought to reach out to the campus community in hopes of inspiring students to get involved with the United Nations, the world’s largest, most prominent and leading international organization.
She explained that the University’s Institute for Global Understanding (IGU), formerly the Global Understanding Project, is committed to promoting the United Nations and carrying out their mission by focusing on human rights, economic development, equality and peace.
“From annual trips to the U.N. Headquarters in New York City; bringing students to U.N. events, conferences and briefings; participating in the Model U.N.; and sponsoring U.N. speakers on campus, both the IGU and the University are fully committed to their involvement with the organization,” Fitzgerald said.
“House of Cards” is the Ace in the Deck on Netflix
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:44
- Written by JESSICA ROBERTS STAFF WRITER
Netflix’s hit series, “House of Cards,” is set to start shooting their second season. The first season of the show was released on February 1, 2013, with all 13 episodes put up for access at once.
Based off of the popular British series, “House of Cards,”the American verison is directed by David Fincher, the director of “The Social Network,” and stars Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, and Kate Mara. With the amount of deception, corruption, sex, and lust for power portrayed in the show, the true questions come to be how realistic is it to the political world of DC?
“House of Cards” follows the political career of Francis Underwood (Spacey), the South Carolina Majority Whip, who cleverly takes down the presidential administration that he helped to elect.
Underwood’s need for revenge is a result of the newly elected President Garrett Walker (Michael Gill) breaking his promise of moving Underwood up to Secretary of State if he helped him win the election.
Power is a big theme of the show, something that is stated to be the most desired thing in DC over and over again.
The character, Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) has no desire for fame or money; the only thing he cares about is the amount of power he can obtain. The despicable actions that he takes in order to climb the ranks, and the reactions portrayed by the media and public give an inside look into what the political scandalous world is like.
Revolution in Egypt Up Close: A GUC Presentation
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 17 April 2013 11:42
- Written by JACQUELYN CORSENTINO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
An event that encompassed both imperative world problems and promoting global understanding was the presentation titled, “Studying Abroad in a Revolution: My Experience in Cairo from 2010-2012,” where Geoffrey Cloepfil enlightened the audience on his first-hand account of the Arab Spring uprising in Cairo, Egypt. This presentation took place on Tuesday April 9 at 7:25 in Turrell Boardroom.
Cloepfil is now a graduate student studying Public Policy at the University. He had previously attended the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he studied Arabic. The combination of studying Arabic and the study abroad opportunities, the allure of Cairo, Egypt was a “no brainer” for Cleopfil.
Originally, the study abroad program that Cleopfil was participating in was scheduled for a year. However, six months into the program, the revolution started.
Cleopfil stated, “January 25, 2011 is a date I will never forget.” He had previously been traveling for the winter break holiday, when the revolution started. Ironically, he was “in the air” when the uprising took place. The Cairo Airport was shut down and he was literally stuck. During this confusion, everyone believed he was a reporter because he was the only “white guy” in Cairo.
Employees Could Be Granted Social Media Privacy
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2013 00:00
- Written by CASEY WOLFE FEATURES EDITOR
Governor Chris Christie is considering a bill that would prohibit New Jersey employers from asking employees and applicants for their social media usernames and passwords. Fines and lawsuits against NJ employers would become possible under this bill.
According to William Hill, Assistant Dean of Career Services, this is not the first time the issue of internet privacy has come into question. Hill explained that Christie signed a bill into legislation last December that banned institutions of higher education from asking for such information.
Vice President and General Counsel, Grey Dimenna, said that the University is not prohibited by law from asking for all internet passwords, but only those defined as social media. However, Dimenna does not think it is necessary information. “I would have to say that I am not aware of the University asking applicants for such information and certainly not requiring applicants to give us that information,” said Dimenna. “If so, I would be personally opposed to such a practice.”
Hill agrees, stating that asking for personal information such as Facebook passwords would be an invasion of privacy and cannot find a legitimate reason for either universities or employers to request that information.
U.N. Agrees to Arms Treaty to Help Regulate Weapons Trade
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- Category: Volume 84 (Fall 2012 - Spring 2013)
- Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2013 00:00
- Written by BRITTANY HARDAKER STAFF WRITER
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Tuesday, April 2 to approve a treaty aimed at regulating the trade of conventional weapons across the globe.
The 193 members voted 154 to 3 to approve the Arms Trade Treaty, a contract that seeks to regulate the $70 billion conventional arms business and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers.
The United States, the world’s primary arms exporter, co-sponsored the treaty despite opposition from the National Rifle Association (NRA), a U.S. pro-gun lobbying group who has openly opposed the treaty and has vowed to fight to prevent its ratification by the U.S. Senate.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement following the vote that the United Nations adopted, “a strong, effective and implementable Arms Trade Treaty that can strengthen global security while protecting the sovereign right of states to conduct legitimate arms trade.”
Kerry continued, “Nothing in this treaty could ever infringe on the rights of American citizens under our domestic law or the Constitution, including the Second Amendment.”
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the vote. In a statement made shortly after votes concluded, he expressed that the treaty “will make it more difficult for deadly weapons to be diverted into the illicit market and will help to keep warlords, pirates, terrorists, criminals and their like from acquiring deadly arms.”