Mr. Peter Reyes, Jr.

On February 25, 2013, the 2nd Annual Dean’s Multicultural Luncheon was held. Guests included UST faculty, staff, alumni, students, as well as leaders in the legal community who are committed to furthering diversity in the legal profession. Dean Robert Vischer welcomed the guests by speaking about the importance of diversity at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and introduced the keynote speaker, Peter M. Reyes, Jr.

Mr. Reyes is a native of Minnesota, and is currently President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and a senior in-house patent attorney at Cargill. He began by speaking about his personal commitment to diversity throughout his legal profession. Mr. Reyes is the grandson of migrant workers, born and raised in St. Paul, MN, and was the first in his family to graduate from college. He mentioned the hardships he encountered due to a lack of mentors within his family, as he often felt that he did not have anyone to turn to for advice when he was going through law school, and how this experience has shaped his various leadership roles.

As President of the HNBA, Mr. Reyes has been committed to furthering diversity in leadership in general, thus preparing the legal profession to welcome future diverse leaders, apart from himself. He spoke about his personal experiences in going to legal conferences and feeling overwhelmed by the lack of diversity present. He noted that people are drawn toward others that are similar to themselves, and how this leads to a need for diverse leadership in order to promote inclusiveness.

Mr. Reyes also spoke about the need that law firms have for diverse attorneys. Corporations are demanding that the firms they hire accurately represent their corporation as well as their customers; as diversity increases in America, the demand for diverse attorneys has also increased. People of color make up a large portion of the American population, and clients want to hire attorneys that they feel they can relate to. The luncheon ended with a call to action for students, alumni, and members of the community to help increase the amount of diversity in the legal profession. Whether it’s through mentoring, participating in bar association activities, or just having a conversation with someone at a conference, we all have the ability to help lead the profession toward a more diverse future.

Post by: Beatriz Espinoza (2L), Office of Diversity Intern

Kudos to CJP students for sharing their research on restorative justice!

For more information about restorative justice, please read Dr. Tyner’s articles:

A New Addition to the Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner’s Toolkit: The Exploration of Restorative Justice and Practical Implementation

https://www.americanbar.org/newsletter/publications/law_trends_news_practice_area_e_newsletter_home/09_fall_lit_feat2.html

Restorative Justice: A Dream of Restoration and Transformation

http://www.mnbar.org/sections/new-lawyers/Fall2008.pdf

So how can you help during this book drive? In one or more of three ways. First, any books that you may have that you are willing to donate can be picked up by me or dropped off in the collection box located on the second floor outside of the law library (Minneapolis campus). The books can be new or slightly used, educational or fun. Donate virtually any kind of book, from old textbooks (within last 10 years) to your favorite novel or the children’s story that inspired you to read. If you wish, simply contact me (info below) to setup a time and I will be happy to come and get them from you.

Second, you can donate funds directly to the organization at: https://www.booksforafrica.org/donate/funds.html

Lastly, the book drive will close with a volunteer event at the BFA warehouse in St. Paul on April 20th from 10-2 and 12-2. On that day you can volunteer for a few hours helping to sort and pack the books so that they can be shipped overseas. If you are interested in volunteering please email Jim Skoog at jim@hcba.org as space is limited. To find out more about Books for Africa please visit their website at: https://www.booksforafrica.org.

Any help you can lend in getting the word out is also appreciated. Please note, the book drive will end on April 19th. The Books for Africa warehouse is located at 635 Prior Ave. N. Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Thank you for your time. For more information, please contact:

Ryan Ogren

ogres993@stthomas.edu

262-470-6586

Members of the UST Law Community at the Race For Justice.

Members of the UST Law Team included (pictured from left to right): Paul Mussell (Adjunct Faculty Member), Cari Haaland (Assistant Dean of Admissions), Nora Fitzpatrick (Senior Assistant Dean of Administration), Nicole Limper (1L), Aidan Dunne (3L), Maggie Novack (1L) and Lindsay Lien (1L).

Thank you to all of those who participated!

Dean Fitzpatrick at the Race for Justice Finish Line.

Seen left to right are Mary Beckey, School of Law alum, Jan Conlin, Chair of the School of Law Board of Governors, Father Dennis Dease, president of the university, and Robert K. Vischer, Dean of the School of Law, as they pose for a photo with the Iustitia et Lex award.

University of St. Thomas’ President, Father Dennis Dease, was presented with UST Law’s Iustitia Et Lex award during the Board of Governor’s meeting on April 4, 2013. This award was given to Father Dease in recognition of his integral role in reopening the law school.

The Iustitia Et Lex award is presented annually to a member of the Twin Cities community who embodies UST’s mission in his or her professional life. Past recipients of this award include Barbara Frey, Sr. Sally Furay, Judge Diana Murphy, Kathleen Blatz, Thomas Holloran, Jerry Lane and Nathanial Khaliq.

Congratulations Father Dease!

School of Law alum Mary Beckey and outgoing president Father Dennis Dease pose for a photo with the Iustitia et Lex award.

On February 13^th, the University of St. Thomas School of Law Black Law Student Association, Multicultural Affairs Committee, and Office of Diversity sponsored a CLE program titled: “American Violet: A Dialogue on the Intersection of the War on Drugs, Federal Sentencing Policies, and Race.”

Mr. Jabari Barner (2L), President of BLSA, introducing the panelists.

We were pleased to have a wonderful turn out as community members, high school students, law students, and faculty came out in support and to learn about the issues surrounding race and sentencing for drug convictions. We began by watching the film American Violet, which is based on the true story of a police raid in Hearne, TX in 2000.

The film follows a young Black woman named Dee Roberts, on her journey to clear her name after she is indicted for drugs based one person’s uncorroborated testimony, despite the fact that no drugs were found in her apartment or on her person. The drug charges against Dee are eventually dropped, however she is also approached by an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union who wants her to be the lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the people who were responsible for her arrest, in particular, the District Attorney. The film continues with Dee’s internal battle against what she feels is easiest (dropping the civil rights lawsuit) and what she feels is right (fighting for justice). Dee decides to pursue the lawsuit and the film ends with the case settling out of court in Dee’s favor, with the dismantling of the drug task force that arrested her in the first place and winning fight against the oppressive nature of the criminal justice system.

Professors Levy-Pounds and Osler providing remarks during the community dialogue.

After the film, Professors Mark Osler and Nekima Levy-Pounds led a panel discussion on their scholarly research and professional experiences with the disparate impact of War on Drugs and Federal Sentencing Policies on African American people. Professor Osler was actually portrayed in the film as the professor at Baylor Law School who recommended a former student of his, a resident of Hearne, to assist the ACLU with this case.

Professors Osler and Levy-Pounds spoke about the disparate impact that mandatory minimum sentences have on African Americans, specifically in relation to crack cocaine offenses. They explained how, in 1986, the War on Drugs gave an incentive for prosecuting low-level crack cocaine dealers because of the 100-to-1 ratio between the amount of powder and crack cocaine needed to trigger a mandatory minimum sentence. However, these low-level dealers are also easily replaceable, so little progress was made to end the War on Drugs. This resulted in mass incarcerations for small crack cocaine possessions. In 2010, the ratio was reduced to 18-to-1. However, both professors explained that this change is not enough because those who were sentenced under the prior law are still serving longer sentences than they would be had they been sentenced under the current law.

Members of the community voiced their concerns with the impact the War on Drugs has had on their neighborhoods, and engaged in a healthy discussion about the need to eliminate the racial and gender bias in sentencing policies.

Professors Osler and Levy-Pounds then discussed their current engagements for policy reform in the areas of federal sentencing and the War on Drugs, and calling for a resurgence of the civil rights movement. While things are improving, we are still at a crossroads because these policies continue to have a disparate impact on poor communities of color. American Violet teaches that there is still a need to advocate for civil rights; though the fight for fair sentencing policies may not be easy, it is a fight that Osler and Levy-Pounds are actively pursuing.

Through the IPC, students from the School of Law, the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (a school of the College of Education, Leadership and Counseling) and the University of St. Thomas/St. Catherine University School of Social Work can help people and communities who face complex legal, psychological and social issues but lack the resources to pay for the professional services they need.

Under the guidance of the center’s faculty and fellows, law students represent and assist underserved populations of the Twin Cities in nine practice areas: elder law, immigration, community justice, consumer bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation, federal commutations, federal appellate, misdemeanor defense and nonprofit organizations. The social work and psychology clinics are supervised by licensed faculty from their respective schools. With extensive client interaction, the center provides unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning. Student connection to clients is deep, and the work is often intense. Through their work, students develop a distinctive link to the community that is in harmony with the University of St. Thomas mission.

In the center, students from all three schools frequently work together, learning the collaborative skills critical to successful practices. Problems addressed range from health care issues to political asylum to bridge building with community stakeholders and problem solving in distressed communities. At the same time, these students are learning the practical skills that will serve them well throughout their careers.

In June 2012, the center moved to its new location in Opus Hall on the Minneapolis campus. In addition to raising the IPC’s visibility both in the university and the community, the new space will facilitate even more of the interprofessional collaboration that is the center’s hallmark.

Patricia Stankovitch, Virgil Wiebe & George Baboila

 Co-directors,
Interprofessional Center for
Counseling and Legal Services

“Emancipation Proclamation,” Harper’s Weekly, January 24, 1863, by Thomas Nast

The UST Law Office of Diversity partnered with the Minnesota African American Museum (MAAM) to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and “Freedom’s Eve.”

On December 31, 1862, the African American community, slave and freed, gathered together in anticipation of the realization of their future freedom, hence the name -Freedom’s Eve. They were waiting for the clock to strike midnight in order to seize the promise of freedom outlined in the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln declared that on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1863 all slaves would forever be free in the rebellion states. Only 3.1 million of the country’s four million slaves were declared free from the bondages of oppression with the issuance of this decree. As the African American community prepared to embark on this journey to freedom- the tradition of celebrating Freedom’s Eve became a custom and cultural ritual.

Freedom’s Eve is a celebratory occasion inspired by the Watch Night Service tradition. The history of the Watch Night Service tradition can be traced back to the Moravians, Christian denomination from the Czech Republic during the mid-1700s. It was later adopted by the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley. Each year on New Year’s Eve, members of the Methodist faith community gathered together to reflect on the previous year with a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s grace. In 1770, the first Watch Services were held in America at the St. George’s Methodist Church. Two slaves, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, were a part of this congregation and they later left the church after experiencing racial discrimination. Today, they are renowned as the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.). The A.M.E. Church tradition subsequently inspired the celebration of Freedom’s Eve as African Americans gathered together to celebrate the progression of freedom’s journey.

Frederick Douglass, A.M.E. member and pioneer abolitionist, shares the jubilant sentiments of this occasion when he declared, “We shout for joy that we live to record this righteous decree.” This was indeed a time to rejoice within the African American community. For many, the prayers of their ancestors had finally come to fruition as they reached towards a future of freedom and liberty.

For others, Freedom’s Eve was a call to action, a moral imperative to fight for the full realization of freedom for their brothers and sisters united in the struggle. The Emancipation Proclamation did not abolish slavery nor free slaves but served as a catalyst for change because many slaves decided to seize their own freedom. 200,000 freed slaves joined the Union Army and left their mark on history. 103 of these soldiers were from Minnesota. These men fought for the realization of freedom for hundreds of thousands of African-Americans in several border states that had not seceded in the South. African Americans throughout the United States had become united in the struggle to preserve freedom, liberty and justice for all as the foundational pillars of our Nation’s identity. Their victory was manifested with the Union winning the Civil War and the ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery on December 18, 1865.

The UST Law Office of Diversity (Dr. Artika Tyner and Ms. Beatriz Espinoza) published a guide titled “A Brief Guide to Watch Night Services with Respect to The Emancipation Proclamation and The Civil War” that outlines the history of the Watch Night services, Freedom’s Eve, and the fight to end slavery. This guide was used by the MAAM to inform and educate the community with historically and culturally accurate accounts of the Civil War and Emancipation history.

University of St. Thomas School of Law Director of Diversity, Dr. Artika Tyner, speaking at Governor Dayton’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation

The Minnesota African American Museum’s (MAAM) Emancipation Proclamation committee convened a Minnesota commemoration on December 20 in the Governor’s Reception Room at the Minnesota State Capitol. At the commemoration, Gov. Dayton proclaimed January 1, 2013 as “Emancipation Proclamation Remembrance Day,” as it marks the 150^th anniversary of the issuance of Lincoln’s proclamation. University of St. Thomas School of Law Director of Diversity Dr. Artika Tyner herself served on the MAAM’s Emancipation Proclamation committee and was present at Gov. Dayton’s commemoration to join in the celebration.

Dr. Tyner spoke about the role that African American churches played in the fight for freedom and the Emancipation Proclamation. The night before Lincoln’s proclamation went into effect, December 31, 1863, the African American community gathered in churches, counting down the minutes until midnight. They were prepared to seize the promise of freedom and many joined the Union Army to fight for freedom. This night is known as “Freedom’s Eve” and the services the churches held came to be known as “Watch Night services.” Similar celebrations are still held in churches on New Year’s Eve to date, demonstrating the significance that this tradition continues to hold in our communities.

Other speakers at Gov. Dayton’s commemoration included Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Wilhelmina M. Wright, historian David Riehle, Judge LaJune Lange, Governor Al Quie, Steve Hunegs, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Rev. Russell, Lou Bellamy and Lt. Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon, who read Lincoln’s proclamation, which declared 3.1 million enslaved people free on January 1, 1863. The Founder and Executive Director of the MAAM, Roxanne Givens, was also acknowledged at this event for her leadership and vision for educating the community on the history of the Emancipation Proclamation. The event was an important historical reflection and celebration about the history of our nation and the struggles we have overcome. We are very proud to have Dr. Tyner participate in shedding light on such a significant milestone. Governor Dayton’s official proclamation can be viewed online at http://mn.gov/governor/images/Emancipation_Proclamation_Remembrance_Day.pdf.

During the Spring of my senior year of college, many of the law schools that I had applied for sent me various small gifts and hand written notes.  The University of St. Thomas- School of Law sent me the most unique gift: a hat. I knew that hats are essential to any winter wardrobe, but I did not know when I would ever wear this particular hat.

Allison and Nicki at the Fall Public Service Day

I, along with other law students, finally got our chance to wear the famous 1L hats during Fall Public Service Day.  At UST Law, students are required to complete 50 hours of public service.  I believe this is one of the most socially minded and essential graduation requirements.  The Public Service Board at UST Law helps students by organizing public service opportunities.  

In the Fall, we volunteered with Great River Greening by planting trees.  It was an enjoyable experience to get outside, plant some trees, and beautify the surrounding community.  This Spring, students are working with Habitat for Humanity for Public Service Day.  Maybe we will get the chance to wear our 1L hats once again!