Press Contact:
CHLSA:
Michael Duran
(512) 350-9040
m.duran@prodigy.net
UT Law:
Allegra Young
Director of Communications
512.471.7330
Office of the Dean sponsors student trip, other important projects
AUSTIN, Texas — The UT Law Office of the Dean sent 12 members of the Chicano/Hispanic Law Student's Association (CHLSA) to the National Latino Law Student's Conference in Berkeley, CA hosted by the Boalt Hall La Raza Law Student's Association held October 26-28th. The University of Texas sent more members to the conference than any other law school outside of California.
The UT Law Office of the Dean sponsors numerous student conferences and events, including “The Future of Music” symposium sponsored by the Texas Intellectual Property Journal, Federalist Society speakers, new student orientation, Public Interest Law Center speakers, an Outlaw panel discussion, Texas Law Republicans lunch series, Thurgood Marshall Legal Society events and conference travel, Texas Law Fellowships events, the National Lawyers Guild reception, and the Muslim Law Students’ Association reception.
CHLSA members in attendance included: Michael Duran, CHLSA President ('02); Christina Garcia, Secretary ('02); Louis Martinez, Alumni Relations ('02); Rochelle Acevedo, Fundraising ('03); Christopher Ybarra, Treasurer ('04); Susana Carbajal, 1L Rep. ('04); Stephen Perez 1L Rep. ('04); Alberto Mesta ('02); Gil Saenz ('02); Liz Molina ('04); Lisa Picardi ('04); and Robyn Pullio ('04).
"Dean William Powers and the rest of the administration and faculty continue to be supportive and dedicated to the Hispanic law student body at UT. Their commitment is reflected in the increasing numbers of Hispanic law students, pre-law programs, and allowing several of us to attend important conferences such as the one at Boalt Hall. As a result of their continuing efforts to increase and maintain a diverse student body, the law school has produced more Hispanic graduates than any other law school in the U.S. We also have over 1,300 Hispanic alumni who have shown their support by raising almost $400,000 in aid specifically for Hispanic students," Susana Carbajal said.
"It was important that The University of Texas be represented at this conference because of UT's connection with the Hopwood decision. Although the number of minorities at UT Law has not returned to pre-Hopwood levels, the numbers are steadily increasing. This is due in large part to the University's efforts to reach out to under-represented areas of Texas. UT is an example to other law schools adversely affected by anti-affirmative action measures on how to reach out while still complying with the law. Time magazine said no school does more to reach out to minorities than UT Law. We learned at the conference that this is absolutely true," said CHLSA President Michael Duran.
The conference, entitled "Raising the Bar: Latino and Latina Presence in the Judiciary and the Struggle for Representation," focused on the lack of Latino and Latina representation on the Judiciary. Speakers at the conference included: Hon. Sonia Sotomayor (2nd Cir.); Hon. Richard Paez (9th Cir.); Hon. Patricio Serna, Chief Justice, New Mexico Supreme Court; Hon. Carlos Moreno, Associate Justice, California Supreme Court; Mr. Jose Padilla, Executive Director, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.; and Mr. Christopher Arriola, President, California La Raza Lawyers Association.
This was the 5th Annual coming together of Latino and Latina
law students from across the country. A similar conference was hosted by the
University of Texas in 1999.