February 18, 2009 Unfair Times Call for PILC Fair Economy Prompts Schools to Emulate NYU’S EIW Program

Th e Co m m e n t a t o r Vol. XLII, No. 9 The Student Newspaper of the New York University School of Law February 18, 2009 Unfair Times Call for PILC Fair Economy Prompts Schools to Emulate NYU’s EIW Program

By Mo l l y Wa l l a c e ’10 grams simultaneously, that could mean coming up with as many as With the economy faltering, one hundred employees to staff the law schools are doing what they recruiting programs of the top-ten can to ensure that their students get law schools. And yet more will be jobs. As a result, many of NYU’s needed to attend the programs of peer schools have rearranged their schools outside the top ten. interviewing schedules to get their During a normal work week, students matched up with employ- finding so many attorneys and ers as early as possible. The law staff at one time would be a tall schools at Harvard, Yale, and Uni- order. In mid-August it might be a versity of Chicago, among others, miracle. Summer camps are over have shifted their interview weeks but school has not yet started, to take place in August where in so attorneys with children often years past they have been held in need this time off to tend to their late September and October. families. High school and college Early interview week (EIW) students who normally work as programs in 2009 may look more babysitters also tend to be out of Students from 21 law schools meet representatives from more than 80 organizations at “table talk” in Greenberg or less the same for students as be- town, so even those who would Lounge on Friday, February 6. The annual PILC Fair typically helps many 1Ls find summer employment. fore, but firms will struggle to keep like to hire childcare may find the interview weeks adequately themselves short-staffed. By Da n i e l l e Es c o n t r i a s ’11 government, non-profit, and pri- they might not have otherwise staffed. As many as eight of the top The implications of parent- vate organizations. considered, drop off resumes law schools will be holding their attorneys taking this time off may The 32nd annual Public Inter- In order to be selected by an with new employers, or talk interview programs at the same affect students who hope to get a est Career Fair, sponsored by the organization for interview, stu- to employers that didn’t select time on some days. Large firms sense of work/life balance during Public Interest Law Center, took dents submitted cover letters and them after reviewing their traditionally send eight to twelve their callbacks. In New York, pub- place at NYU beginning on Thurs- resumes to the organizations of resumes. It also provided or- lawyers and recruiters to staff each lic schools do not start until after day, February 5. The Fair, which their interest through the PILC ganizations an opportunity to school’s interview program; with was held over the course of two Career Fair’s website. The orga- meet with more students and so many schools holding their pro- See INTERVIEW page 4 days, is the largest public interest nizations could then select the to advertise their organiza- career fair in the nation. It hosted students they were most inter- tion. Eighty-six organizations students from 21 participating ested in to interview. However, showed up on the first day for law schools from New York, Con- the Fair didn’t just provide for table talk, and 89 participated MALDEF President necticut, New Jersey, and Rhode scheduled interviews; employ- the second day. Island, and 196 employers from ers also took place in an event Student lunches were New York, California, Hawaii, called “table talk.” also offered at the Fair. The Has High Hopes for Illinois, and Texas, among other Table talk gave students a states. These employers included chance to meet with organizations See FAIR page 5 New Administration entitled “National Immigration Policy in the New Administra- Change We Can Breathe In tion,” but he also touched on many other issues facing the nation’s By Da n Me y l e r ’09 administration, through Vice- Journal of Law & Liberty Latino community. Dean Barry Friedman, urged the and the Journal of Law & Trasviña said clearly that In response to a memo editors to send a memo to Dean Business.” he is “optimistic about the new signed by the editors-in-chief Ricky Revesz documenting the According to Paul administration.” He has worked of the law journals and the chair problem. “The school has to O’Grady, Associate Director with President Barack Obama in of Moot Court, the Dean’s Of- respond once there is a written for Student Affairs, contrac- the past, and the story is telling. fice initiated renovations last record,” said Friedman. tors took air-readings and Obama, along with Vice President week to the sub-basement of The “Smell Memo,” as it determined the air quality was Joe Biden and Secretary of State D’Agostino Hall, where the was called by the authors, urged safe, though they acknowl- Hillary Clinton, voted for the journals are housed, to eliminate the school to fix the problem edged the strong, foul stench. Secure Fence Act of 2006, legisla- the foul smell that had long so journals could better build Con Edison sealed off electri- tion Trasviña quipped was better plagued the work space. community by making the jour- cal conduits that supply the named the “Secure Re-election The smell had been described nal offices a pleasant place to building’s main electrical By Ma r k We i n e r ’11 Act.” The vote angered many of as “garbage-like” and “similar to work and interact. The memo feeds—a potential source of then-Senator Obama’s Chicago raw sewage” by students work- described the problem as “es- the odor—from the outside, A packed crowd filled Van- residents, particularly its Latino ing in the journal offices. When pecially severe for the journals derbilt Hall’s Greenburg Lounge community. To build a bridge with confronted with the problem, the in the center cubicle area, the See ODOR page 5 on Monday, February 9, 2009 for that growing community, Obama the inaugural Bickel & Brewer set up a meeting with MALDEF Latinos and the Law Lecture. John and Trasviña at which he promised Trasviña, Stanford Law School to work together in the future. graduate and president and general “In a non-Senator-like move,” Legal Briefs counsel of the Mexican American Trasviña said, “Mr. Obama then Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), gave a talk See TRASVIñA page 4 Law professor Peggy Davis, who runs the Lawyer- ing Program at NYU, was named one of the three most influential people in legal education by theNational Jurist. The publication also honored Frederick Schauer Feeling low? Reading about Michael Phelps will get you high. at UVA and David Van Zandt at Northwestern. page 2 Thursday, February 12 saw over 800 individuals For the first time in 42 years, The Commentator in the American legal profession lose their jobs. does some investigative reporting. And it’s about the state of the journals. page 4 Unsurprisingly, the National Law Journal is Infra predicting more layoffs in the coming weeks. See infra page 7 for details on where the fir- Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, paper ings occurred. beats rock. NYU Law knows this mantra well. page 8 Commentator Op/Eds Page 2 February 18, 2009

Banneth the Laptopeth! Phelps Photo Brings “Just Say No” into Question

To t h e Ed i t o r : Without the laptop, you take By Mi c h a e l Mi x ’11 It’s hard fewer notes and then have fewer f o r m e t o I am writing to put an end piles of future trash to sort through When I was in elementary side strongly to the debate over laptops in the come exam time. I am not a glut- school, our cafeteria included a with any of classroom: they should be ruth- ton for punishment. I like to make giant “Just Say No” sign. Made those views. lessly banned from all classes. That studying a streamlined affair (and famous by a Nancy Reagan On one hand, otherwise reasonable people can good lawyers know how to simplify quip, the purpose of the “Just Phelps’s folly even differ over this issue shocks things, right?). It’s easier to study if Say No” campaign was to was a youth- me, but that these reasonable people you have less to study. empower kids to reject drugs. ful indis- would dare speak out in favor of As to the “but class is booooor- Unfortunately for the organiz- cretion that laptops in the classroom causes ing” critique, first: there is nothing ers of the campaign, no one ever many people me to consider folding in half and more boring than the internet. told the students in my school commit fre- placing myself in a soft velour car- Everyone prefers to be actively en- what the sign was for. Instead, quently. On rying case. gaged in something than to be kill- kids used to joke that whenever t h e o t h e r, Here’s why: you’re not sup- ing time reading Slate. But what’s they were in sight of the sign, Phelps is one posed to take any notes in class. No that you say? You have a poor the only word they could say of the most one tells you that as a 1L, and many imagination and can’t get into the was “no.” As in, “Do you prefer famous ath- people come to law school mistaken. way the boring professor teaches? Fruit by the Foot or Fruit Roll- letes in the But there is absolutely nothing to The solution: participate in class. If Ups?” “No.” world, and he write down—I have never been to the professor is making it boring, I couldn’t help but think should have a class where there was anything you should raise your hand and start of that imposing yet ultimately been mature worthwhile to write down. All you talking yourself. This technique meaningless sign over the last e n o u g h t o are supposed to do is have a sheet will not work if most of the class few weeks as Olympic swim- realize that of your own notes from the reading is on a laptop, but if no one has a mer Michael Phelps, a titan of he shouldn’t and circle and underline things the laptop then there’s a greater pool of the sports world, was embroiled smoke mari- professor emphasized, or perhaps malcontents to chime in when the in a drug scandal. A photo of juana at a Michael Phelps exercises his lung capacity make a quick note in the margin prof starts phoning it in (which he Phelps taking a bong hit at a party in the and loses his Kellogg’s endorsement deal. if he or she gives some ad-libbed is more apt to do when he realizes University of South Carolina age of the elaboration that’s not otherwise in 78% of the class is watching their party began to circulate a few ubiquitous camera phone. or Ricky Williams admit to the casebook. And even that elabo- Gchat for that special someone to weeks ago, sending the media Phelps’s moral culpability doing marijuana, the reaction ration is not going to be on the test. come online). into an absolute tizzy. notwithstanding, I think that this seems to tend less toward The only things that will ever be Once you agree that the “L” Interestingly though, the controversy brings up an impor- concern for their health or on the test are the cases which are in “laptop’ is for “Loser!” you’ll reaction to the Phelps saga has tant issue that is pertinent in this well-being and more toward in the casebook and general ideas leave yours home too, and help me been decidedly split. Some day and age—should smoking amusement. that the professor repeats so much start a campaign to ban cell phones writers, such as Sally Jenkins marijuana still be a crime? I am So if so many people in throughout the semester that you’d south of 14th Street. of The Washington Post, vigor- not interested in judging the scien- the United States are just fine have to have a lead skull not to ously defended Phelps. Jenkins tific criteria as to why or why not with marijuana, why is it still know them. Th e Lu dd i t e ’09 writes that Phelps “merely got marijuana is unhealthy, but I am illegal? I think one would be caught doing what scores of interested in judging our societal hard-pressed to find another people… did every weekend norms, and it seems that there are illegal activity that is equally in college,” and that 42% of just as many people who are pro- as polarizing. In my opinion, if Americans have admitted to marijuana as are against it. there isn’t a general consensus Th e Co m m e n t a t o r smoking marijuana at some About half the population as to whether something should The Student Newspaper of point in their lives. The next has admitted to having smoked be legal, it probably should not day, Jenkins’s colleague Mi- marijuana. Many sportswriters, be outlawed. Why should the New York University School of Law chael Wilbon absolutely ex- such as Jenkins, defend smoking anti-marijuana populace tell the Editor-in-Chief coriated her, pointing out that marijuana in their writing, while pro-marijuana populace what Andrew Gehring Phelps was previously arrested others like Wilbon criticize it. they can or can’t do? People for drinking and driving in Some movies, like Pineapple who don’t like marijuana can 2004, and “people who stand to Express, glorify marijuana, while just refrain from using it. Senior Managing Editor gain so much from their talent others like Requiem for a Dream This brings us back to the Robert Gerrity and image had better know by vilify the drug. Many famous “Just Say No” signs in my old the age of 23 that a standard of rock bands throughout history school. Just as elementary school Managing Editors behavior is expected of them have used marijuana as a song- students don’t understand what Joseph Jerome that isn’t expected of other writing tool, and most people exactly they are saying “no” Michael Mix people their age.” don’t seem to mind. President to, I think that most people do Phelps’s sponsors also seem Obama and former-President not understand why marijuana Senior Staff Editors split. Kellogg’s dropped Phelps, Clinton have both admitted to is illegal anymore; they just Roberto Reyes-Gaskin so no longer will he be adorning using the drug at some point in seem to accept that it is. As a Andrew Simon boxes of Corn Flakes, but he still their lives. Many cultures have society, I think it is important has promotional agreements with traditionally used marijuana for to reevaluate a law that many in Staff Editors all his other sponsors. Phelps was medicinal or religious purposes, the populace do not agree with Ashok Ayyar Dan Meyler also banned from swimming while others believe the drug and flout on a frequent basis. Andrew Kloster Mitali Mody competitively for three months to be unhealthy and immoral. I am sure that Michael Phelps Melisa Gerecci Ben Peacock by USA Swimming. When celebrities such as Phelps would approve. Stephanie Herbert Jennifer Rodriguez Gavin Kovite Molly Wallace

Web Editor Jason Law Is the law rubbing you The Commentator serves as a forum for news, opinions and ideas of members of the Law School community. The Editorial Board consists of the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editor. Only editorials and policies developed by the Editorial Board reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board. the wrong way? All other opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Commentator. The Commentator is issued on alternate Thursdays during the academic year except during vacations and exami- nation periods. Advertising rates are available on request. Subscriptions are also available at a rate of $15 per year. Letters to the Editor should be sent to the following address, either on paper or via e-mail. 240 Mercer Street Rub back. New York, NY 10012 212.998.6080 (phone) [email protected] Contact [email protected]. All submissions become property of The Commentator. Make your voice heard, through print media. Copyright 2008 New York University Commentator Op/Eds February 18, 2009 Page 3 Coke Now Available, but Some Course Evaluation Comments Now Widely Available Want to Regulate Your Ova Many Student Comments Cruel Yet Hilarious, As Expected The administration, with faculty approval, decided last semester to make available To t h e Ed i t o r : of the University to permit or most of the comments students provided about their classes on the evaluations filled ban whatever products it would out at the end of each semester. If a faculty member requests that certain comments On Wednesday, February 4, like to permit or ban. Second, the University Senate voted 28-22 that banning certain products is be redacted (and the Student Bar Association approves), they aren’t made available to overturn the campus-wide ban paternalistic. in their entirety. But much of what’s left is still entertaining. on Coke products. Owen Moore, I am not arguing to reverse the director of NYU’s dining ser- the Law School policy of purchas- Please comment specifically on any aspects of the course or the instructor that vices, is on record noting that we ing “cage-free” eggs. I’m not sure might see Coke products available I could find even one person who you feel warrant elaboration. on campus within as few as five to preferred the taste of a “battery- “fiduciary duties” (Allen, Corporations); “gun-jumping rules” (Choi, ten business days. cage” egg (though I’m also not Securities Regulations) Let me go on record noting that sure “cage-free” isn’t just a clever I am currently enjoying a 48-hour marketing ploy). Furthermore, the celebratory caffeine bender. marginal cost of the policy to the “When I think of how much money I spent on this course, I want to cry.” However much this is a vic- Law School is hopefully fairly tory for individual conscience and low. What I am arguing for is an “[T]he classroom was completely unacceptable. [H]uman beings are not equipped consumer choice, I am dismayed end to ethical imperialism. What to function in routinely stifling heat.” by last issue’s letter to the editor highfalutin ideas we may enter- entitled “‘Do the Chickens Have tain at the law school may not Large Talons?’” The misleading be relevant to the average NYU “[P]lease don’t end explanations with ‘I probably just confused you more, so title of the letter at first had me undergraduate. We at the law let’s move on.’” excited that President Obama had school have our ban, and we can publicly announced support for rest easy that our dollars are not a project to weaponize chickens. supporting the torture of (prob- “But for the girl in the back who asks good questions, you’re [sic] class would Were that the case, the size of the ably Coke-deprived) chickens. be inscrutable.” chickens’ talons would indeed Why do we feel that civilizing the be a pressing issue for public University writ large is the law discussion. Instead, the letter was school student’s burden? “I wish [the professor] had been sterner. I did not find his cheerful willingness to advocating for expanding the Law As we saw with the Coke overlook laziness and sloppiness conducive to an atmosphere of serious intellectual School’s “battery-cage” egg ban to ban, it is very easy to garner sup- engagement with the material.” the entire campus. port for a policy dressed in hip, Once again, we are con- “socially progressive” clothing. fronted with the same concerted The problem is that the ethical “I would love to have a beer with [the professor].” push for top-down restrictions discussion here creates the de- on consumer choice in the name mand for the ethos in question, “[The professor] is very humorous, keeps me on track in class during my usual of vaunted ethical gods. And, in a glorious echo-chamber of ‘napping hour,’ 2pm–4pm.” once again, two points pres- gastronomic nonsense. ent themselves. First, that it is entirely within the authority An d r e w Kl o s t e r ’10 Choi and Allen are both “the man.” Miller, on the other hand, simply “rock[s].” Commentator News Page 4 February 18, 2009 Interview: Earlier Trasviña: Lecturer on Latinos in the Law Early Interview Week Seeks Comprehensive Immigration Reform Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1 Labor Day, and private schools offer to another student. Turning took on working with the Immigra- ized by violence. He believes that power of that population. “By do not start until the week follow- down an offer “is good sports- tion Subcommittee and jumped the Obama administration should 2018, with the census and im- ing. Because Labor Day is late manship, and it’s a real challenge right in to improving electronic pass a hate crimes bill that would migration reform having passed, this year, many working parents to encourage good sportsmanship verification systems; a system increase federal authority for Latinos will have the power to may be unavailable, taking care in a highly competitive environ- that can, if designed properly and prosecution of hate crimes. How- elect state senators even in places of their children until September ment,” Dorzback said. passed, protect rights, penalize ever, Trasviña indicated that we like Iowa, Georgia, and other 14—almost a full month after The timings of interviews employers who circumvent it, and must also attack the problem at its places you normally wouldn’t EIW. Irene Dorzback, Assistant and acceptances are not the only give the Social Security Adminis- source by training police and agen- associate with the Hispanic Dean for Career Services, suggests calendar changes in the recruiting tration the resources they need.” cies to report hate crimes to the population.” that students continue to schedule process. A number of firms have In a small group prior to the federal government and instituting Trasviña concluded by their callbacks as early as possible announced shorter summer pro- lecture, Trasviña also spoke highly hate crime curricula in schools saying that he hopes the Obama but—upon receiving an offer— grams, and first-year associates are of Obama’s choice of Rep. Hilda to train youths. The problem, he administration can put together request a second visit to meet those starting later. As summer programs Solis (D-CA), a Congressional pointed out, isn’t just their occur- a comprehensive immigration attorneys who may have been out get shorter, it is possible some Hispanic Caucus leader, as labor rence but a lack of understanding package that “not only pro- during their callback. schools will opt to move their in- secretary, one of three Latino and reporting of such violence as vides for the security of the The repercussions of earlier terview programs back even earlier members of Obama’s cabinet. He hate crimes. country, but also sensibility for interview weeks will impact other in August, though there is no sign also praised the choice of Attorney Trasviña pointed to other steps its families.” interviewees as well. Because of of such moves yet. General Eric Holder. the Obama administration can take Maribel Hernandez ’10, one the increased number of students First-year associates are Trasviña focused much of the even without the passage of im- of five recipients of full-tuition interviewing early on, there is frequently being asked to start lecture on the growing incidence migration-reform legislation. He scholarships to NYU from the increasing pressure to schedule as in November and some even as of hate crimes targeted against emphasized the importance of the Bickel & Brewer Latino Institute many callbacks as possible as soon late as January, compared to the the Latino community in the upcoming 2010 census, which he for Human Rights, helped orga- as possible. As a result, students September start dates common United States. “Latino immigrants said is a critical tool for the Latino nize the lecture and considered may need to be more conscious of in years past. For students with make great targets,” he said, “be- community. “We need everybody it a great success. According to scheduling their classes to leave a six-month grace period on their cause they work in a largely cash to be counted. [Former Homeland Hernandez, the Bickel & Brewer time for callbacks. Students will loans, these late start dates may economy due to blocks on their Security Chief] Michael Chertoff scholars worked with Dean also have to be more flexible than cause concern. However, law access to banks, and perpetrators was unwilling to say that Immigra- Ricky Revesz to start the lecture in prior years—not only in terms firms are continuing to pay a often believe they won’t report the tions and Customs Enforcement series in order to “not just bring of size of firm and type of practice, stipend for bar review, and those crimes by holding their immigra- would not conduct raids when Latino issues to the attention of but also geographically. Interview- students who start particularly tion status over their heads.” He immigrants opened their doors to the NYU Law community, but ing in New Jersey, the District of late are given advances. pointed to the recent killing in census takers. We need the Obama to bring in successful Latino Columbia, or Boston means not Measures like keeping the Shenandoah, PA of Luis Ramirez, administration to do so.” leaders doing important work just setting aside a morning or summer programs shorter and de- a 25-year-old Mexican beaten to Trasviña posited that, once new in the legal field.” They hope to an afternoon, but an entire day. laying start dates can help firms death by a group of white teens census figures are in and evidence expand upon the success of this Having a schedule that allows for save jobs. “It’s almost a quarter yelling ethnic slurs. the ever-expanding Latino popula- lecture to create a full-blown callbacks earlier on in the semester million dollars per associate, and Not a day goes by, said Trasvi- tion, MALDEF and other groups Latinos in the Law symposium, is to students’ advantage. for firms to sit and think about ña, that he doesn’t receive a phone will begin the process of redistrict- which Hernandez said would be Career Services will be en- changing the food in the cafete- call from a Latino person victim- ing to further strengthen the political the first of its kind. couraging students to both sched- ria, cutting car service, turning ule their callbacks earlier and the lights off at night, is a lot,” respond to job offers earlier. Firms Dorzback commented. As these are going to have to be cautious ways to cut costs relieve some The Commentator: with the number of offers they of the pressure that prompted make; economic pressures will so many schools to start their have unpredictable effects on the recruiting efforts earlier in the Filling white space wherever it can. rate of acceptances. If a student first place, there may be a return Contact [email protected]. does not respond to an offer when to more normal interviewing he knows he is not interested, it schedules—but not for the fore- Make your voice heard, through print media. prevents the firm from making an seeable future.

To r t La w i n t h e Sh a d o w o f Ag e n c y Pr e e m pt i o n a Symposium presented by the Annual Survey of American Law

Friday, February 27, 2009

Tort and government agencies often regulate the same behaviors, and thus have overlapping jurisdictions. Please join us for a series of conversations among theorists and practitioners exploring issues arising from this overlap. These issues are especially timely in light of the recent decision in Warner-Lambert v. Kent and the change of presidential administration.

Participants include Judge Guido Calabresi, Catherine Sharkey, Richard Epstein, Mark Geistfeld, Elizabeth Cabraser, Catherine Carroll, Mark Herrmann, Allison Zieve, and more.

Schedule 9:00 a.m. Registration for CLE Credit & Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Keynote Address, Judge Guido Calabresi 10:00 a.m. Panel 1: Institutional Competency Between the Courts & Agencies 11:45 a.m. Panel 2: Issues of Federalism 2:30 a.m. Panel 3: Preemption in the Trenches

For further information, contact Nicholas Almendares, Symposium Editor, Annual Survey of American Law at [email protected]. Commentator News February 18, 2009 Page 5 The Rumor Mill: All’s Quiet on the Journal Front

By Jo s e p h Je r o m e ’11 chief of the Journal of Interna- tional Law and Politics, wrote The Rumor: in an email. Concerns about Every year it seems rumors economic and environmental arise about the state of law costs generated the notion of journals. Will credit-earning reducing print runs. Vice-Dean editorial boards shrink? What Friedman further suggested that about the size of the journals the journals should feel no need or the number being published to publish work if the journals each year? deemed it unworthy, even if the result is thinner journals. The Reality: As for eliminating journal According to Vice-Dean credit? The question arises Barry Friedman, there’s no merit regularly, but “there is no action to any potential rumor floating I know of to take journal credit around this year. “What they pub- away,” Vice-Dean Friedman lish is their business,” he said. said. Considering he might be The chain of rumors, it the first to know, the issue seems seems, flows from the Vice- settled for now. Dean’s meetings with the journals’ editors-in-chief on January The Rumor Mill is The Com- 26. “There has been some dis- mentator’s newest periodic fea- cussion about limiting print runs, ture. Heard a law school rumor but not output in any meaningful you want checked out? Email way,” Clay Kaminsky, editor-in- [email protected].

ODOR: Journal Offices Smell Normal Again After Quick Response by NYU Continued from page 1 temperature in their individual suites.” Those air vents, when said Ken Stenstrom, Manager of working properly, bring a mix Facilities for D’Agostino Hall. of fresh and recycled air into Stenstrom added that he recently the sub-basement. However, hired an electrical contractor to Honeywell, the school’s HVAC seal the electrical feeds from the contractor, has confirmed that the inside as well. The sealant will sub-basement currently utilizes prevent unclean air from leaking the minimum amount of fresh air in from the outside. in its mix. Honeywell is looking Additionally, said Stenstrom, into increasing the proportion of “We checked every supply and fresh air in the near future. Schudoko! return air vent in the journals for Journal leaders were pleas- proper operation, and found that antly surprised with the school’s Below you’ll find a variation on a standard sudoko grid. Fill in the missing boxes thirteen of the supply vents were quick response to their request such that each row, column, and three-by-three box contains one of each of the fol- shut. We believe that journal and have noticed a markedly im- members closed them at some proved smell in the journal offices lowing letters: N Y U L A W S C H point in an attempt to regulate and the sub-basement. FAIR: Lunches Prove Popular organizations working in the South, including the ACLU Capital Pun- ishment Project and the Orleans Public Defend- er’s office. “Pizza, Film Screening, and Discus- sion with the Alliance for Justice” was held the next day. The event screened the documen- tary Access Denied?: The Fight for Corporate Accountability, which details the case of Diana Levine and her lawsuit against a pharmaceuti- cal company. One extra perk for NYU students in particular was a student/ employee mixer. Only NYU Law students Table talk was a popular method for students to were invited to the mix- talk to public interest employers. er, which was another opportunity for students Continued from page 1 to mingle with potential public interest employers. Employers were told “Working for Justice in the South” in advance that only NYU students lunch, cosponsored by a number would be in attendance, so they of student groups, took place on were expressing a particular inter- Thursday. Students were able to est in hiring students from NYU by Solution on page 7. hear from different public interest attending the event. Commentator News Page 6 February 18, 2009 D’Agostino Hall The Commentator Begins Eco-Friendly Cordially Invites Readers to Composting Initiative The 2009 Law Firm Massacre

Law firm associates and support staff laid off on the day before Friday the 13th, 2009: Associates Support Staff DLA Piper 80 100 70 173 Law school residential building D’Agostino Holland & Knight Hall has instituted a new composting program Bryan Cave 58 76 in an effort to cut down on the amount of organic Goodwin Procter 38 36 waste being sent to landfills by the law school. The move has left residents of law school hous- Faegre & Benson 29 0 ing with several burning questions: Epstein Becker 23 30 Why just D’Agostino and not Mercer? Why did someone feel the need to place “Property Dechert 19 0 of NYU” stickers on all of the compost bins? Cozen O’Connor 0 61 What, exactly, is that awful smell? And why would anyone compost if it means having to live with that putrid stench? Total 317 480 Commentator Arts February 18, 2009 Page 7 Viewing Friday the 13th Coraline Emphasizes Style Over Substance

By Jo s e p h Je r o m e ’11 perfect. Of course, Coraline immersive, and beautiful, but Trailer Saves Money, Time slowly learns her other mother as Coraline explores the paral- Neil Gaiman is a master of is not quite who she appears, lel world, the movie’s visuals By Be n Pe a c o c k ’09 pushes open the door to a cabin creating rich surreal fantasy, and her dream world literally transform into something almost (putatively the same cabin, tem- so using the directing talents unravels into a nightmare. too surreal and garish. I was In reviewing a film based porally contemporaneous with of Henry Stilick (of The Night- Watching Coraline is a fortunate to see the movie in solely on its trailer, one must be the scream). God, I wish I knew more Before Christmas fame) to comparable experience. Every- 3-D, but even that was a mixed cautious to avoid unfairly assum- what was in there! But instead bring one of Gaiman’s worlds thing begins wonderfully before experience. While it was great ing that certain shortcomings of we’re treated to two or three more to the big screen makes sense. cracks start to appear all over the not to have more dishes or ran- the trailer also exist in the film beats of the black screen, which Coraline has the visual style and place, but the film makes one dom sharp objects thrown out as a whole. Indeed, this has been marks the transition from rising pedigree to be the next Alice’s fantastic first impression. For at the audience just for the sake considered by many to be the action to climax. Adventures in Wonderland— the first 15 minutes, I thought of 3-D, the effect was almost most common shortcoming of What follows is a heart- it even has a so subtle as to be purely trailer-based reviews. thumping, frenetically paced creepy cat— pointless. But reviewing trailers also 43 seconds in which the flash- but a few mis- Even the has its advantage—namely ef- light from earlier stars. We see it fires dramati- v o i c e a c t i n g ficiency. In order to gain the bouncing around in the hand of cally hamper caught me off insights from the entire film that a panic-stricken, running young the final prod- guard. Coraline is I easily gleaned from the trailer, adult; illuminating a creepy doll; uct. However, voiced by Dakota I would have had to watch it as passing over the face of some a big budget Fanning, which many as four times. Such an en- mortally frightened androgyne; and lots of tal- I thought would deavor would have cost me $50 and illuminating every single drop ent ensure that distract me giv- at the local theatre or forced me of rain falling on a young woman, what’s left is en that actress’s to become a pirate on the digital whose face registers a resolute de- still worth ap- overexposure. I seas. No thank you! And this fiance to the fear that has evidently preciating. was surprised to doesn’t even consider the cost of gripped the cabin, the woods sur- Our story find that Desper- my time. Major New York law rounding it, and perhaps even that is that of a ate Housewife firms bill out their young associ- lake from the beginning. By this lonely, atten- Teri Hatcher and ates at around $300/hr. Assuming point, we all want to know a lot tion-starved Celebrity voices such as Teri Hatcher, playing Mother Jones (left), John “PC” Hodg- that this film runs three hours more about this flashlight, which 11-year-old. man as Mother (the trailer provided unsatisfy- plays on screen like a primitive, take away from Coraline’s otherwise captivating visual substance. After moving and Father Jones ingly little information about this unemotional, pointalistic Wall-E. across the country, poor Cora- Pixar had a new competitor. But more bothersome. When mom matter), producing a review of a Unfortunately, her role seems to line Jones finds herself in a the movie’s pace quickly grinds is baking and dad is yelling at quality that matches what follows have ended as the climax gives gloomy old house, her parents to a halt before racing to a ques- his computer, it immediately would have an investment of way to the resolution. absorbed in their own work, sur- tionable conclusion. As a result, pulled me out of the film. To $3600 worth of billable hours (re- We see a girl who has fallen rounded by odd neighbors who I found myself checking my the very end, I was stunned by member I’d need to watch it four in the mud frantically crab-walk- keep calling her Caroline. One watch despite only a hundred- how constricted my views of times), plus the $50 sunk ticket ing backwards, her face stricken night, Coraline opens a small minute runtime. Coraline’s parents were by their cost! $3650 is a lot of money! with bone-chilling terror, before door that leads to a parallel The direction feels schizo- voice actors. Given a relatively standard diet of the final frenetic cut, this time world. There, her gloomy house phrenic. Once Coraline finds So the voice acting bothered a single 25-cent packet of ramen to some dude who looks to be is suddenly full of color and life, her purpose, the movie wraps me, the 3-D was a waste, the plot noodles per day, 365 days per in a mask. The mask-intuition is and the girl meets two beings things up in an unsatisfying ten was slow and potentially point- year, this review would have cost confirmed in a final zoom, when who claim to be her “other” minutes. One child behind me less, but I would not hesitate to we see a dirty old parents. While they look and kept asking what was going on, recommend the film to anyone. hockey mask, par- talk like her parents, the other and I wouldn’t have been able to Coraline is the ultimate tri- tially illuminated, parents dote on her, sing her answer him. The story feels like umph of style over substance— and we’re finally songs, and give her presents. it has more going on than it needs the creepy yet beautiful world made to under- Curiously, they also have black to have, and characters appear Selick creates is a unique and stand that this film buttons for eyes, but this small and disappear without reason. satisfying experience for the in fact coheres with oddity aside, Coraline finds her Visually, the stop-motion eyes. The film is quite literally the long line of Fri- other parents to be pretty much world is initially enchanting, worth seeing. days the 13th that it claims to remake. I wanted to like this film; I re- ally did. I watched Schudoku! it about seven Solution More unsuspecting victims are brutally times at regular See puzzle page 5. murdered in the reboot of Friday the 13th. speed, one of those with sound, before the equivalent of exactly 40 years pausing it and dragging the cur- of food! (Nota bene: the author sor frame-by-frame (or as close does not observe leap years.) I as possible, given the limitations could not, in good conscience, of YouTube and the coffee jits). do anything but review the trailer, Ultimately, though, the film fails and I think you’ll find that I’ve because it fails to tie up any of its been quite fair. loose ends, in the process wasting The reboot of Friday the a seminal performance by the 13th begins with a long-lens flashlight. With no resolution, shot over a lake. There’s smoke there can be no catharsis. We’re or mist or something rising from just left wanting more. Moreover, it. We don’t know what it is, the pacing is far too fast, even to and, as happens all too often the point of recklessness. It’s as throughout this film, we don’t if the director had never heard find out. But before we’re able of transition scenes or character to ponder this first mystery for development! As avant garde as long—BAM!—the screen goes that was, it didn’t make for good black for a solid three or four watching. beats. There’s a wipe with what I’m not 13 years old, and may or may not be a flashlight, this isn’t a church dance at the and we’re looking at a kind of local rec center; it’s a film. So I’m creepy old cabin. The baleful cry not just looking to be teased. In of a single female voice pierces other words, this film is a bread the night air, which may or may sandwich, and “man doth not not have an eerie chill. live by bread only.” Deut. 8:2; Who’s in this cabin, and see also Matt. 4:4; accord Luke why did the lady just scream? 4:4. If you want to satisfy your We don’t get to find out, but evi- viewers, Friday the 13th, then dently one of the characters does, we’re gonna need some meat. because we observe his back as he And more of that flashlight. Commentator Sports Page 8 February 18, 2009 Law School Takes Third at University Games

Thursday, February 12 saw the annual University Games take over Coles Sports Center. The law school fielded a full team to compete against students from Stern, Wagner, Gallatin, and the other schools at NYU. Taking third place overall, the law school placed in a number of events:

– 1st Place Volleyball – 1st Place Sumo Wrestling – 2nd Place Basketball – 2nd Place Foosball – 3rd Place Rock-Climbing – 3rd Place Rock-Paper-Scissors

Photos Contributed by Chuck Egbuonu ’10 and Robert Gerrity ’09