THE COMMENTATOR Vol. XL, No. 3 The Student Newspaper of the New York University School of Law October 5, 2005 Justice Breyer: Supremely Low Key & Judiciously Cosmopolitan

BY BEN KLEINMAN, JD ’08 Of the estimated 8 million original Breyer usually rewrites at least Science & Martial Law In an informative and enter- cases in the US about 8,000 result twice. When it’s done, he circu- In response to a question taining talk that lacked the fire- in petitions to the Supreme Court lates it to attract joiners. about social science in the courts works of other Supreme Court Jus- each year. Eighty are heard. So a At the next meeting the Breyer said that the material comes tice appearances at NYU, Justice Supreme Court justice has two Chief Justice makes sure to their attention through briefs Stephen Breyer gave several hun- jobs: (1) getting from 8000 to 80 everyone’s joined an opinion or and it’s unlikely that legal out- dred members of the NYU commu- and (2) deciding the 80. written one. A handful of times comes turn on it. “Scalia, Kennedy, nity a tour through his typical day, each year a justice may change I, and others have perhaps a dissertation on the travails of A Justice & His Clerks sides during the consideration in- inadvisably quoted poetry and having judicial theories, and a deli- Quoting Chief Justice Taft, terval. novels.” Further, there are no fixed cately candid assessment of his Breyer indicated the “job of the rules about the legislative facts views and his critics. Supreme Court is to create a uni- used in making statutes and the Physically, Breyer evoked a form rule of federal law in cases Judicial Transparency court has “taken such matters for kindly uncle or grandfather. Mem- that call for it.” It’s rare that a case Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer With a judicial job, “what what they’re worth.” bers of the audience were over- calls for it when there is consen- in those cases Breyer found that you see is what you get”. But head later comparing the Justice sus. One exception Breyer cited is the briefs weren’t repetitive and he that’s not true of the legislature, A question was asked about to PBS’s Fred Rogers. That impres- read every one. His clerks prepare says Breyer. “A statute doesn’t martial law in the context of natu- sion was probably amplified by the a memo on each case which he explain why it says what it says ral disasters, and Breyer doubted introduction, which referred to his After 11 years, then discusses with them. but a good judicial opinion will say that we’d lose all civil liberties in being an Eagle Scout, being a na- For Breyer and his col- why the judge reaches that deci- such a case. We’d still have pro- tional authority on regulation and Breyer is still leagues, the actual hearings are sion. If you look at our drafts, tections. “They might not be the administrative law while at more of an opportunity to commu- you’d see what you see eventu- same, but they’re there.” Harvard, and having been on the junior member. nicate with each other than to learn ally, just [written] worse.” national sentencing commission new items about the case. Continued on page 2 (while helping to create Harvard’s His job during After 11 years, Breyer is still loan forgiveness program). the junior member and will be even conference is to if Roberts is confirmed. So his job The Court’s Impact during conference is to answer the Putting the role of a Supreme answer the door. door if someone knocks. At this Court justice in context, Breyer stage decisions are tentative and described the minimal role that fed- the Guantanamo cases that seem everyone writes down what oth- eral courts and statutes play in to merit a national decision despite ers say in case it’s useful for an everyday life. He remarked that circuit court consensus. But when opinion. The professional attitude “90% or so of the law in the United there is a split in the circuits, the is maintained: Breyer has “never States is not federal law” and that Supreme Court settles it. Why? head a voice raised in anger. Never. outside of federal law is “almost “We are of course brilliant,” Never heard one judge say any- all family law, almost all business quipped Breyer, but it’s more im- thing slighting of another.” law, almost all criminal law...” Fam- portant that someone have the last On the basis of tentative ily law is arguably the most impor- word than that the last word be votes the Chief (or senior justice tant law to many people, and that infallible. in the tentative majority) will as- has nothing to do with the Su- A typical case has 10-12 sign an opinion writer. The minor- preme Court, according to Breyer. briefs, although a recent right to ity side will do the same. When Breyer then moved on to die case had 70 briefs and an affir- assigned an opinion, Breyer’s law what the Supreme Court does do. mative action case had 120. Even clerks prepare a first draft that SLAP Image of the Week by Gillian Burgess

Transfer students, he ex- top choice when they originally NYU Welcomes Class of 2008 plained, benefited from the wide applied to law school. breadth of courses available to Also greets large transfer class and Tulane students. second and third year law stu- Help to Tulane BY JACKSON EATON ’07’ New 1Ls Plenty of Transfers dents, without significantly alter- NYU Law offered admis- An emergency medical 7,872 would-be law stu- 68 students transferred ing the nature of the student body. sion to 10 3Ls from Tulane in the technician, a bagpiper, a champi- dents applied to NYU, according from other schools into this year’s “You couldn’t put those aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. onship chess player, a carpenter— to Kleinrock. Though slightly 2L class, an unusually high num- students in a first year curriculum However, because many peer law what do they all have in common? fewer than last year, he attributes ber. Kleinrock indicated that NYU without having a five-section schools similarly relaxed applica- They’re all members of the class the lower number to a growing aims to get about 50-55 2L transfer class,” he said. tion deadlines only two students of 2008. economy. In line with recent years, students. 325 students applied for accepted admission. In an interview, Dean of roughly twenty percent of appli- Kleinrock explained it transfer admission. Although Kleinrock was particu- Admissions Ken Kleinrock spoke cants were given offers, and of was very difficult to predict which some applied because changing larly proud of the speed of the re- to the highlights of this year’s ad- those just under 30% accepted. transfers would accept offers. Last circumstances caused them to sponse of the Law School. Hurri- missions process, from the unusu- Like last year, a few dozen year, a similar number of offers re- look to New York — for instance, cane Katrina made landfall on Au- ally large numbers of transfer stu- students were chosen from the sulted in only 43 admitted trans- a spouse with a new job in the city, gust 29.. By September 2, under the dents to applications from victims wait list. One student was admit- fers. most applied because of the tre- coordination of Vice Dean Clayton of Hurricane Katrina. ted the day before school began. Some students have sus- mendous educational and profes- Gillette, NYU announced its will- For the first time, Duke pected that the school enjoys a sional opportunities that NYU of- ingness to accept law students claimed the rank of the top “feeder lower-sized 1L class for its advan- fers. For many, NYU had been a school” to NYU Law. Bobcat tages in law school rankings, while alumni took second place this year, reaping the tuition dollars of trans- the highest ranking yet of NYU fer students who are not counted undergrads. toward class sizes. Kleinrock dis- Infra pelled this suggestion. This year’s 1L class has “We admitted these num- 46-54 female-male ratio. One-third bers of transfer students well be- Editorials & Letters p. 4 come straight from senior year of fore rankings,” he said. Moreover, college. Almost half have spent 1- he said, even if they did count they Arts and Lesisure p. 6 4 years out of college, while nearly would play a small role in NYU’s a fifth have been out 5 years or ultimate ranking compared to fac- SLAP Season News p. 8 Ken Kleinrock, Assistant Dean more. 14% of 1Ls hold an advanced tors like student LSAT scores and for Admissions degree. GPA. Page 2 The Commentator October 5, 2005 French Judge Details Experiences At Hauser Global Law Lecture

BY YAS GAILANI (LL.M) greatness and glory of France aristocratic French accent about not exclusive: he claimed that own elegant metaphor, the The “Transatlantic that Paris purports to project in his life, his career track, his more than a half of the intake at Conseil d’Etat is thus “the only Dialogues” occasional panel the beauty and scale of its experiences as a judge, and his the time he gained admission religious order which is both series has been a highlight of the architecture and planning views on some of the most was comprised of lower level secular and regular.” Global Law School experience so presents a particularly powerful pressing issues in transatlantic civil-servants from ordinary Because, in its decision- far. Particularly effective has example. But it also plays out on relations in recent years. backgrounds who had worked in making, it has served to provide been the mode of presentation, the level of personalities. Born in 1949 in the Paris fields such as industrial a measure of practical coherence in consisting of answers from Thus, I do not doubt suburb of Neuilly as the son of a regulation. to the development of the French some of the most eminent that I was not the only one to former officer in the Free French Of particular regulatory state whilst characters in the transatlantic have enjoyed the sight of the Army and a resistance fighter, de significance was the structure guaranteeing its location within legal community to the searching distinguished judge, dressed in a Lamothe described how his and nature of the education he the rule of law, it commands great questions of eminent faculty very well-tailored suit which fit upbringing had strongly affected received. He described his respect both within and without members. On September 28th, him like a glove, speaking his choice of career. His was a training as a mixture of France’s borders. 2005, it was the turn of Monsieur biographically in a thick and household where dinner-table theoretical, class based studies He served at the Olivier Dutheillet de Lamothe, of debates about policy and politics and more practical internships at Conseil d’Etat until 2001, at the French Constitutional were a commonplace. After various public and private which point he was appointed to Council, to be subjected to discharge from the army, his agencies, the aim being to teach the Conseil Constitutionnel by Professor Weiler’s examinations- father worked as an official those who would govern how President Chirac. The Conseil in-chief. Dutheillet de Lamothe implementing the Marshall Plan. government affects things on the Constitutionnel has jurisdiction was very interesting to listen to, After studies at Sciences-Po and ground. Maybe this serves to to consider the validity of main because he was both wily in his “low” school, he attended the explain why French public legislation with the Constitution responses, and engaging in his Ecole Nationale services work so well. and Treaty law. To that extent, it mannerisms and intonation. d’Administration (ENA), the Upon successful serves a similar function to the I must declare training college and finishing completion of his studies at U.S. Supreme Court, except that immediately that my leanings are school for the French political ENA, he joined the Conseil it is not open to ordinary strongly Francophile. The elite. d’Etat. The Council serves, litigants to challenge such laws. French have a certain way of Of considerable alongside the Cour de Cassation Certain laws are referred combining vanity with beauty comparative interest was the and the Conseil Constitutionnel, to the Council (after they are which I find very engaging. This judge’s description of the as one of the highest courts in adopted by the legislature but plays out in general terms, of institutional structures in which France. Its competence is before they are signed into law course: the narrative of the Olivier Dutheillet de Lamothe he rose to prominence and in restricted solely to administrative by the President) for which he worked. ENA is the law; unlike the civil courts under consideration of their filter through which all the senior Court of Cassation, it both sets constitutional validity as a matter civil service, senior judiciary and precedent and acts as a legal of course; but others are only political class has to pass. But adviser to the French optionally referred, and THE COMMENTATOR though elitist, the institution was Government. In de Lamothe’s references in such cases are The Student Newspaper of Justice Breyer Speaks to NYU Law Community New York University School of Law Continued from page 1 theories. A judge in the Supreme cases and emphasized that “we Court has Constitutional ques- don’t think that each other’s con- Theory and Practice tions as a steady diet, and no other stitutional decisions are binding.” Editor In Chief Breyer initially demurred Chris Moon court has that. Over time, justices But there’s often something to be when asked a question about the come to see the document as a learned. qualities of a just society and what whole. For example, when asked When the moderator asked Managing Editors role the Supreme Court has in cre- about original intent and the es- Breyer if the criticism of citing in- Julia Fuma ating one in America, saying that tablishment clause, he agreed with ternational law surprised him the Ben Kleinman academics are closer to the phi- the questioner’s assessment that justice acknowledged that it did. losophers than the justices. “As original intent seemed somewhat He recounted the tale of being on judges, what we’re trying to do is dishonest. a panel that was discussing the Arts Editor enforce the Constitution so judges He acknowledged that relationship. He told a congress- Brigham Barnes don’t substitute their own views.” “people are worried about the le- man, who said the worst thing you He cited Learned Hand in stating gitimate problem that a judge who do is cite the laws of other coun- Photography Editor that Judges are limited by the docu- is not elected and has the last word Gillian Burgess ment. will inevitably substitute their I may be right, I Another questioner stated views for what may be intended.” that empirical research has shown He returned to the establishment may be wrong. Staff Editors that different branches react to clause to expand on his response Jackson Eaton Luke Tullberg public opinion with different time to this. But I explain my Mary Santanello Craig Winters lags and asked for Beyer’s reac- It turns out, says Breyer, that tion. The justice says he deliber- Yas Gailani Conor French over time, the court has viewed the reasoning. ately insulates himself from press, Ilya Kushnirsky Meredith Johnston reason for the establishment friends, and family on certain Jessica Gonzalez Nicholas Kant clause as the diminishment of the tries, that the world has become cases. With more controversial chance of social conflict based on smaller, with more and more de- cases the justices will reverse the religion. The framers didn’t fore- mocracies, and human rights are names and the political parties and Editors Emeritus see any of the current controver- being defended by independent see if they still come out the same sies. Breyer indicated that the Ken- judiciaries. “Judges are human Emily Bushnell way. Dave Chubak tucky judge placed the ten com- beings, they have similar jobs to While political views aren’t mandments up largely to show mine all over the place, they have relevant, there’s a sense that the that he could put them up and was documents like the constitution, The Commentator serves as a forum for news, opinions and ideas of mem- condition of the country can be making a religious point. This, why don’t I read what they say. bers of the Law School community. Only editorials and policies developed relevant in determining the answer Breyer says, was contrary to the Maybe I’ll learn something.” by the Editorial Board reflect the opinion of the Editorial Board. All other to a legal question. He used the intent of the clause. opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Breyer thinks the root of the recent establishment clause cases However, in Texas, the tab- problem is not the citations them- Commentator. The Commentator is issued on alternate Wednesdays during as an example. The way in which the academic year except during vacations and examination periods. Adver- lets had been there for 40 years, selves but the controversial opin- the founders thought the estab- tising rates are available on request. Subscriptions are also available at a rate put up to advertise a movie, were ions in which they’ve appeared. of $15 per year. Letters to the Editor should be sent to the following lishment clause would work is dif- with other monuments, and had Gay rights. Death penalty cases. address, either on paper or via e-mail. ferent from how the country views never caused a ruckus. It causes “My wife is a psychologist (and it today because the country has less controversy and tension to you need that if you’re a lawyer). changed. There are now 50-60 sig- THE COMMENTATOR simply leave them there. She explains displacement. You’re nificant religions and much more 135 MacDougal Street #4G angry at A so you blame B.” conflict over them. Breyer will try New York, NY 10012 International Justice In the end, Breyer has his to get a view of the country from 212.998.6518 (phone) 212.995.4032 (fax) Breyer was asked about the approach to Justice and he takes newspaper and, to a larger extent, e-mail: [email protected] cosmopolitan nature of the court. pride in his transparency. “I may law professors. He quickly debunked the image of be right, I may be wrong. But when Breyer went on to say, in re- Copyright 2005 New York University judges from around the world con- I write the decision I try to explain sponse to another question, that vening to decide each other’s my reasoning.” he has approaches to justice, not October 5, 2005 The Commentator Page 3 Dutheillet de Lamothe Apartments Continued from page 2 Monkeys are at the forefront of Sublets & those in Europe who view the open only to The President, the United States with unfounded Roommates Prime Minister, the Presidents of and unjustified jealously, envy, the Assemblée Nationale or the and contempt. But de Lamothe Find: Senate, or 60 deputies and does not believe that to be an senators. yyourour Apartments accurate representation. Add yyourour name The Council was Sublets or He likened France and created by the Constitution of America to Walter Matthau and Roommates 1958 de novo. As a body, it has Jack Lemmon in the Odd Couple: ALL MAJOR CITIES no institutional precedent either ostensibly always at each others’ to the masthead in theory or in practice; but throats, but in reality deeply Nationwide though experimental, it has respectful of one another, served to guarantee the rights because both were born of a Post: enshrined by the Constitution common revolutionary ideal. The Apartments & from legislative erosion. To that French and the U.S. are, in that extent, it has proved quite sense, closer to one another than The Commentator is still Rooms successful. De Lamothe declared will ever be the U.S. and the looking for news, arts, sports, FREE! that as a member of the Council, United Kingdom, because there he considered himself part of a is a shared sense of intellectual and opinions writers, as well as visit us at: “global constitutional society” and philosophical purpose. a comic artist or crossword which has as its task the He stressed the ability designer (computer program consideration of similar of ordinary people to draw Sublet.com constitutional questions arising distinctions in their minds available to assist). in different contexts the world between the policies of a or call: over. government – which might well All of this narrative was be opposed in the strongest 1-877-FOR- interesting. But perhaps most possible terms – and the Contact [email protected]. RENT interesting of all were his affection and warmth that a Do it before the next issue. reflections on Anti-Americanism. people who were liberated by (1-877-367-7368) This side of the Atlantic, American idealism will always American believe that the hold for the population of Cheese-Eating Surrender America as a whole. Professor Stevenson Gives Powerful Plea At Public Interest Lecture BY BEN KLEINMAN, JD ’08 Detailing the problems fac- alty as a lesson. In 1972 it struck Leaving no doubt in the au- The annual lecture given by ing African Americans, Stevenson down the death penalty as being dience as to his opinion on the Bryan Stevenson is widely re- indicated that in Montgomery, discriminatorily applied on the ba- matter, Stevenson called the Court’s garded as one of the most eagerly Alabama, 1 out of 3 black males sis of race. Every single person accepting overt racism in the crimi- anticipated of the school year. On between 18 and 30 is incarcerated, executed for rape was a black man nal justice system the Dred Scott Monday, September 26, the Pro- on probation, or on parole. In Ala- convicted of raping a white of our generation. In essence, the fessor spoke as part of the PILC bama 31% of the African Ameri- woman. The Supreme Court con- court said that it had to uphold the Public Interest Leaders in Resi- can male population has perma- sidered this evidence probative of death penalty, because if it dealt dence lecture series. He left the nently lost the right to vote. They discrimination in Furman v. Geor- with racial disparities in the death audience misty eyed and fired up, can’t get into public housing. gia it struck down the death pen- penalty then it would have to deal smiles and sadness mixing with the They can’t get food stamps. Their alty as then applied in the land- with it in all aspects of sentencing. adrenaline rush born of a desire to families can be evicted from pub- mark case of Furman v. Georgia. Stevenson quoted Brennan’s dis- join Professor Stevenson in fight- lic housing. Southern legislatures re- sent, caustically accusing the court ing the good fight. In other words, Stevenson sponded by passing new death of having “a fear of too much jus- Deb Ellis introduced summarized, we’re “creating an penalty statutes and in 1976 the tice”. Stevenson as the Executive Direc- underclass of marginalized people. Stevenson described himself tor of the Equal Justice Initiative These people are invisible to as a product of Brown v Board of in Montgomery, Alabama. A 1995 people who have the means of iso- Professor Bryan Stevenson One thing we Education, a decision that allowed recipient of the MacArthur lating themselves. They know it, him the opportunity to attend his Foundation’s ‘genius’ awards, he life saving every day. they feel it.” They actually use did right, was high school. He contrasted that de- has overturned dozens of capital Stevenson’s focus is the the term themselves and recount cision with McCleskey. “In 1955 convictions and won numerous criminal justice system, with an the pain of experiencing invisibil- the day we the court could have said segrega- other awards. She urged us to be emphasis on capital crimes. He ity. started to fight. tion is too big a problem. But they open to receiving the “spiritual cited numbers from that system to Stevenson used an example didn’t. They had a vision of jus- sustenance” we were about to be remind the audience of what needs to demonstrate how many citizens Keep your eyes tice that compelled them to say no, served. to be done and of “being some- end up incarcerated. In Birming- it’s not inevitable. So the idea that Stevenson welcomed the one who cares, who’s opposed to ham, citizens that can’t pay fines on the prize, we’re going to give in is difficult.” audience by saying that he be- injustice, who has an identity, and for a misdemeanor, such as driv- Stevenson urged the audi- lieves “that lawyers and people then saying something, is impor- ing without a license, can be in- Hold on. ence to keep basic decency in mind. with a vision of justice are desper- tant.” carcerated. Instead of paying a Civil Rights Spritual To remember that “each person is ately needed” and saying he was His talk focused on the in- fine, they could end up serving as more than the worst thing he’s going to ask those in attendance tersection of poverty and criminal many as 3-4 years in jail. done.” That “if you lie you’re not with a commitment to justice to justice. In 1972, according to The notion that it’s “better Court revisited the issue. Four just a liar and if you kill you’re not stand up against injustice. Stevenson, there were 200,000 to be rich and guilty than poor and years after Furman, the Court just a killer”. In every person Stevenson began by re- people in jails and prisons. Today innocent” is institutionalized on a found the new statutes Constitu- “there’s a basic human right and minding his audience that lawyer- there are 2.1 million people. There regional and national basis. Al- tional and reinstituted the death dignity that must be upheld and ing “needs time and intellect and are 37 million people in the United leging a presumption of guilt for penalty in Gregg v. Georgia. defended.” skill – but also vision and heart.” States that live in poverty. For a the poor, Stevens contended that The NAACP Legal Defense He ended with another call He urged all to be “prepared to be family of four, that’s an income of this is intensified by the absence Fund went to work and the Su- to stand up and be heard. Remind- courageous and say things that under $18,000. In fact, there are of indigent defense systems. Al- preme Court heard their case in ing us that options include clinics, need to be said.” He warned that many families where over the span though America spends hundreds 1987 in McCleskey v Kemp. In summer jobs, and careers in public law school can acculturate stu- of generations – over 70 or 80 years of millions on police, prosecution, what Stevenson characterized as service, he highlighted the many dents into believing they can’t – the cumulative income wouldn’t and jails, there is nothing compa- some of the best statistical re- ways to can confront the huge make a difference. The visions, be 100,000 USD. rable spent on public defense. For search into the criminal justice challengeof fighting “deliberate in- dreams, and aspirations that moti- Stevenson characterized example, there’s no public de- system ever conducted the LDF difference to injustice around dis- vate students to come to law this combination of crushing pov- fender system in Alabama and a focused on eight years of capital crimination of race and class in school sometimes can be boiled erty and mass incarceration as the typical capital trial will take only crime in Georgia and discovered criminal justice.” down to something that seems in- fourth great challenge to African two days with the court appointed that a person was 11 times more “Lawyers who create justice significant, something that they Americans. Before it came slavery, attorney receiving a payment likely to get the death penalty if believe things they’ve never seen. can walk away from. the reign of terror at the end of re- that’s capped by law at $1,000 for the victim is white than black. The If you want to change things, go On the contrary, said construction, and Jim Crow laws out of court time. odds rose to 22 times more likely someplace where there’s injustice Stevenson. He sees the power of with the attendant legalization of On a national level, if defendant is black than white. and helplessness and say ‘I’m witness, the power of words, mani- segregation and subordination of Stevenson used the Supreme Simply put, race was the greatest here.’” fest themselves in ways that are people of color. Court’s treatment of the death pen- predictor of the death penalty. Commentator Opinions Page 4 October 5, 2005 Is the $125,000 dollar starting salary a good thing? (Part One) BY CRAIG WINTERS, ‘07 That said, let’s put aside the Both of these career paths Yet, eighty percent or so $125k. It’s more. Including bonus, I’d like to pose a question argument that $125k is too low. I are well demonstrated by the vari- NYU Law grads will go to work at Big Law pays somewhere between that may seem heretical – or trea- submit that there may be other ous careers of prominent NYU Law law firms before, if ever, entering $140k and $150k. sonous – to many at NYU Law: Is parties in the first-year associate alumni. Flipping in and out of the the public interest (this includes Second, the 1989 salary was the standard Big Law first-year pay equation whose interest public sector is a common, time- students who enter law firm life in the $60k range, without bonus. associate paycheck of $125,000 should be taken into account. honored tradition, especially so after clerkships; estimates based Add, say, $10,000, and you’ve got dollars per year a good thing? Perhaps we can rephrase my for federal prosecutors (almost all on data from the school’s website). $70k, give or take $5,000. So, in fif- First to be answered: a good initial question as: Is the lure of a of whom come from prestigious This percentage likely the exact teen years, we’ve seen the start- thing for whom? $125,000 dollar starting salary for stints in Big Law). inverse of the percentage of stu- ing salary for Big Law double, For the newly minted first- first-year associates a bad thing The other possible answer dents interested in public interest which isn’t bad compared to the year associate, $2,400 dollars a for society? is significantly less cheerful, and law when they enter law school. inflation-indexed flat wages expe- week is certainly a ton of dough. It Two possible answers come requires a bit more analysis. The question is: Why? rienced by the middle class over pays for apartment security depos- to mind: Let’s start with the notion What happens in three years to the last ten years. its, new wardrobes befitting a One answer may be that Big that the possibility of earning make this so? Is it the allure of the What’s happened with pub- newly acquired status, and it’s $125k siphons off quality lawyers monster salary, or something else? lic interest salaries? There are no enough cash to easily meet the who would otherwise go into pub- There are almost certainly uniform pay rates for this group, burden of astronomical monthly Is the lure of a lic interest law. Is this happening? other important non-pay-related but it’s safe to say that today’s loan payments. For all but the most It’s hard to know for sure. But a factors that affect each individual. $35,000 or $40,000 dollar non-fed- proliferate spenders, it’s also $125,000 dollar couple of generalizations about Location/partner preferences, stu- eral public interest wage hasn’t enough money to start a savings starting salary for the NYU Law student body may dents “biding time” until entering grown anywhere near as fast over account. Good-bye no-interest help. academics or government/non- the last fifteen years. I’ve heard checking! first-year associ- What we do know is that a profit jobs down the road, and that $22,000 to $26,000 was a stan- Clearly, the sky-high starting vast majority of law students en- possibly the relative paucity of dard wage for public interest law salaries benefit everyone who ates a bad thing ter this fine law school with every prestigious public interest open- in 1989, so let’s use that. takes these jobs straight out of law intention of participating in the ings (note, here, the limited num- In sum, the pay differential school. Indeed, I’ve recently heard for society? public interest. After all, it is our ber of Skadden fellowships). This has gone from somewhere around not-so-quiet grumbling that the motto (“a private university in the is, of course, by no means a com- three-to-one for private-vs-public $125,000 annual salary should be Law salaries have created a sym- public interest”). Many are at- prehensive list. interest in 1989 to 4.5- or 5-to-one raised. biotic relationship between corpo- tracted to NYU precisely for this However, pay rates – and the today. That’s a huge difference Some New York and L.A. rate and public interest law. The reason: the strength of our public help that pay provides in making when you are working with mul- firms have allegedly increased their sky-high salaries of the biggest interest programs, clinics, LRAP required loan repayments – must tiples. starting pay to over $140,000 dol- private sector firms act as a “safety and various opportunities in New be counted as a huge factor, if not Finally, and the questions lars in base salary; and, given that net” for public interest lawyers. York City. the most significant factor. I’ll explore in the next Commenta- the $125,000 dollar salary has been This works in two ways. Students A letter to the editor from the Which brings us to the crux tor edition are: What exactly has pretty constant since the late- can take low-paying public inter- last Commentator edition sup- of the matter: If the driving factor driven this pay growth? Where is 1990’s Internet boom (which drew est jobs initially out of law school, ports this point. The writer said is money, is this a bad thing for this money coming from? What young lawyers to Silicon Valley struggle with LRAP and their own “one of the things [he] like[d] society? does this say about being a law- companies and their related enti- poor-by-comparison salaries, then about NYU Law is that those that The pay discrepancy be- yer in today’s America? And what ties), one can accurately say that exit to the riches of a Big Law firm are contemplating public interest tween public interest jobs and Big does it mean for society when a $125,000 today is worth 10 or 15 after serving their communities. Or jobs can work side by side with Law jobs has dramatically in- public interest-oriented school like percent less than it was in 1999 or students can take the Big Law job those interested in corporate creased over the last fifteen years. NYU sends its top graduates to 2000. So, in one particularly pessi- right out of law school, pay off jobs.” While no means scientific, I compared the starting salaries of Big Law? mistic view, first-year associates some (or all) debt while working in it’s likely safe to say that NYU Law two top graduates going to top Stay tuned. may be robbed of $15,000 or more corporate America, and then go is a particularly public interest-fo- firms in 1989 to today’s salaries. THE WRITE CAN BE REACHED AT a year. into public interest law. cused law school. First, today’s $125k is not [email protected]. Letters to the Editor Student Animal Legal Defense To the Editor: Federalist Society, its members, conservative and libertarian law Fund Is Advertising Two Events! I thought I attended the same and its principles. students, legal scholars, and event described in Craig Winter’s Despite Mr. Winters’ lawyers dedicated to fostering Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey op-ed “It’s Official: The insistence throughout his article, discussion of topics such as Monday, October 10, 7:30 PM Federalist Society Runs the we are not all “sweaty” and individual rights, the separation Room 218, Vanderbilt Hall World” but after reading Craig’s “balding” (though I am willing to of powers, and judicial 40 Washington Square South portrayal of it I am no longer concede that, at times, some of independence. sure. How can someone with an our members may be one or the If Mr. Winters has a Law Students for Human Rights and the Student Animal Legal open mind have such a warped other). I personally have a full problem with the existence of Defense Fund will host a screening of Gorillas in the Mist. view of what went on? It was head of brown curly hair, and such debate within the legal Afterward, Marie Scheffers and Ari Bassin will lead a almost as if Craig had worked for can attest that most of the other community he should say so; discussion about the present state of the gorillas living in Eliot Spitzer. Of course, Eliot members of the society are there is no need for him to spend Rwanda and the human rights issues raised by the film. This Spitzer has fought hard for similarly endowed. Nor do I find his time spewing a steady stream event will be held in part to recognize National Primate greater disclosure and if Craig our group to be any more of baseless and derogatory Liberation Week, which begins on October 10th. did work for him or did have “sweaty” than the rest of the accusations. some relationship with him then population. Endangered Moon Bears & the Bear Bile Trade he certainly would have We are also not at all as Tudor Rus ’07 Thursday, October 27, 6:30 PM disclosed such a fact. Of course, “smug” or “righteous” as Mr. Publicity & Membership Chair Room 216, Vanderbilt Hall if the Commentator knew of any Winters would have his readers NYU Law Federalist Society 40 Washington Square South such relationship, they would believe. If Mr. Winters had have disclosed it too. Am I bothered to do some research, Thousands of Asiatic Black Bears (commonly known as Moon wrong? he would have known that the Bears) lie imprisoned for decades in cages no larger than their main purpose of the Federalist own bodies so that their bile can be harvested for traditional Jacob Sasson Society is to stir fair, serious, and medicine, despite the fact there are over 50 herbal and open debate within the legal This Space Reserved synthetic alternatives to bear bile. community. To the Editor: For Your Opinion There is nothing Board up the windows, In July 2000, Animals Asia Foundation became the only “righteous” about exposing lock the cows in the barn, and outside animal organization in the world to sign an agreement members of the legal community hide the children! The of partnership with the Chinese government, beginning the to different points of view. Federalists are coming, and historic rescue of hundreds of endangered moon bears from Almost all of our events provide they’re going to take everything bile farms in China. listeners with an opportunity to you hold near and dear! hear both sides of an issue (the Or so Craig Winters Andrea Mowrer, Animals Asia Foundation’s United States event which Mr. Winters himself would have you think. representative, will speak and show documentary footage about attended featured speakers from Unfortunately however, Mr. the rescue and rehabilitation of the first nearly 200 bears, and the progressive and the Send it to Winters’ op-ed “It’s Official: The discuss how New York state’s laws could further endanger libertarian points of view). Federalist Society Runs the [email protected] Moon Bears. The Federalist Society World” paints an inaccurate and is a national organization of derogatory portrayal of the Commentator Opinions October 5, 2005 Page 5 No More DeLay: S.C. Should Alter Campaign Finance Views BY MEREDITH JOHNSTON JD ‘06 campaigns, not on how much cam- tried to funnel large, illegal contri- stare decisis. When the Supreme Court paigns could spend. fluence, as candidates could rely butions through the state party to Finally, if the Supreme announced their upcoming docket One of Buckley’s most im- on a few major donors rather than individual candidates. Fortunately, Court were to find campaign this week, one case in particular portant and most troubling hold- expend effort collecting many state officials caught DeLay, but spending limits constitutional, grabbed headlines. If upheld, the ings was that contributions could small, individual donations. As a monitoring the flow of contribu- how would the Court do it? In ruling could radically alter the na- be regulated but expenditures practical matter, spending limits tions is difficult and time-consum- Buckley, the Court weighed the ture of the American political cam- could not. O’Connor could take a must be accompanied by strict ing. government’s interest in regulat- paign and how politicians do their relatively liberal view of how far contribution limits. As long as candidates need ing campaign spending against job. Congress may go in limiting con- Instead of focusing on cor- money, donors will find ways to the candidate’s First Amendment In Landell v. Sorrell, the tributions, and still stick to ruption, the Court should consider get it to them. And as long as can- right to free speech. Although it Second Circuit upheld a Vermont Buckley’s hard line protecting new compelling interests, includ- didates can spend unlimited recognized a compelling govern- state law which set a cap on how campaign spending. Last year, the ing how politicians spend their amounts on their campaigns, they ment interest in preventing corrup- much state candidates could spend Supreme Court denied certiorari on time and encouraging new candi- tion or the appearance of corrup- on their campaigns. Thirty years a case remarkably similar to dates to enter races. If the costs of tion, the Court determined that the ago, the Supreme Court declared Landell, in which the lower court campaigns are capped, candidates candidate’s interest was more im- such spending limits unconstitu- upheld Albuquerque’s spending As long as candi- will spend less time fundraising portant. tional in Buckley v. Valeo. Is the limits. Although not dispositive, and more time attending to voters’ dates need In order for the Supreme Supreme Court preparing to over- the denial of certiorari indicates needs. Additionally, spending lim- Court to find campaign spending rule, or at least modify, Buckley? there was not significant support its will lower barriers to entry for money, donors limits constitutional, it must either Probably not. Given the on the Court for change. new candidates and may result in decide that now the threat of cor- number of times Chief Justice Rob- Even if O’Connor might more vigorous primaries. Spend- will find ways to ruption is sufficiently compelling erts invoked “stare decisis” in his support campaign spending lim- ing limits may advantage incum- or that there is some other com- confirmation hearings, he is un- its, she will probably not be on the get it to them bents, in that new candidates pelling interest that justifies regu- likely to reverse on Buckley. More Court be the time Landell is heard. would be prevented from engag- lating campaign spending. Alter- importantly, there are not enough Her replacement is even less likely ing in expensive advertising, will need money. The result is the natively, but less likely, it could votes on the Court in favor of cam- to be open to campaign finance whereas incumbents can rely on situation we have now: multi-mil- decide that spending money is not paign spending limits. reform. name recognition. But the merits lion dollar campaigns that force equivalent to core First Amend- Some press reports have A better question is: of a particular plan are best left to candidates to spend the bulk of ment speech, thus reducing the speculated that Justice O’Connor should the Supreme Court reinter- legislatures to determine. their time fund-raising and encour- weight on the candidate’s side of might vote to uphold the Vermont pret Buckley to allow for campaign The Court must merely rec- age influence-minded donors to the balancing test. law. O’Connor has supported cam- spending limits? The answer is a ognize that there is a crisis in find new loopholes in the contri- In Lorell, the Second Circuit paign finance reform in the past, resounding yes. Another major American politics, and that states bution regulations. Not surpris- suggested that campaign spend- most notably serving as the fifth headline from last week shows ex- have compelling interests in im- ingly, many Americans are frus- ing limits would reduce influence- vote to uphold large portions of actly why this issue is so impor- proving the situation. Narrow, un- trated by this system, and some peddling, thereby reducing cor- the Bipartisan Campaign Reform tant. principled, and outdated jurispru- state legislatures, like Vermont, are ruption. However, reducing how Act (better known as McCain- Tom DeLay faces indict- dence should not block the effec- trying to do something about it. much candidates spend won’t Feingold) in 2003. But that law fo- ment for violating his state’s cam- tive functioning of the democratic The Court cannot ignore the situ- change who is giving. Spending cused on limiting contributions to paign finance laws. Apparently, he process. ation by relying on the doctrine of limits could actually increase in- What Is The Deal With New Yorkers? life,” by Sarah Portlock, in its Au- gun, which was totally unneces- CRITICAL APPROACHES BY NICHOLAS KANT JD ’06 gust 29th edition. Portlock quotes sary. College of Arts and Sciences se- · And also there is the time No matter where you’re nior George Tan, “a self-described that I acknowledged this guy who READING GROUP from, you’ve got to admit that New ‘real New Yoiker.’” Tan “warned was hocking his rap CD across the York is full of people. But with so that, whatever you do, don’t look street from Union Square. I many people, I wonder why no one at anyone.” Tan is quoted as say- thought it was cool that he wanted OCTOBER 12 and 19; NOVEMBER 1 and 8 ever says hi, smiles or even looks ing that on the subway, “eye con- people to hear his “underground” at me. tact is a dis that might lead to pain- CD. Little did I realize that he 6pm, Vandy 214 For example: ful stabbings.” wanted money for it. And he food will be served · I must pass hundreds of Whether Mr. Tan is right or wanted money from me for taking people in a day, just walking down not, I have some examples of my up his precious two minutes talk- the street. No one ever says hello. own. ing to him about it. What is the critical approaches reading group? · There are people in every Like the time I was walk- So yeah, if you look at some- The reading group is a student-organized attempt to get square foot of Washington Square ing through Washington Square one, something might happen. But Park, but none of them smile at me. does that mean together and discuss alternative approaches to the law. · I stand inside a subway that when we ride the sub- READ THE MATERIALS and come to discuss, argue, train so cramped that I can’t even I think that I way we should be ever vigilant, take a step, and yet, no one even could at least and constantly concerned with debate. looks at me. not looking at a single person? Why is New York like this? glance at most Out of some paranoid fear of get- It would seem intuitive to think ting shanked? Is that any way to This semester, we are going to meet six times total in three that if there are a lot of people people on the live? mini-units. around, you wouldn’t be able to Well, I’m sorry Mr. Tan, avoid people looking, smiling, say- subway without you might be a “real New Yoiker,” ing hello… but I have to disagree with you. If E-mail [email protected] I submit that people don’t getting shanked. someone looks like a hardened look, smile or say hello precisely killer, I might not want to stare at for the readings for any particular session because there are so Park, and this middle-aged guy him. But I think that I could at least many people around. People was running around squirting glance at most people on the sub- don’t want to acknowledge oth- some people with his water gun. way without getting shanked. ers because of a fear of what might They also had water guns, and Should we really be so iso- then happen. were squirting him. As I was walk- lated that in a city of eight million For example, the Washing- ing by, he was only about three people we never even look at each ton Square News, “NYU’s Daily feet away from me, and I glanced other? I don’t think things should Student Newspaper,” published at him. The next thing I knew, he be like that, and I refuse to be like “Etiquette rules to survive city was squirting me with his water that. The Staff of the Commentator would like to wish the entire NYU community a Happy Jewish New Year. Commentator Arts Page 6 October 5, 2005 Safran Foer Novel Comes To Big Screen, Doesn’t Disappoint.

BY BRIGHAM BARNES ’06 Illuminated’s” first-time director, While it seems to be in fash- same time has embellished certain Live Schreiber, presents Safran details from the novel’s decidedly ion to put young author Jonathan Foer’s tale of a young man (named Safran Foer down, I can’t hate: I obscure ending, producing a much Jonathan Safran Foer, played by more cohesive tale for the movie’s enjoyed both of his novels, “Ev- Elijah Wood) seeking to unravel erything is Illuminated” and “Ex- audience to enjoy. mystery of his family history in Much as the portions nar- tremely Loud and Incredibly Eastern Europe in the company of Close.” I read them both in huge, rated by Alex stand out as the most an America-obsessed tour guide enjoyable parts of the book, Eu- hungry bites and I believe that the (Alex, played by Eugene Hutz), guy knows what he’s doing. So it gene Hutz’s character of Alex is Alex’s grandfather (played by one of the best things about the was with mild trepidation that I Boris Leskin), and the went to see the new film adapta- movie—Hutz effectively conveys grandfather’s “seeing eye bitch” Alex’s innocent confidence and tion of “Everything is Illuminated.” Sammy Davis Jr. I’m willing to accept that swagger, slowly revealing his true movies based on books will invari- concerns and insecurities. While I ably make certain changes in their fans of the novel didn’t imagine the character of interpretation of the source mate- Jonathan Safran Foer as such a rial and the directors of these films have nothing to fastidious individual as Elijah will see fit to add certain creative Wood has created for this film (I flourishes here and there, but the worry about, we sort of imagined that the Jonathan posters I had seen promoting the may view this Safran Foer character was, uhm, film, featuring the film’s star, Elijah normal?), it is not difficult to ac- Wood, before a psychedelic as- movie in peace, for cept Wood’s interpretation of the sortment of sun flowers unnerved character and enjoy the film. me . . . and the trailers I saw for the it is good. All in all, as it’s a fact that film seemed excessively quirky for fans of a book will inevitably have a book that I considered eccentric to accept certain changes when the While a good deal of Safran story they enjoy is turned into the but real. Foer’s novel consisted of a narra- Good news though: fans of movie, “Everything is Illuminated” tive describing the very details that is a capable and enjoyable telling the novel have nothing to worry This poster scared Commentator writer Brigham Barnes. He was afraid that the the character of Jonathan Safran of Safran Foer’s story. The embel- about, we may view this movie in movie would suck and be nothing like the book. His fears were unfounded. The Foer was seeking to uncover, lishments and exceptions do not peace, for it is good. Schrieber has left this portion of movie receives a good review, despite having a weird flower poster. “Everything is offend the ideas and spirit behind the novel out of the film, but at the the original novel.

The Spectacular Commie Crossword! Clip Out And Play In Class Instead of Solitaire.

BY JESSICA GONZALEZ ’06 Commentator Arts October 5, 2005 Page 7 pled guilty and was sentenced to seven years); the melancholy and Five Discs: optimism with which the band at- SLAP Football League tempts to recover resonate Indie Rock Albums To Check Out throughout the resulting songs, reaching frequent crescendos in Scores and Schedule lines like “You can go home / But I 2. Say Hi to Your Mom can’t go home.” SCORES SCHEDULES BY ILYA KUSHNIRSKY ’06 Ferocious Mopes Start with: Singer Jeremy (Euphobia, 2005) Bolen abandons his typically FULL CONTACT LEAGUE WEEK 4: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 With so many albums re- What to make of Say Hi to slurred vocal delivery for album WEEK 2 FULL CONTACT LEAGUE leased each year, some are bound Your Mom, the d/b/a of Brooklyn’s highlight “Virginia, Don’t Drown,” Gans and Co. 18 1:30pm to slip through the cracks. We lis- Eric Elbogen? On one hand, there’s an incredibly melodic collision of Tim Meyers 0 The Wobblies v. Gans & Co. ten to everything so you don’t the cheeky, Neighborhoodies- Pixies dynamism and Cure-like pa- Tim Meyer v. Pro Boner have to, and each issue we report friendly band name and unapolo- thos that hints at the band’s fu- Malicious Prostitution 26 back with five recent albums wor- getic geek-chic of lyrics like “Let’s ture greatness. The song’s star- Pro Boner 0 2:30 thy of your attention. talk about spaceships / Or any- tlingly poppy final minute, domi- Malicious Prostitution v. Each suggestion also in- thing except you and me, okay?” nated by the chorus “Virginia, FULL CONTACT LEAGUE Dirty Briefs cludes a separate “start with” sec- On the other, there’s the undeni- don’t drown / A dry spell is com- WEEK 3 tion, where a dollar and a dream able quality of Elbogen’s synth- ing,” seems particularly poignant Gans and Co. 20 People’s Army v. (or at least a connection to the and-layered-guitar brand of DIY in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Pro Boner 12 Minimum Contacts iTunes Music Store) lets noncom- indie pop. The track is available as a free mittal types try before they buy. Recorded on a PC in his download on the band’s website, People’s Army 8 LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE Williamsburg apartment—hey, at chinupchinup.com. The Wobblies 6 1ST INTERDIVISION WEEK 1. The Exploding Hearts least he’s getting his rent’s 1:30pm Guitar Romantic (Dirtnap, worth—Elbogen’s heartfelt emo- 4. Dogs Die in Hot Cars Minimum Contacts 36 Battery Chargers v. Flag Burners 2003) lite songs explore the emotions of Please Describe Yourself Dirty Briefs 12 Bukola’s v. Deep Impact A surefire formula for chart self-conscious vampires, sentient (V2, 2004) success in the ClearChannel age: toys, and lovelorn robots, like The worst band name ever? 2:30pm repackage 70’s power riffs with a Pedro the Lion on a Playstation- Possibly, but its god-awfulness is LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE Barely Legal v. Gans & Co. knowing wink and a nod, flirt and-Jolt binge. The band’s mitigated by two factors: (1) Un- BARRISTERS LLUA v. NC17 openly with Bowie-fied sexual am- website, sayhitoyourmom.com, like, say, the Goo Goo Dolls, Dogs WEEK 2 biguities, then sit back and watch makes nine tracks available as MP3 Die in Hot Cars are actually a great Bukola’s Team 20 3:30pm as pre-teens in Ramones shirts downloads, although Elbogen indie pop band, and (2) they were Auditors 12 Title IX v. Reasonable lines the pockets of your vintage warns that if fans don’t pay for his totally inhaling helium balloons leopard-skin pants. albums, he might “stop making Auditors v. Pass/Fail when they came up with that name Gans & Co 21 Although the garishly retro music and go to law school in- (yes, really). Rodeo Clowns 0 album cover art and frontman stead.” On that first point, consider 4:30pm Adam Cox’s affected British ac- Start with: While “Yeah, I’m exhibit A: the band’s debut album, Learned Hand Job v. Agency? Agency? 28 cent—these likely lads are from in Love with an Android” provides a collection of goofy, hook-filled Just the Tip v. Rodeo Clowns Reasonable 0 Portland—point to another cheap a lyrical counterpoint to Britpop that falls somewhere be- cash-in, the opening riff of Explod- Grandaddy’s superior “Jed the tween late XTC and early Blur. Fans WEEK 5: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 ing Hearts’ debut removes any Humanoid,” the stargazing, impos- of the Futureheads’ infectious pop LLUA 12 FULL CONTACT LEAGUE suspicion of shameless 70’s punk sibly hooky opener “The Twenty- melodies and multi-part vocal har- Battery Chargers 6 1:30pm revivalism. Second Century” finds Elbogen monies—and anyone who waited People’s Army v. Pro Boner This is the genuine article, daydreaming of a future in which in line Monday night for the new LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE The Wobblies v. Dirty Briefs one of the best pop-punk albums geeky kids like him rule the world. album by fellow Glaswegians Franz BARRISTERS since the first wave and a timeless Maybe he should consider law Ferdinand—should investigate WEEK 3 2:30pm punk artifact on par with New York school after all. immediately. Agency? 36 Malicious Prostitution v. Dolls and London Calling. Like Start with: Though there Rodeo Clowns 12 Gans & Co. the band itself, which lost three 3. Chin Up Chin Up isn’t a weak track on the album, members in a tragic tour van acci- We Should Have Never standout “Apples & Oranges” re- Bukola’s Team 18 Tim Meyer v. Minimum Contacts dent months after the album’s re- Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers mains one of the catchiest non- LLUA 16 lease, it starts off like gangbusters (Flameshovel, 2004) singles of 2004, the kind of jangly, LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE and ends too soon. There’ll never Although built around the carefree summer pop song over- Gans and Co. 24 1:30pm be another, so it’s a good thing this complex time signatures, tight ar- analysis of which misses the point Reasonable. 12 Bukola’s v. Gans & Co. one is damn near flawless. rangements, and hushed vocals entirely. Flag Burners v. Just the Tip Start with: In a but-for world, characteristic of the Chicago art- LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE wasted-youth anthem “Modern rock scene—fans of Tortoise and 5. Wolf Parade SOLICITORS 2:30pm Kicks”—the best since 90 Day Men will feel right at Apologies to the Queen EEK W 2 Reasonable v. Battery Charger Supergrass’ “Caught by the home—Chin Up Chin Up’s debut Mary (Sub Pop, 2005) Title IX 7 Barely Legal v. Deep Impact Fuzz”—would be the band’s full-length is distinguished by a Score another one for Barely Legal 6 MTV2 calling card. With smash- sense of humility seemingly at Canada. Despite a lack of rock pedi- ing guitars and bratty, dangerous odds with its sonic grandiosity. gree—no, Our Lady Peace doesn’t 3:30pm NC17 12 Agency? v. LLUA lyrics that perfectly capture the Shortly before the album count—Toronto and Montreal Flag Burners 6 kick-in-the-head sound of a pre- was recorded, bassist Chris have produced some of the most Title IX v. Pass/Fail Strokes CBGB’s, it’s one of the best Saathoff was killed in a hit-and-run exciting indie rock bands of the last Just The Tip 24 Track Ones of the decade. SUV accident (the driver recently 4:30pm five years, the former spawning Learned Hand Job 7 Broken Social Scene and Stars, the Auditors v. Rodeo Clowns latter keeping pace with the Arcade NC17 v. Learned Hand Job LIGHT CONTACT LEAGUE Fire, the Unicorns, and now Wolf SOLICITORS Parade, whose raw, accomplished WEEK 3 debut is an early contender for best Deep Impact 14 album of the year. NC17 6 Produced by number-one- fan Isaac Brock, the album bristles Title IX 20 with the ferocity of Modest Mouse’s pre-O.C. years. This is Just the Tip 12 rock music at its most earnest— everything from the fragile, pierc- Pass/Fail 26 ing vocals to the artful arrange- Mike’s Team 6 ments and eyes-on-the-road rhythms pulses with the intensity LHJ 34 of a band demanding to be heard. Barely Legal 20 Start with: If you buy one rock album this year, let it be this one. If you don’t, check out the delicate melody, harmonic camara- derie, and haunting la-la-la’s of the incredibly heartfelt “Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts,” Wolf Parade, indie rock group on the rise. Their lateast album is “Apologies to one of the year’s best songs. Then the Queen Mary.” buy the damn album anyway. Commentator Sports Page 8 October 5, 2005 While Make Up Classes Were In Session: SLAP Heats Up

BY CONOR FRENCH ’06 nobody, I say nobody, gonna touch the M-Peezy.” Talk about Three scintillating weeks in laying down the gauntlet. and the flag football season is al- Although it remains too ready off to a rollicking start. The early to tell for sure, the People’s games are already fiery. Referees Army (now “with” as opposed to are already suffering verbal abuse “versus” Brandon Chock (’06)) from all directions. One player al- and Minimum Contacts look set to ready ripped his shirt off in prepa- contend. The People’s Army ration for fisticuffs (unfortunately, earned a hard fought win in a de- this person was presumably too fensive struggle (and I am sure junior to realize that a former com- Minimum Contacts did something missioner/player pulled that same good as well although this com- confrontational gesture two years mentator remains in the dark as to ago – get your own move). what it might have been). All over East River Park, The Less Contact league, tensions abound but are defused by virtue of the great plenitude of by post-game euphoria. Playing teams, remains wide open. Defend- under the bright September sun- ing champs, Bukola’s team raced shine, our slightly sun-burnt faces out to 3-0 start in the Barrister Di- may remind us of how much law vision behind solid defense and a school and New York City often knack for clutch plays. The only interfere with our attempts to concern for Bukola may be the spend autumn days frolicking out- growing quarterback controversy all the time. All the ——ing time.” field. Although the exact compo- able belts doom the running-ori- side. between Paul Wong and David In the Solicitor Division, In the Full Contact sition of this Title IX beast remains ented offense of Barely Tisch (both ’06). Title IX looks the team-to-beat. In a bit of a mystery, this rivalry is league, the frontrunner, Malicious On why he proclaimed him- Legal…will the oncoming brittle Week Three, they collided with one to look forward to come No- cold dampen our enthusiasm and Prostitution, blazed out to perfect self the most underrated New York Just the Tip in an entertaining con- 2-0 start. What is more, they have vember. dwindle our numbers…should University School of Law, Student test, marked by bad blood between A couple of final notes: yet to yield a single point despite Lawyers Athletic Program: Less young baseballers really be per- the two teams. Title IX prevailed As Gans & Co. continues to post mitted to hit line drives at our the temporary absence of Contact League, Barrister Division by remaining efficient on offense gamebreaker, Charles Vandenberg win after win in both the Full Con- games…and, lastly and most player, Tisch claimed to be “very while capitalizing on several mis- tact and Less Contact Leagues, (’06). Playing through the pain of light on my feet. You know like the importantly…Who is Mike Jones? takes by its opponent. The game when should we maybe start to Friday is only a couple days away. a malignant blister, Dakota Loomis way the Madden players tiptoe also featured the first-ever sexual (’07), offered post-game that “ain’t care who they are…did the change Let’s crush it. along that sideline. I am like that harassment penalty called on the from detachable flags to detach-