Who should win the Coping with law Mozart or Xzibit? presidential election? school stressors Will it be McCain, Clinton Whether students cope by One Gavel editor used or Obama? With three drinking or doing yoga, to read books and attend formidable candidates, there are a variety of ways to concerts in his free time. The Gavel debates who the cope with stress. The Gavel Now he just wants to strongest choice is. explores the possibilities. watch “Pimp My Ride” on MTV. POLITICS, PAGE 5 LAW, PAGE 3 OPINION, PAGE 6 THE GAVEL VOLUME 56, ISSUE 5 MARCH 2008 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT CLEVELAND-MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW Barrister’s Ball Delta theta phi sponsors spring break trip to D.C. By Kevin Shannon 2008: a night of STAFF WRITER On Sunday, March 9, 2008, 16 Cleve- land-Marshall students embarked on a trip revelry to Washington D.C., braving the blizzard By Paul Deegan of 2008. Organized by Delta Theta Phi CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF and funded by the SBA, the trip included Our SBA outdid itself by hosting Barris- tours of the Supreme Court and the Library ter’s Ball 2008 at Windows on the River, in of Congress. A chance encounter with the West Bank of the Flats. The event began Representative Dennis Kucinich further at 7pm with the elegantly dressed attendees provided a smaller group of students with an beginning to arrive around 6:30pm. The intimate after-hours tour of the U.S. Capitol. open bar was especially a hit since it served The trip was almost cut short before top-shelf liquor and a variety of other drinks. it began due to the almost two feet of “Now this is the type of bar I’m talking snow that mother nature unceremoniously about,” said Chuck Northcutt. All of the dumped on Cleveland on the eve of the trip. hard work and planning paid off as nearly The undaunted students dug out their cars 250 students, faculty and their dates attended. and traversed the dangerous terrain on their Windows was exquisitely prepared way out of the city. The students were glad Delta Theta Phi group takes tour of the Capitol with Ohio Representative Dennis for the Cleveland Marshall crowd. With they did, once they arrived and discovered Kucinich. ample space to dine and dance there were that lodging was at the luxurious Days Inn of Supreme Court, where they met the Court’s before the Court wait for their case to be no long drink lines or feelings of restraint. Alexandria, just minutes outside of the city. Clerk Major General William Suter for a called. He gave a lecture about the court The catered meal was delicious which- Awakening on Monday morning to a tour of the building. This would prove to and answered students’ questions about ever dish you ordered. “This Prime Rib deliciously catered breakfast at the Chikzza be far from the ordinary tour and General memorable oral arguments, cameras in is fantastic,” raved Gannon Quinn as he Restaurant, the students fortified themselves Suter provided the students with a view of the courtroom, and his basic training took another bite, but the big hit according for the long day ahead. They boarded the Court that few people have ever seen. experiences with Elvis Presley. One to many was the cheesecake. The author the Metro for a short trip into the city. Suter began the tour in the private student asked him about the so-called of this article had two pieces himself. The students began the day at the U.S. lawyer’s lounge, where lawyers arguing “highest court in the land,” which is the See BARRISTER’S, page 7 See D.C. TRIP, page 3 CSU hosted democractic presidential debate By Michelle Todd from CSU students alone. A public Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs STAFF WRITER lottery was held in addition to the Jones, and Chelsea Clinton, who th On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, student and volunteer lotteries. was celebrating her 28 birthday. Cleveland State University received In addition to volunteers and Several lucky C-M law stu- national recognition when it hosted attendees of the Decision 2008, dents were also in attendance at Decision 2008, the Ohio Democratic more than 500 reporters from the debate, both as volunteers and Presidential debate between Senator across the nation and around the audience members. 2L Matt Lallo Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack world converged on the CSU won a ticket in the student lottery Obama at the CSU Wolstein Center. campus to cover the 90-minute to volunteer at the debate and also Attention 3Ls By hosting Decision 2008, CSU debate. As a result, all classes at got the chance to sit in the audience. and the city of Cleveland took cen- the University were cancelled for As a volunteer in the “spin room”, ter stage in one of the most hotly the day in order to properly accom- Lallo helped reporters and politicos The application to sit for the July contested races for the Democratic modate this large media presence conduct their interviews with the Presidential nomination in recent on campus for the historic event. press. Lallo and approximately 2008 Ohio Bar Examination is due on history. Such a position definitely The debate was broadcast 20 other “spin room” volunteers had its advantages for several C-M locally on WKYC-TV3, while were paired up with someone April 1, 2008. law students, who were given the other NBC affiliates broadcast whom the media would like to in- unique and invaluable opportunity to the debate throughout Ohio. NBC terview. Once this person entered attend this highly anticipated debate also broadcasted two editions the room, the spin room volunteer For more information log onto the between the Democratic candidates. of NBC Nightly News from the would stand next to this person and Although tickets to attend the debate CSU Wolstein Center, as well hold a sign with the individual’s Supreme Court of Ohio’s website: were limited, all CSU students were as a taping of the Hardball pro- name on it, so that reporters could given the chance to enter a lottery for gram featuring Chris Matthews. identify their position in the room. http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/ a chance to be one of the 200 volun- Some of the more recogniz- When asked what the most teers needed for the event or to sit in able faces in the debate audi- memorable aspect of his experi- admissions/examApps/default.asp the audience of approximately 1,600. ence were Ohio Governor Ted ence was, Lallo said that meeting According to the CSU Marketing Strickland, Cleveland Mayor Ohio Governor Ted Strickland in and Public Affairs Department, more Frank Jackson, Senator Sherrod person was something he truly than 20,000 ticket requests were re- Brown, Reverend Jesse Jack- enjoyed. “Probably the best part ceived for the debate, including 5,000 son, former Senator John Glenn, about the debate was that I got See DEBATE, page 2 THE GAVEL Page Law 2 March 2008 Dean congratulates distinguished C-M faculty By Geoffrey Mearns The foundation of any academic institution is its faculty. We are for- tunate to have a foundation of dedicated teachers and creative scholars. Two weeks ago, we celebrated the accomplishments of four of our faculty members who were appointed to named professorships. Such an appointment rec- ognizes a faculty member who is an outstanding teacher and accomplished scholar. Professor Susan J. Becker: Charles R. Emrick, Jr. – Calfee, Halter & Griswold Endowed Professor of Law Professor Becker received her law degree, magna cum laude, from our law school in 1983. After graduation, she clerked for the Honorable Robert Kru- pansky of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and then she was an associate at Jones Day. Her publications address civil litigation and cutting edge issues in the area of sexual orientation and the law. Her recent articles have appeared in the AMERICAN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF GENDER & LAW and the WILLIAM AND MARY JOURNAL OF WOMEN AND THE LAW. She is the author of two books: DISCOVERY OF EMPLOYEES (2005), and THE LAW OF PROFESSIONAL The RESPONSIBILITY IN OHIO (with J. Guttenberg and L. Snyder) (2008). Dean’s Chuck Emrick (’58) and his wife, Liz, along with his col- Column leagues, friends and clients, funded this professorship. He was a partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold. During his years in practice, Chuck helped build the firm into one of the region’s most successful. He and Liz have been unwavering supporters of our law school and our students. Professor Kathleen C. Engel: Leon M. and Gloria Plevin Professor of Law Professor Engel graduated from Smith College and the University of Texas Law School. She clerked for the Honorable Homer Thornberry of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and then she practiced law at Burnham & Hines in Boston. She is an authority on mortgage finance and regulation, sub-prime predatory lending, and housing discrimination. In January, she was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank’s Consumer Advisory Council. Her publications, a number of which she co-wrote with Professor Patricia McCoy, include articles in the TEXAS LAW REVIEW, FORDHAM LAW RE- VIEW, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW QUARTERLY, and HOUSING POLICY DEBATE. Leon Plevin (’57) is a highly respected and very successful trial law- yer. His wife, Gloria, is a nationally respected painter and printmaker. In The debate at Cleveland State the 51 years since he graduated, he has never lost touch with his law alma mater. He has been a member of our Visiting Committee and President of our Law Alumni Association.