Volume 1, Issue 4 April 2012 The Gavel The Official Publication of the University of Illinois Pre– Law Club Find us at www.illinoisprelaw.com Super-Duper Tuesday Featured Articles: Democratic Candidates: President Obama’s Campaign p. 3 Randall Terry: The Big Name You Don’t Know p. 4 Republican Candidates: Mitt Romney’s Chances p. 5- 6 A Quick Look at Newt Gingrich p. 6 Photo Courtesy of www.270towin.com Ron Paul Profile p. 7 By Kyle Lundin Santorum on the Issues p. 7 emerged from the madness with a Tuesday, March 6, 2012 gave myriad of conclusions. Mitt Romney birth to the mother of all primaries. Election Issues: had the most resounding victory of “Super Tuesday,” as it is known, is Same– Sex Issues p. 8 typically the defining moment in the the day, albeit by an incredibly slim race for nomination. On this day there margin. Romney was victorious in are more states and more delegates up six states, including the proverbially for grabs than on any other single day important battleground of Ohio, during the primary season. Voters hit where he eked out an important win the polls everywhere from Alaska to over Rick Santorum by less than a Virginia in seven primaries and three percentage point. caucuses; the four primary Republican In contrast, Mr. Santorum candidates all hoped to separate them- pulled together North Dakota, Ten- selves from their adversaries with one nessee, and Oklahoma; he netted him swoop. 87 delegates for the day compared to However, this election’s round Romney’s haul of 220. Newt Gin- of Super Tuesday revelry did not pro- grich limped to the finish line duce much in the way of conclusive continued on page 5 results. The Republican candidates 1 A letter from the editor The GAVEL Dear Gavel Readers, Editor-in-Chief Maria Zyskind This month, we bring you a special election issue of the Gavel. Layout/Design Editors We have profiled the Democratic and Republican candidates to Allison Gerns Erjing Cui give you an overview of the election. In this issue, you will find candidates’ stances on key issues and polls of how candidates Section Editors Andrea Sinele… International Law are doing. Anna Choi….. Entertainment Becky Bradshaw… Copy Editor Rebecca Kaplan… Copy Editor Christopher Lowery… Law News As always, Pre-Law Club has a host of speakers and social Dan Szczesny… Sports Law events to provide you with information in the field of law. Jordan Morris.. Pre-Law Club News Lillian Fitzmaurice…. Domestic Law Make sure you take advantage of all of the professional attor- Megan Gil…. Domestic/International Law neys and knowledgeable speakers who come to our meetings. Featured Writers Lillian Fitzmaurice Kyle Lundin Becky Bradshaw Gwendalyn Lavigne I hope you are all enjoying your semester. We are already in April, which means the school year is coming to an end soon. Pre-Law Club Executive Board Good luck with finals and good luck to all those taking the June President: Neil Vohra LSAT. I know I have a lot more studying left to do. Vice President: Iga Cyganczuk Secretary: Dan Coultas Special Programming Internal: Kate Trader Special Programming External: Ann He Sincerely, Membership/ Public Relations: Stephanie Maria Zyskind Gilbert Editor-in-Chief Treasurer: Dan Szczesny Webmaster: Stephanie Chiarelli Gavel Editor: Maria Zyskind Pre-Law Club Honors Executive Board: Co-President: Meghana Joshi Co-President: Kate Poorbaugh Secretary: Sean Peters Treasurer: Tabitha Atkin Special Programming: Anna Mangia Are you interested in writing for The Gavel? You can Exec Pro Temp: Meagan Leonard earn Pre-Law Club points for participating. Contact Philanthropy Chair: Katie Clausing [email protected] for more information. Membership Chair: Michelle Bolos 2 Democratic Candidates President Obama’s Campaign By Maria Zyskind Barack Obama, the current There were 45% who influence voters. CNN Poling Democratic president, is running disapproved, while 4% did not Director Keating Holland projects for reelection. In his early career, have an opinion. This is the first that a majority of males, older age he attended Columbia University time since the previous May when groups, suburban dwellers, and and Harvard Law School. He his approval ratings were above independents will vote for Obama taught constitutional law at the 50%. That boost was likely from While in office, President University of Chicago. In 1996, Osama bin Laden’s death. Obama ended the war in Iraq and he was elected to the Illinois State Despite this approval is responsible for the operation Senate. In 2004, he went on to the rating, a majority of Americans that killed Osama Bin Laden. He United States Senate. He was evaluate the economy as being in proposed the American Jobs Act elected as president in 2008. bad shape. Although there has to create jobs and help the A CNN poll for March 24- been in increase in Americans economy; however, it failed in 25, 2012, showed President who believe the economy is doing Congress. He proposed the Obama with a 51% approval well, the majority do not agree. Patient Protection and Affordable rating for his job as president. This will be a big issue in the Care Act, which has a goal of upcoming election that may reducing the costs of health care. People will have to have insurance, disregarding their circumstances. It will be interesting to find out how his time in office influences his chances for reelection Polls February 1, 2012: President Obama’s approval rating is highest in D.C. and lowest in Utah. Source: Gallup.com Photo Courtesy of: guardian.co.uk “President Obama’s Campaign”: “Profile: Barack Obama” 2012 (MSNBC News). “General Election, Economy, Obama Approval” 2012 (CNN News). 3 Democratic Candidates his literature and on his website, Polls Randall Terry: The he takes little time in letting the world know that he is Catholic, March 19, 2012: The Big Name You which he converted to in 2006. He unemployment rate decreased had the honor of meeting Pope from February to March. It went Don’t Know John Paul II and lecturing at the down from 9.1% in February to Vatican. If he were to be elected, 8.8% in March. By Gwendalyn LaVigne he would be the second Catholic president, the first having been Source: Gallup Polls Unlike the incumbent, the John F. Kennedy. On his website, name of the other Declared Terry lists his many Democratic candidate is not too accomplishments as an activist, well known. It is that of Randall especially as a presidential author and singer-songwriter. No candidate. His main literature that Terry, a Democrat with a twist. that is not an error. An album of Historically, Democrats are he passes out at rallies and mainly Christian songs of his own campaign stops is titled “Is Voting described to be pro-choice. writing was recorded and However, Randall Terry’s main for Obama Immoral?” distributed in 2002. He has You will notice there is argument is wholly opposite. written seven books on the topics Randall Terry is a New one thing about Randall Terry that of abortion and religion. I have not mentioned: the federal York City native and unlike every As an activist, he was the other candidate in many ways. In offices that he has held. Well it front-man of what his website turns out the only political office describes as the largest act of civil this activist has ever held was disobedience in history: Operation student body president at his Bible Rescue. It has grown to include (non-degree) college. He has run 70,000 participants. The point of as a Republican for Congressional this movement was to show that and Senate seats in 1998 and 2006 abortion was immoral and get rid respectively, losing in the of it by overturning Roe v. Wade. primaries both times. This time he Because of Operation Rescue, is running as a Democrat for Terry has been arrested 50 times President against the charismatic and once incarcerated for an incumbent Barack Obama. How extended period of time. The most this plays out at the DNC will be recent of those arrests was for quite a show, especially since trespassing while protesting neither Democratic candidate has President Obama giving a campaigned very heavily at the commencement at the Catholic present time. university Notre Dame. He has been sued by abortion groups to Photo Courtesy of 2012- the point that he had to declare presidentialcandidate.findthedata.org bankruptcy and “lost everything”. However, he still argues his case, “Randal Terry: The Big Name You Don’t Know”: “Randall Terry” 2012 (TerryforPresident.com). “Randall Terry ” 2012 (Wikipedia.com). 4 Republican Candidates ble lead in overall delegate count Ron Paul with 9.3%, and finally with 429, compared to Santorum’s Newt Gingrich with 8%. 169 and Gingrich’s 118. Forth runner Mitt Romney The next several contests was the 70th Governor of Massa- are in primarily southern states chusetts from 2003 until 2007. like Alabama and Mississippi, Now he is running for the presi- whose populations consistently dency; however, this is not the identify themselves as evangelical first time Romney has run for or very conservative. This closely president. In 2008 he ran for presi- mirrors Santorum’s base and may dent, but dropped out in February even resuscitate Gingrich. Rom- after trailing behind McCain in ney has traditionally struggled in delegates. In between his races he these states, as well as the upcom- focused on touring, giving speech- ing states of Kansas and Missouri, es, and raising funds for the Re- when posed next to Santorum and publican Party. Photo Courtesy of news.nationalpost.com Gingrich. He could cede signifi- As governor of Massachu- cant ground in the delegate count setts, he was able to eliminate a Continued from front page in the upcoming weeks.