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Vol. 26 Issue 85 fiusm.com Wednesday, April 15, 2015 College of Law PRIDE PARADE receives grant to train students for capital cases NICOLE MONTERO really apparent in this state is that Asst. News Director access to counsel is important [email protected] when giving people a fair trial, especially in capital cases,” Florida has the second highest Rittgers said. “In Florida, there number of inmates on Death Row hasn’t been enough capacity to in the country, according to the support people who are being Florida Capital Resource Center. charged with capital offenses.” It is also the only state that She added that she and other allows a jury to decide the members of the Themis Fund are factors and to recommend death hoping that, by giving the College by a majority vote of 7 to 12. of Law the grant, they will be CARL-FREDERICK FRANCOIS/THE BEACON As a result of this, the Themis able to increase the capacity and University students, staff and faculty wave to the audience while riding the FIU float during Miami Fund, an organization aimed at ability to obtain legal counsel for Beach Gay Pride Parade. The parade, now in its seventh year, took place on Sunday, April 12. abolishing the death penalty, has those individuals who are being given the University’s College tried for capital offenses. of Law a $620,000 grant to help The grant will support costs improve how defense lawyers of traveling around the state of providing consulting services in teach and train lawyers,” said an extraordinary man in your handle capital cases. Florida and will fund lawyers capital cases. Harper. “But it’s sad that this has faculty,” she said. “It’s through “Florida is the new Texas right who are experienced with capital Inside the classroom, Harper to be done because you expect his leadership that we became now,” said Rebecca Rittgers, cases. will be teaching law students lawyers handling cases as serious involved at FIU and, because of director of Themis Fund. “It has “I’m trying to sort of groom how to handle a death penalty as a death case to understand him, there wasn’t another option a death row of 404 people right a new group of law students who case and how to help the lawyers and to do all the things that, for this grant. It was always now and has one of the highest will eventually do capital cases,” they’ll be working with. essentially, we’ll be teaching at Steve. It was always FIU.” execution rates in the country.” said Harper. “They’ll be able to “The Clinic is not really the Clinic.” Law students around the The funding will help the understand how mitigation works so much an anti-death penalty According to Rittgers, the University are excited for what College of Law’s Death Penalty and how powerful it can be, all clinic,” he said. “It’s a clinic grant came about because of this clinic and grant could mean Clinic, a one semester clinical while focusing on raising legal teaching lawyers how to be good the leadership that the College for them. course that allows students to be issues and, ultimately, on how lawyers.” of Law had demonstrated and Christopher Flech, a junior involved in actual death penalty the law can be used to make sure Nevertheless, Harper thinks provided over the years to address pre-law student, is one of them. cases under the supervision of you get a fair trial.” that the $620,000 grant is both issues of capital punishment in “This is such great news for Stephen K. Harper, professor, The project itself will be wonderful and sad. Florida -- in particular under the SEE LAW, PAGE 2 lawyer and mitigator. directed outside the classroom, “It’s wonderful because we’re leadership of Harper. “One of the things that’s traveling around Florida and being given this opportunity to “You’re blessed to have such New additions to be made to Engineering Center NATALIE ALATRISTE is listening. They’ve already made changes and then. mechanical engineering, attended the town Staff Writer to the Panther Pit at the Center. “As an engineering student, I [know] hall meeting. [email protected] A new microwave was added for both that after hours of studying, there are times He suggested a recreational area for students and faculty to use, and another I need to take a break because my mind gets physical activities, too, such as running. Nearly 200 students gathered at the will soon be added. This is something that blocked,” he said. “A good break allows me “If you keep your body healthy, your University’s College of Engineering and has been a concern for students because to keep studying efficiently.” mind will be, too,” he said. “I am an active Computing for a town hall meeting on of the long lines that formed during lunch Norena recently surveyed engineering athlete and I find this to be important.” Friday, April 10. hours. students and 90 percent of them agreed that Jorge Cisternas and Juan Narvaez will At the town hall meeting, engineering The Center will also add a foosball table more entertainment should be added to the assume the new engineering and computing students had the chance to speak directly this week for students to enjoy. Center. senator seats in the Student Government to the dean and engineering administration Mirrakle Ultimate Skin Care donated the The Center will also gain a new pool Association at MMC for the 2015-2016 about opportunities for the College. foosball table and one of the microwaves. table due to Norena’s efforts. school year. The meeting was held at the Panther Since most of the activities and SGA will be able to fund either a brand Norena said he’s extending this Pit located on the second floor at the programming events normally take place new one or refurbish the one that’s currently information to Cisternas and Narvaez so the Engineering Center. Attendees included at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus, the there, according to the announcement project continues. Up until he is replaced, Dean Amir Mirmiran, Elizabeth Naranjo, administration of the Engineering Center Norena made at the town hall meeting. he will be working with the administration administrative operations manager and expressed that it wanted to bring this He said the town hall meetings are to improve the Center. Stephanie Strange, associate director of element to engineering students, especially important because it really gives students a The next town hall meeting is projected the Office of Student Access and Success, considering that the Center is not too far chance to relay any issues they find. to take place next semester. The official among others. from the MMC. “The dean and other faculty directors date will be determined later and will be At the meeting, students expressed “It’s important for students to take a really do listen to what we, students, have announced to all engineering students. concerns for more space for relaxation at break from studying sometimes,” wrote to say,” Norena said. “They take action, “It’s important for students to attend the Engineering Center as one of their main Santiago Norena, a senior majoring in even if it takes time.” these meetings so they can voice their points. mechanical engineering and senator of For some time he has also wanted to add opinions,” Norena said. “FIU will always A biomedical student also expressed engineering and computing for the Student more outdoor study areas. be a mark on our lives. We are an evolution, that the biomedical department should Government Association at the MMC, in an Although this project is time-consuming, and attending events like the town hall incorporate more SolidWorks Design email to Student Media. “This is why we he already started the process by surveying meetings gives students the opportunity to classes for the program—which is vital for brought in the foosball table.” students to show the administration that this be a part of it.” today’s workplace in engineering. He used himself as an example of particular expansion is in popular demand. Despite popular belief, the administration someone who needs to unwind every now Julian Rozo, a junior majoring in 2 The Beacon – Wednesday, April 15, 2015 NEWS fiusm.com NATION & WORLD New center to train law BRIEFS students on capital cases Website chronicles China’s massive effort to control LAW, PAGE 1 generally thought all lawyers knew how to Internet content handle these cases, which she now knows me, in particular,” he said. “I’m is not the case. The Chinese Communist tries to poke holes in the Great excited to graduate next year and “I’m proud to say I’m in a school that Party operates out of a vast Firewall.