University at Buffalo School of Law Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law The Opinion Newspaper (all issues) The Opinion 12-1-2005 The Opinion Volume 44 Issue 4 – December 1, 2005 The Opinion Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/the_opinion Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the Legal History Commons Recommended Citation The Opinion, "The Opinion Volume 44 Issue 4 – December 1, 2005" (2005). The Opinion Newspaper (all issues). 447. https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/the_opinion/447 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the The Opinion at Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Opinion Newspaper (all issues) by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ University at Buffalo School of Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SEEPAGE2 , , THE OPINION UB Law School 101 O'Brian Hall ptnton Buffalo, NY 14260 Vol. 44, Issue 4 The Student Newspaper ofthe University at Buffalo Law School December 2005 UB's Multi-Million Dollar Real Estate Wall recognizes contributors to the Law School's seven-year fundraising drive By Josh Dubs, '08 - espite the rumors, the construction project that closed the corridor D outside the classroom 106 earlier this_semester was not a Starbucks kiosk. It was, instead, a glass embossed wall honoring the major donors to the Campaign for UB Law which ran from 1996 to 2003. The donors range from those donating $10,000 all the way to $1 million or more: At the top of the wall is Francis M. Letro '79, for whom the courtroom is named, and an anonymous donor. Though the campaign has long been complete, the wall is was not finished, due to a needed correction to the lighting system, which creates unwanted shadows that obscure the names ofthe donors to onlookers. Donors include a number offaculty members, administrators and prominet1t attor­ neys from the area who are UB Law gradu­ ates. Local firms contributing sums to the campaign include Hodgson Russ LLP and Phillips Lytle. A reception to honor the school's benefactors from the campaign and to offi­ UB Law School installed the above wall to honor big contributors to the Law School's 7-year cially unveil will be held in late January 2006. · campaign. The wall is a "Who's Who" of law alumni and administratio,a members. ForBetterorWorse, Tulane Law School Set·for Spring Sern~ By Jenny Mills, '06 uffalo is a cold, snowy, win­ closely watching what Tulane Law School the storm. Some students have spouses placed students to remain for the spring tery hell. Months go by where does in the aftermath of Katrina. who have been forced to relocate. Other semester. The Tulane administration has B the very idea ofgoing outdoors After the deadly storm hit, large students have been traµmatized by the made it clear that they understand the seems like way too much· to chunks ofNew Orleans were left problems posed by bear. Yet aside from winter, we don't submerged under water. The returning to New have it to bad here. We're not in line for Tulane campus was hit hard and Orleans, including any mega-natural disasters, unlike a large coupled with the fact that the problems with fi­ percentage of law schools around the city was, by and large uninhabit­ nances, housing, and country. able, the school made the deci­ in some cases, forced However, since Hurricane Katrina sion to close for the Fall semes­ separation ofspouses unleashed its mighty vengeance upon ter and try to reopen in the and families. How­ New Orleans and its surrounding areas, Spring. As a result, Tulane law ever, for the school to many law school administrators have be­ students were dispersed to law remain solvent, they gun to ponder just what their schools schools across the nation and need the tuition would do in the wake ofsuch an awful across the Atlantic to Europe. money. disaster. Therefore many law schools are However as the spring semester Housing has quickly ap­ posed a major prob­ proaches, the lem for Tulane. No school has de­ one knows precisely cided to reunite how bad the situation and recall all of is. Tulane has come the far flung Tu­ up with an interesting lane Diaspora. way to address at The least some of the mandated return is not Tulane Law Schoofin New Orleans need. The University has without controversy. While effects of the storm and fear returning to chartered two cruise ships, to be docked the majority of students New Orleans. Yet all of these students in the Mississippi, one fm: undergraduates want to return to Tulane, will be required to return to the school in and one for grad students/professional there is a vocal minority January, unless they can prove extreme students/faculty/etc. While this is not an that do not. Some ofthese hardships in returning. ideal living situation, it is a novel solution students lost their homes To facilitate this return, most law and all their possessions in schools will refuse to allow visiting dis- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 .. • • • .. .. • .. ,. •••• & .... ~ ~ .. • ........ 1, • 1, - 0 & • .. 0 • L O O O . 0 • 0 The Opinion ~be eptnton December 2005 Big Shoes to Fill Velum.a XXXXW, Issue #4 By Shannon Elwell, '08 Editors: he air in 120 Broadway is Person of the Year" by the San Fran­ Attorney General position open to a grow­ dense with electricity, energy, cisco Chronicle. Reader's Digest called ing list of eager candidates. The competi­ Michael Mann, '06 T and excitement. Walking be- him "America's Best Public Servant", tion is heated, the race visible earlier than Jenny Mills, '06 neath soaring cathedral ceilings University of Illinois honored him with most statewide elections tend to be. and on marble staircases woven with gold its "Ethics in Government" award, and A diverse, crowded field is competing Caroline Brancatella, '07 filament, there is a feel- .-------------,New York Magazine be- for the Democratic nomination in the pri­ ing of hushed awe, of stowed upon him its mary, and includes State Assemblyman StaffWriters: being a peasant among "Public Service A ward." Richard Brodsky, Ex-US Housing Secre­ kings. Acting as a cata- tary and '02 Governor candidate Andrew Jessica Keltz, '06 And rightfully so. For lyst for reform, Spitzer Cuomo, State Assemblyman Mike Gi­ Rick Johnson, '07 some of history's most "has taken the job of At- anaris, Ex-NYC Public Advocate and '01 influential characters, torney General and con- NYC Mayoral Nominee Mark Green, De­ Lisa Ball, '08 from legendary traitor verted it into a major of- mocratic activist and '98/'02 Lieutenant Josh Dubs, '08 Aaron Burr to boy Gen- fice to fight corruption in Governor candidate Charlie King, Ex­ Shannon Elwell, '08 eral and Civil War hero the securities industry," Clinton White House Aide and gay rights Francis C. Barlow to says the New York Ob- activist Sean Patrick Maloney, and Ex-US Mahreen Gillani, '08 President Martin Van server. Attorney and Buffalo native Denise Peter Pany, '08 Buren, have previously Spitzer's most O'Donnell, '81 who graduated from UB held the office located in notable cases include Law and whose son attends the law school. The Opinion, 101 JohnLordO'BrianHall, this building, the office those against 10 high­ Republican candidates have not yet Buffalo, NY 14260,is published by law of Attorney General of Denise O'Donnell is a profile securities firms begun to campaign to the extent of their studerus fur law studerus. The Opinion is the State of.New York. Law School Alumnus accused of distributing Democrat counterparts; however, accord­ the non-profit official student newspaper The current office and seeking N.Y.'s faulty stock research to ing to the New York Times on November ofthe University at Buffalo law School, holder is no exception to top law enforcement investors, in which he 30, 2005, New York State Senate majority State University ofNew York. Any repro­ the reverence of history. achieved a total settle- leader Joseph Bruno has expressed a desire duction ofmaterials herein is not allowed During his seven year Job In next yea..-s ment of $1.4 billion. His to see Republican Jeanine Pirro's bid to without thee~consent ofthe &litor­ tenure, Eliot Spitzer has election to replace investigation of the mu- unseat Senator Hillary Clinton end in a in-Chiefand the piece wri~. been said to have rede- l:Uot Spitzer. tual funds industry, for reconsideration to run for Attorney General fined the role ofAttorney widespread corruption in instead. The Opinkni we~your ootlltllenls. General. He has won ____________. the form of illegal trading Ms. Pirro has acknowledged Mr. Address YOlll' leUecsorguestcolwnns to the national acclaim as a result of his cru- practices, ended in large settlements as Bruno's leadership and the value of his Opinion Desk at [email protected] sades in the areas of investor protection, well, the biggest from a single entity confidence , but has replied "I am a candi­ All letters and guestcolumns nrust besigned consumer affairs, civil rights, criminal amounting to $600 million. He is feared date for U.S. Senate." Inclwe your fullname, year, andemail. justice, and public safety (to name a few). on Wall Street, acclaimed by the press, Spitzer's impressive legacy will be the Please limit letters to 300 wools...Pkaselimit He was named . the "Sheriff of Wall and celebrated as "the people's lawyer." biggest challenge, however, for any victor guestcohmms to between<m and800 Street" by 60 Minutes, "Crusader of the This year, Spitzer announced his in this highly contested race.