The Justinian Volume 2004 Article 1 Issue 1 February 2004 The uJ stinian Follow this and additional works at: https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian Recommended Citation (2004) "The usJ tinian," The Justinian: Vol. 2004 : Iss. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/justinian/vol2004/iss1/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections at BrooklynWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in The usJ tinian by an authorized editor of BrooklynWorks. et al.: The Justinian BROOI<LYNLAWSCHOOL NEWS BLS In Print February 2004 Volume ~ Issue 4 Student Bar Association La'nnches Online Student Forum and Social Life. There is also a Forum By Ross Bogatch, '06 Feedback s~ction , allowing users to sug­ gest new categories to be listed on the The Student Bar Association today site. launched the BLS SBA Forum, a new Greg Brown, who heads the online forum where students can voice Technology Committee of the SBA, concerns about faculty, raise issues of described the new forum's p~rpose. school policy, download outlines, and "Essentially what it is, is the main con­ ask questions of IT representatives, duit to facilitate a feeling of community among other features dedicated to stu­ within th e school and a way for people dent life both in and out of the class­ who don't necessarily know each other room. The site, located at from class ... to discuss what's going on http://forum.blssba.org, is a free serv­ in school. [p]eople who don't have a ice intended to foster a virtual commu­ voice in the SBA can no~ have a voice nity amongst BLS students. in the forum." The SBA Forum is hosted on the Another benefit of the forum Student Bar Association's independent allows students to share thoughts on server, which i unaffiliated with classes and candid opinions on profe - Brooklyn Law School. Though the ors, providing 2Ls and 3Ls greater forum can be read by anyone, a quick access to information during the enroll­ registration is required to post a mes­ ment period than ever before. Though sage. Once registered, a user can post course evaluations arc available at the anonymously to the forum. This combi­ main desk in the library, in reality these nation of independence and anonymity are hardly ever utilized, and any student provides students an uncensored that has ever rushed to fill one out opportunity to talk back to the adminis­ knows that the quality of information tration on a range of various topics. may not be reliable. The forum could An online forum is a medium of provide specific discussion on profes­ open discussion and exchange. Similar sors that students enjoyed and classes to chat rooms, a forum offers users dif­ that students should steer clear of. Said ferent topics on which to post mes­ Brown, "This is course evaluation for sages. Currently the SBA Forum lists the masses." seven different categories: BLS IT Problems; Classes & Professors; BLS See: SBA FORUM Ross Bogatch looks over the new online student forum in the SBA Office. J ne; Outlines; Student Organization ; Continued on p. 5 Photo by BLS News Staff Finding Law Texts for Less 50 Yrs. Since Brown v. Boal~d of Ed Movement. By Raguel Atkinson, '04 The opinion, written by Justice \'{larren, was short and straightforward. The road to the landmark decision: It echoed the statements of Marshall's Linda Brown was a young, black girl expert witnesses that for African the fifth grade that had to ride the American schoolchildren, segregation bu five miles to school each day even "generates a feeling of inferiority as to though a public school w~s only 4 their status in the community that may blocks from her home. Although she affect their hearts and minds in a way met all the requirements to attend unlikely to ever be undone." The deci­ school, she was denied admission to this sion went on to state that segregation white elementary school. The AACP had no valid purpose, was imposed to took up her case, along with similar give blacks a lower status, and was there­ ones in Kansas, outh Carolina, fore an unconstitutional \'iolauon of the Virginia, and Delaware. Thurgood Fourteenth Amendment. lar hall, a black lawyer and head of the This decision paved the \vay for AACP, argued the five cases together. African American students and started Marshall argued that states had no valid the embracement of diversity in the reason to impose segregation, that racial American school system. Gone were the separation no matter how equal the days when African Americans students The BLS bookstore offers textbooks plus an abundance of BLS paraphernalia. facilities caused psychological damage were forced to learn only in schools Photo by Alyson Mathews, '04 to black children, and that "restrictions where society thought they belonged. verseas," that I felt sure that there was or distinctions based upon race or After this decision there have been By Alex Ryley, '04 indeed a cause more sinister than mere color" violated the equal protection dras tic changes in the public school sys­ inflation. The piece cites such examples clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. tem. The decision has even impacted Some Unorthodox Alternatives as "Lehninger Principles of On May 17, 1954, in the case of the private school system and the way to the BLS Bookstore Biochemistry, Third Edition," whose list Brown v. the Board of Education of the education of African Americans For as long as there have been text­ price is $146.15 on American Topeka, the U.S. Supreme Court ended was perceived b y society. This decision books, a chorus of complaints has Amazon.com but $63.48 on federally sanctioned racial segregation in afforded African Americans the oppor­ erupted at the start of each academic Amazon.co.uk. the public schuols by ruling unanimous­ tunity to learn in a diverse aunosphere semester, as undergraduate and gradu­ Taken to task following this revela­ ly that "separate educational facilities where they could grow educationally ate students nationwide curse the ever­ tion, the Association of American are inherently unequal." This case over­ and socially and better contribute to rising cost of their books. And no won­ Publishers attributed the discrepancy to turned Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which society. der, considering that the average cost of a difference between American texts' had declared "separate but egual facili­ freshman and sophomore students' foreign editions and their domestic ties" constitutional. The case also pro­ texts has risen 40 percent since 1998. I counterparts. But someone pointed out vided the legal foundation of the Civil Celebrate Black have long suspected price-gouging by th~t this distinction often consists of Rights Movement of the 1960s. History Monthl publishers is to blame, but it was not nothing more than the presence of the Although ~videl y perceived as a revolu­ until the October 2003 ew York tionary decision, Brown was the culmi­ Read our special section on Times article declaring "Students Find See: BOOKS nation of changes both in the Court pages 6 & 7. Published100 Textbooks by BrooklynWorks,Cost 50, Purchased 2004 Continued on p. 3 and in the strategies of the Civil Rights 1 Page 2 Brooklyn Law School News February 2004 The Justinian, Vol. 2004 [2004], Iss. 1, Art. 1 BLS Faculty Reme'mbers Gwen J. Gre'enberg Gwen J. Greenberg, BrooklYn Lall' Scbool's Alumni Directof; died witb her motb­ er and sister in'. an alltomobile accident ill Alexico in December. Tbose of 1IS Ibat knell! ber were sbocked and saddened to hear 0/ her tlllgic dealb. Ms. Greenberg alJvCf}s bad a smile and friend!J attitude for everyone she met. Her deatb is a terrible loss for tbe entire BLS c01JJ!l1unity. To give those Ibat did not know Ms. Greenberg insight il1to who sbe IVas and hOJJI 1JJtlcb she will be missed, Miri Frankel COIII­ piled tbese llIemories 0/ BLS administrators andfaCtllry: B L S "As Director of A lumni Relations, NEWS Gwen nurtured the support and loyalty th Law School enjoys from its thou­ sands of graduates. he joined the chool in the midst of its 100th Editors - in - Chief anniversary and immediately sel to work on an ambitious arra) of Miri Frankel Centennial evcnts. One of thesc was "A Alyson Mathews I 'amil) Tree (,rem S 111 Brooklyn," which brought gcnerations of BL .1lumnl Executive Editor back to the school to celebratL and Greg Brown reconnect with each other. ~hc was responsible for coordinating the enior Editor School's man) alumni eYcn[s, reUl1lons Brian Pleban and programs, and her leadershJP and people skjlls were particularly reflected Production in the ucce s of the obel Golf Greg Brown Outing, the Mentor Program, and grad­ uation ceremonies. Ad Sales "Gwen receiyed her B.A. from the niversity of Virgi nia, and her M.A in Brian Pleban ports Management from the University of Richmond. Her great Contributors Gwen J. Greenberg served as Alumni Director for approximately three years. interest in sports led to positions with Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Law School Raquel Atkinson the Washington Bullets and the quiet competence. You knew that when her to be unfailingly pleasant, respon­ Ross Bogatch American Horse Shows Association. she handled a project, it was going to be sive and helpful in everything she did. Duane Frankson Prior to joining Brooklyn Law chool, done and done well. And she did so She very much enjoyed working with Theo Harris she served as director of the Columbia without expecting praise. She also had faculty, staff, students and alumni, and Joan King and Barnard University Club and as the uncanny ability to relate well to all she will be sorely missed." Ajanaclair Lynch Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs different types of people.