A new semester means another collaboration between the LEAP Center and the Freshman Leadership Program. And this year, the two offices decided to do a Simulated Voir Dire, giving them a broad overview of the jury selection process. And so it was that Associate Dean Lindsay Lauher, FLP Program Assistant Dante Tamez, Professor Mike Yawn, and the LEAP Center’s Sarah-Hope Carter came to be pretend lawyers for a day, along with 30 promising leaders who participate in the Freshman Leadership Program.
The students were provided with creative biographies, requiring them to take on the perspectives of 53 year-old plumbers, 34 year-old teachers, previously convicted drug dealers, and the like. Collectively, they constituted the jury pool, brought together to consider charges of drunk driving with an associated injury.
Professor Yawn stepped them through process of checking in, the background interviews they would do, the research attorneys might undertake, and the legitimate reasons for which a potential juror might be excused.
Yawn took the students through the question-and-answer process that potential jurors go through to determine their suitability, as well as the difference between a “strike for cause” and a peremptory strike.
Beyond the strict voir dire process, students also learned a little about criminal procedure, as well as upcoming events hosted by the LEAP Center. The students, befitting future leaders, were highly engaged, with McKenzie Menefee proving particularly knowledgeable. In fact, Menefee and Lilly Temple-Dozier ended up joining the Pre-Law Society!
It was an enjoyable and educational afternoon, another rewarding cohort of the Freshman Leadership Program.
For the past ten years, SHSU pre-law students have anticipated participating in the Mock Law School Class presented by Professor Val Ricks, Professor at Houston’s South Texas College of Law, and author of law school casebooks on contract law.
This semester, the LEAP Center was excited to welcome the following guests to the Mock Law School Class: Judge Kim Webb, an SHSU alum and a current Justice of the Peace in San Jacinto County; and Ryann Bauer with student members of the Huntsville High School’s Criminal Justice Program.
As in an actual law school class, Professor Ricks expected the 46 registered students to come to class prepared by reading and briefing the case beforehand. After briefly stating the relevant facts of the contract case, Ricks used a random number generator to select students to discuss the legal issue of the case. With skillful Socratic questioning, Ricks led the pre-law students through the analysis of the legal issue in the case, the rule of law, and how the court applied the rule of law in the case.
Neehal Ahmed appreciated Professor Ricks’ teaching style. Ahmed commented, “Professor Ricks made contracts, a daunting subject, seem far less scary through his patient and thorough explanation of concepts and their functions.”
At the conclusion of the contract case discussion, Professor Ricks presented the students with a hypothetical set of facts, similar to a question on a law school exam.
Ricks called on students to analyze the legal issue posed in the hypothetical and asked the class how a court would rule on the legal issue based on the legal reasoning from the contract case discussed earlier in class.
In reflecting on the Mock Law School Class, Christina Biello mirrored the thoughts of a lot of attendees before attending the class. Christina explained, “I was both frightened and eager because I had no idea what to anticipate, even after hours of preparation. However, experiencing Professor Val Ricks’ instruction confirmed my desire to attend law school, and it no longer seems as daunting.”
Neehal Ahmed summed up the experience by recommending “Professor Ricks’ mock law classes to any of those who are interested in attending law school but are scared of the subject matter they may encounter. If you come prepared, this experience can put a lot of your doubts and worries to rest.”
The LEAP Center and Pre-Law Society would like to thank South Texas College of Law–Houston and Professor Val Ricks for their time. As Professor Ricks noted, “I’ve been doing these visits for long enough that I’ve taught students at SHSU in the mock law class, then taught them a class at STCL, and seen them graduate. It’s very gratifying.”
We’d also like to thank Ms. Bauer from Huntsville High School and her wonderful students Hannah Ruth, Riane Davis, and Bethany Bell…
…as well as Judge Kim Webb.
It was a pleasure to have other programs in the community with a dedication to educating students join us for this enriching event!
Our final highlight of an epic trip was to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma in order to attend a tour of OU College of Law. This law school sets itself apart instantly just by the size of the building. It is by far the largest of the three we visited while on this trip, with the courtrooms alone being some of the largest in the nation!
Before getting into the tour, the Director of Admissions, Maddie Ferris, took the time to sit with us and discuss where we are in our respective pre-law journeys and was a resource for all of our burning questions.
This was especially kind, and we greatly appreciate her time. As first-generation students, we are heading into the law field with a lot to learn, and the time with her was very helpful.
We also had a wonderful tour, led by OU Law student Candalyn Lyons. We had the chance to view their beautiful library while gaining insight on the various amenities, opportunities, and the culture of OU Law. We were given an awesome tour, and we learned a lot about the virtues of OU Law.
Located less than three hours from Dallas, the school’s last incoming class had a median LSAT of 159 and GPA of 3.71. With in-state tuition less than $23,000 annually, the school offers various clinics and boasts a first-time bar-passage rate of greater than 90 percent. As an added bonus, the school is located in pretty Norman, Oklahoma, a college town of moderate size, which is, in turn, about thirty minutes from the much-larger Oklahoma City.
Just that morning we had seen Oklahoma City, and we spent a bit more time that afternoon looking around OU’s campus–which is beautiful!
We saw numerous pieces of art work by James Surls, Jesus Moroles, a piece by Allan Houser, and we also saw our first “LOVE” sculpture by Robert Indiana.
We were perhaps most impressed by the University’s reading library, which resembles something out of a Harry Potter movie!
This was a great end to a great trip, with much learning about art, the law, architecture, food, and the outdoors.
This trip, a microcosm of the LEAP program’s offerings, cannot be defined nor summarized with an all-encompassing statement, or at least, not in a manner that truly does them justice. However, this tour allowed Cinthia and I to experience a plethora of things that we likely would not have done if not for the amazing opportunities the LEAP Center provides.
In just 8 days, we had 7 dishes with green chili, stayed in 6 different hotels, heavily familiarized ourselves with 5 artists from each of the 4 states we drove through, toured 3 law schools, got stuck in the snow 2 times, and had 1 amazing time doing it all! It was a great trip, full of learning, and we were very grateful to end it on such a high note amidst the friendly hospitality of the Oklahoma prairie.
Are you an SHSU student considering a career in law, but don’t know where to start? If so, SHSU’s Pre-Law Society (PLS) is an excellent start to your pre-law journey!
Prospective Pre-Law Students Discuss the Pre-Law Society
In advance of our first regular meeting, which is on February 21, 2024, officers held an informational for students considering careers in law. With a focus on what the Pre-Law Society does, we highlighted our meetings as well as the benefits of the organization.
VP of Marketing, Cinthia Villarreal, Discusses PLS Advantages
Regular Meetings: The Pre-Law Society meets officially once a month, typically featuring speakers such as defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, special prosecutors, or law-school admissions representatives. For our first meeting February 21, we are having a mix, with SHSU alums returning to discuss their law-related careers. Guests include Quinn Kobrin (3L at University of New Hampshire Law), Victoria McClendon (first-year attorney in Houston area), and Blake Roach (former aide to Governor Abbott and currently an intergovernmental affairs specialist).
Special Events: The Pre-Law Society also participates in many special events, such as last week’s “How-to-get-into-Law School” discussion with the University of Tulsa College of Law; the upcoming Mock Law class, as well as various special guests, such as former Director of Counterintelligence for the CIA Jim Olson (March 27) and former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (March 29). Additionally, the PLS offers a Mock LSAT each semester, giving students the opportunity to assess where they are in their law-school preparation.
Walker County DA Will Durham Covers his Role as Prosecutor
When you throw in benefits such as the (1) access to LSAT Resources through the LEAP office, (2) a free t-shirt, (3) access to expanded professional networks, and (4) eligibility for pre-law scholarships, membership in the Pre-Law Society is a great value!
PLS Students at the Fall Social
For more information about Pre-Law Society and events, please email Professor Yawn (mike.yawn@shsu.edu) and follow our Instagram @prelawsocietyshsu. Many thanks to all of the students who attended this informational session for Pre-Law Society, and we hope to see you at our first meeting February 21!
Chloe Barham with Michelle Cardenas
If you would like to join the Pre-Law Society, you can pay at CHSS 480 on Monday, February 19 or Wednesday February 21 between 10:30am-1:30pm. Or, you can pay between 5-6pm on February 21 in CHSS 120, just before our regular meeting. Payment can be accepted in the form of cash, check, cashier’s check, or money order.
On our day in Oklahoma, we were determined to visit the Oklahoma City Bombing National Memorial & Museum, a site strategically sandwiched by us between happier visits to the Oklahoma Capitol building and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. We were wise to begin and end our time in OKC with happy destinations, because the Bombing Museum and Memorial is a sobering and emotional experience.
Oklahoma City Bombing National Memorial & Museum
After getting a glimpse of Oklahoma’s history from its Capitol, we went on to learn more about one of the state’s darker days. The Oklahoma City Bombing was a tragic instance of domestic terrorism in which 168 people were killed and 680 injured. On the grounds of this tragedy, the Oklahoma City Bombing National Memorial & Museum was erected.
Upon entry, we learned of how the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building served the country before its fall. Federal entities such as the Social Security Administration and U.S. Secret Service officed in this structure, along with a daycare center.
The museum unfolds chronologically, providing a history of the 1990s in general, as well as the events surrounding the bombing. The morning of the bombing, April 19, 1995, unfolded largely like any other, with the Oklahoma Water Board Resources Meeting beginning at 9:00.
At 9:02, the bomb planted by Timothy McVeigh exploded, and Oklahomans’ lives changed forever.
The explosion tore through the building, destroying approximately half of the building, killing not only people in the building, but also pedestrians and bystanders on nearby blocks. Devastation was everywhere.
The scope of the devastation was horrific to learn about, but equally as sad were the individual stories that the museum told well.
We took some time to immerse ourselves in what was a horrific day, but not one devoid of hope.
What was most striking to me was the strength of the Oklahoma community in a time of such travesty.
Watching the local news broadcasts of citizens bringing heaps of donations, lining up to donate blood, and provide support in any way possible was tear-jerking.
The perpetrator of this act of terrorism, Timothy McVeigh, was arrested after only 90 minutes after the mass murder. Despite planning a huge crime with some complex logistics and carrying it out, he didn’t think to ensure his car had a license plate on it, and this was the ultimate cause of his arrest. Interestingly, SHSU plays a small role in this history, as alum and defense attorney Chris Tritico represented McVeigh during his trial.
In all, the Oklahoma City Bombing National Memorial & Museum is meticulously crafted to evoke the gravity of this event, while honoring the victims and looking towards a brighter future in an all encompassing, devastatingly profound structure.
In our first week back in class, we felt compelled to start the Spring semester off with our favorite way to learn about the state of global politics, the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston. This evening, we had the pleasure of hearing from Yaroslov Trofimov, a chief foreign affairs correspondent at the Wall Street Journal. Born in Ukraine, Trofimov not only has a seasoned perspective as a journalist, but a personal understanding as a Ukrainian.
Moderated by Ronan O’Malley, the discussion began with this complex duality of Trofimov’s insights on the Ukraine War. As a correspondent on world affairs, Trofimov’s position requires an objective, multifaceted perspective when educating the public. As a Ukrainian, however, he must consider how his family and culture is to survive the present.
The Ukraine War has been a hot-button topic in United States’ politics, mostly concerning whether the U.S. should financially support Ukraine in their efforts to fight off Russia or not. Trofimov’s key argument, shared by the Americans who support Ukraine in their efforts against the Putin regime, is that this war does not exist alone, but is in fact completely representative of democracy everywhere. He closed his response with a quote that deeply resonated with us: “We are fighting this war so you (Americans) don’t have to”.
Though this war has resulted in numerous casualties, Ukrainians still hold onto a fierce hope that they will persist against what appears to be insurmountable odds. “Russia’s propaganda is stronger than Russia’s army”, Trofimov remarked.
While Jessica has just started her last semester at Sam Houston, this was her first time at the Junior League of Houston. This building’s interior design is reminiscent of the Victorian era, and its elegance and vibrancy is mesmerizing to both newcomers and those who have visited previously. We left Houston as we do after most WAC events; with new perspective, great discussion, and a diversified understanding of the world around us.
Although it was our last day in Santa Fe, it was a day packed full of eclectic adventures and learning. On tap: A tour of the New Mexico Capitol building; a tour of Allan Houser’s art studio; and a hike up Sun Mountain.
After some coffee at CrashMurderBusiness, we headed to the Capitol, where Marylynn Collins was waiting to educate us on the workings of the New Mexico government.
As aspiring participants in Sam Houston State University’s SHAIP program (where students are placed in legislative offices in the TX Capitol), this was of particular importance to us. Cinthia and I have been to 5 Capitol buildings between the two of us, so this visit allowed us to compare how the New Mexico Capitol compares to other states.
Mrs. Collins started the tour by taking us to the center of the capitol’s rotunda. In contrast to most other state capitol buildings, the New Mexican capitol is shaped in a circular manner and has no dome. The reason, Mrs. Collins explained, is to signify the circle of life portrayed in the Zia symbol. The roof of the rotunda is intricately done with stained glass, the shape of which signifies a pueblo basket and the orange and blue colors signify the earth and sky.
The Zia symbol was adapted by the New Mexican people from the Zia Pueblo tribe and, as mentioned above, it portrays a circle in the middle with four sets of four lines coming out of the circle in four different directions. Each of the sets are symbolic in four different capacities: the four seasons of the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), the four stages of life (infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age), four times of the day (dawn, daylight, dusk, and dark), and the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). The symbol is also portrayed in the state flag is seen and used throughout the state.
Something that also sets this state apart is their official state question, “Red or Green?”. This was strange to us before the trip, but New Mexico is very fond and proud of being the home of the green and red chile, which is deeply engraved in their state’s culture and which we have had the opportunity to try in a variety of dishes and restaurants along the trip. Mrs. Collins also mentioned that this is the only state with an official scent; an aroma of roasting green pepper in the air.
We then stepped into the second floor of the “Round House” where we were able to admire the huge permanent collection that filled the walls. Consisting of work from regional artists with different styles and techniques, the paintings, even though completely contrasted one to another, represent the state’s cultures throughout the centuries. While admiring the art work, we were able to see some new artists and also recognize some of the artists we have been learning about, our favorite being Anderson’s “Canyon Segundo”…
Unfortunately, we had to rush from our capitol tour to get to our next stop: Allan Houser’s studio. Even more unfortunately, we learned that because of the massive amounts of snow that had fallen, the Houser Studio was cancelling the tour. But, ever resourceful, we switched gears and visited Houser’s downtown gallery, where we saw 30-40 of the Native American artist’s works.
We had previously seen his works at the Albuquerque Museum, at the New Mexico Capitol building..
…and, in fact, at Professor Yawn’s house, so it wasn’t entirely new to us. But we appreciated seeing the diversity of his art, and the gallery generously gave us–or, rather, SHSU–a very nice book of all of Houser’s works.
With more time on our hands, we ventured over to the Loretto Chapel, where we were able to see another church and another architectural marvel.
Known around the world as the Miraculous Staircase, this winding spiral staircase has left architects in awe of the pure physics of its composition.
Taking two 360 degree turns, its impossible to say how it has managed to sustain itself with neither support beams nor nails.
As we took a moment to marvel at the beautiful chapel ourselves, we also took the time to look around the many gift shops that are connected to the chapel and picked up a few souvenirs for ourselves and our loved ones.
Santa Fe is a charming town that we have come to cherish over a mere two and a half days.
As college students, waking up before sunrise is not a typical morning for us. However, we were excited to see the Snow Geese start their day and take flight across the beautiful New Mexico sky at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge!
Photo by Olivia Discon
Bosque del Apache
On our tour of the southwest, one of our key objectives is to expand on our basic understanding of photography and apply it to the sites we visit along the way. Wildlife photography, as we’ve come to learn, is its own beast. While there are some habitual patterns of particular creatures, it is impossible to truly know what they might do next. However, we were up for the challenge!
Photo by Stephanie Fors
Of course, the Snow Geese were the feature of this visit, as the sheer number of them joining in their morning flight could not be missed. They must have enjoyed having their photos taken, because they took flight two separate times, making for some variation in photos on our part.
What was most rewarding to capture was a lone Bald Eagle perched atop a tree trunk, scanning the horizon for its next meal.
Photo by Olivia Discon
Funnily enough, Cinthia and I almost missed this exciting catch, as we had just left the area to get a different angle. In the end, we were able to get some photos that we were proud of, along with the satisfaction that comes with experiencing nature.
We left Bosque del Apache with some additional photography experience under our belts and great anticipation to look back on our photos!
Lunch at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
By Cinthia Villarreal
Taking a break from the great outdoors, we made a stop at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to have lunch with former LEAP Ambassador, Karla Bush; her husband, Cameron Bush; and their friend, Richard Cravens. Karla and Cameron attended Texas Tech School of Law and are now successful practicing attorneys. It was great meeting these two, and it was inspiring, particularly since we are following in Karla’s LEAP footsteps. Mr. Cravens, who is also an attorney, attended New Mexico School of Law and has recently published a book, Self Help: A Novel, which we had the chance to read in advance of our trip. Over lunch, Olivia and I received quality advice regarding law school and work ethic. Both Cameron and Mr. Craven made it clear that law school is a difficult journey, but a rewarding one. They noted that we might not be able to outsmart all our fellow law students, but we can outwork them. It’s not every day that we have the chance to speak to three attorneys over lunch–let alone such highly successful and candid attorneys! We were very grateful to have their perspective as former law students, and we would like to thank Karla, Cameron, and Mr. Craven for taking the time to visit with us.
Bernardo Wildlife Area
By Olivia Discon
To close our day filled with new experiences, great conversations, and learning opportunities, we decided to end our day as we started it; by watching the New Mexican landscape. This time, however, we set up in Bernardo Wildlife Area to catch the large flock of birds before nightfall and also just see nature’s beauty.
Photo by Cinthia Villarreal
This go around was truly a sight to be seen. There were thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese awaiting their final flight for the day before getting some sleep, which we watched with both awe and envy.
Photo by Olivia Discon
These birds have not been in their typical sleeping spot as of late, so we had no idea what to expect as to their location or their destination. Accordingly, we split up and went to different locations to maximize our coverage.
Eventually, after some squabbling and feeding, it was time for liftoff!
Photo by Olivia Discon
The birds swarmed the orange sky in such a way that kept you glued to their elegant movements. The mountainous and open landscape made for some photos that were a good faith attempt at capturing the beauty of the scene.
Photo by Cinthia Villarreal
We could not have ended our day with a more rewarding and serene experience. Just like the Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes, it was time for us to make our way towards a place to rest.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 