Tag: Student Legal & Mediation Services

Staying out of “Legal Jeopardy” While Having Fun

On January 21, Student Legal & Mediation Services, the Pre-Law Society, and the LEAP Center hosted “Legal Jeopardy” in the LSC, bringing together students for an evening of learning, connection, and friendly competition.

The evening began at 6pm, with check-in and networking while students enjoyed pizza and dessert. Upon arrival, each attendee was assigned to one of four teams, each led by our team leaders: Brittlyn Jackson (Team 1), Jacob Wessels and Allie Plunk (Team 2), Elizabeth Werts and Abigail Wilmot (Team 3), and Isis Hollis and Robin Houghton (Team 4), while our logistical managers, IT Directors, and Sergeant-at-Arms prepared for the evening.

With games ranging from spoon races (with crafted spoons) to rock-paper-scissors to “Hot Topics” and more, the students engaged various levels of fun and sportsmanship.

The team-building brought people together, while also providing cues to the teams who they did–and didn’t–want to represent them in the official jeopardy contests.

Jeopardy officially began at 7pm, with Logistics Manager Olivia McCaughan introducing our host, Dr. Gene Roberts, our IT Director Kayla Fleming, and our Sergeant at Arms, Matthew Bocanegra and, most important, explaining the rules of the game.

The first round of Jeopardy featured categories such as:

  • Famous Speech and Expression Supreme Court Cases
  • Famous Supreme Court Criminal Cases
  • Legal Terminology
  • Supreme Court Chief Justices
  • Legal Thrillers (Film)
  • The US Constitution

With each team having a designated spokesperson and buzzer pusher, the games commenced!

The room soon erupted in cheers, groans, and laughter, as teams deliberated and tried to be the first on the buzzers (which could measure differences up to a millisecond).

Ultimately, Team One came out the winner, armed with the talent of Brittlyn Jackson, Makenna McDaniel, Luke Hempfling, and Eduardo Maia, and they were definitely among the most animated. They won Orange Lululemon belt bags as prizes, courtesy of Student Legal & Mediation Services.

A second round, purely for fun, ensued, with lighter categories such as SHSU, Pop Culture Mashup, State Capitals, Things Pre-Law Students Should Know, and Things You Should Have Learned in High School. For this round, the entire group was able to participate, and this time, Team Four won.

With almost seventy people in attendance at this event, we needed a lot of help. Makenna McDaniel and Brianne Barclay did a great job checking people in; PLS Treasurer, Nataly Elizondo, accepted dues for the organization–bringing in some new members in the process; and Jackie Balbuena took video for some follow-up marketing.

The event highlighted the contributions that the Pre-Law Society, the LEAP Center, and the Student & Legal Mediation Services make across campus, while also bringing people together for a night of a lot of fun and a little bit of learning, too.

A Social and Informational Kick-Off to the Fall Semester

by McKenna Nonnenmann

To start our fall 2024 semester with a sweet treat, the Pre-Law Society (PLS) held an ice cream social, sponsored in part by Student Legal and Mediation Services (SLMS) and the LEAP Center.

LEAP Ambassadors, current PLS Officers, and a few prospective PLS Officers (Lillie Bourgeois, Chrissy Biello, and Maggie Betancourt–thank you!) helped out, hosting an ice-cream social for all the opportunities and services offered by LEAP, SLMS, and PLS.

The ice cream social was an amazing way to meet people of all majors and classifications and it was exciting to see our returning members again after the long summer break.

Apart from the ice cream and the multitude of its toppings, we had a spin-the-wheel game featuring prizes made up of school supplies and for some extra lucky members, a Sam Houston State University mug!

Personally, I got a pencil case with some sticky notes, pencils, and a very nice highlighter. I can’t wait to use them! Others were similarly happy with their wins.

We also had a chance to meet some prospective new members, people we hope will get more involved with LEAP, PLS, or the University at large. In all, more than 100 people attended!

Following our ice cream social, we held an informational meeting to show our prospective members what to expect during our monthly meetings. The Pre-Law Society President, Olivia Discon discussed our future events such as the first official body meeting on September 11, LSAT seminars, the Mock LSAT, and guest speakers throughout the semester.

Since this is a new semester, we are once again holding elections for all positions. This year the President and the Vice President of Marketing are uncontested resulting in the automatic election of Olivia Discon and Cinthia Villarreal. This year running for Historian are Katherine Burnett…

…and Lillie Bourgeois;

…for Vice President of Treasury: Maggie Betancourt…

…and Christina Biello;

…for Secretary: Emily Alfaro has announced she is running for this position…

…as is Madison Cawthon;

…and for Vice President of Membership, McKenna Nonnenmann has announced her intention to run…

…as has Jacqueline Santos-Romano.

Although elections were not held at this meeting, all office runners were given a chance to speak about their qualifications for their respective positions.

Each candidate will be given a chance to speak again at our next meeting when the elections will be held. I look forward to seeing how each person grows into their role as a member and/or officer.

I’m excited to see what the Pre-Law Society has to hold this semester, and to all the future memories our members are going to make. This meeting was a great way to start the new Fall 2024 semester, and another addition to the book of memories.