Penn State Dickinson School of Law

Minutes

Call meeting to order:
1. President calls meeting to order.
Attendance:
1. Present:
  Jeffry Johnson — P
  Justina Uram — VP
  Tara Walsh — Secretary and Treasurer
  Jennifer Winston
  Joy Han (UP)
  Tabitha Chedekel
  Crystal West (Washington)
  Taisha Chambers
  Rob Kleiner
2. Absent:
  Mai Nguyen
  Matthew Muckler
  Terrence Burke (UP)
  Joseph Fanjul
  Bianca Oden
3. Quorum established
Welcome by President:
1. President introduces guests.
Updates:
1. Amnesty International Event — Rwandan genocide; this is coming along nicely
2. PAD's Judge's Night — We will be reviewing this proposal again tonight
3. Speakers Trust sponsored Dean Heringa's speech — Monday, March 17
Consideration of Speakers Proposals:
1. We have representatives for all of the groups except for Books to Prisoners tonight; she is unavoidably absent so we will consider the application in her absence.
  1. OUTlaw Presentation
    1. “Tara's Crossing” — this will be their keynote event. This is a play about a transgender individual seeking asylum in Canada.
    2. Issue — is this a speaker?
    3. There will be a one hour “q” and “a” session after the play takes place.
    4. Issue — is this related to the law? The speaker does not have a JD, however, this is about asylum.
    5. Total honorarium is $5,000; he is asking us for $2,000 of this.
    6. Jeff asks the group to complete the grant application form and to partition the costs, so we can see what the breakdown is; reduce it to writing.
    7. To get over the issue of the speaker aspect, the group can reallocate the funds so that the Trust pays for the accommodations such as food as opposed to any part of the play.
    8. Or if it is possible, show that the $2,000 is only for the speaker portion as opposed to the play aspect of the event.
  2. J. Reuben Clark Society Presentation
    1. The amendment in the application is just to raise the price of the dinner, an additional $500.
    2. The group should work on the name of the event to attract students; stress lawyer for “Live.”
    3. The marketing is free, supplied by the school, so we will take that out of the application.
    4. It will be teleconferenced to UP.
    5. Part of the food costs will also be for UP.
    6. It will be recorded and placed on tape for those students who cannot attend.
  3. J. Reuben Clark Society Deliberations
    1. We will be adding another $100 so each member can have a $50 honorarium.
    2. With the $500 amendment and the additional $100, the total will be $800.
    3. Unanimous approval of $800.
  4. BLSA Presentation
    1. 2 speakers presenting their poetry
    2. African Americans have always voiced themselves through artistic expression. Both speakers write poetry on black history, race, culture, and how particular laws affect race.
    3. Each piece that they present creates a connection between society and law; the pieces make you think about the law in a more non-traditional way.
    4. Honorariums are negotiable and both speakers have indicated that they really want to come and they would be willing to come for less.
    5. This event will be at UP and this event appears to be one that undergraduate students will be interested in as well. The group has invited the undergrad poetry club and jazz band to come and perform throughout the event.
    6. Suggestion to invite a professor to make this more related to the law, particularly in the “q” and “a” session.
    7. After spring break, attempt to retain a set honorarium, check the hotel costs (they seem low), and tie in possibly Professor Pratt or someone that can make this more of a legal event.
    8. This is $6,000 in total.
  5. BLSA Deliberations
    1. This should probably be proposed to the SBA; these speakers do not appear to be speakers that are part of the legal field.
    2. This is similar to “Tara's Crossing”; we could ask them to fit their applications to the Speakers Trust parameters.
    3. These events are more performance related.
    4. Another issue is whether undergrads should pay to a certain extent for these events? At other schools, undergrads are charged at events such as this.
    5. They have two vans planned to be operating for the event.
    6. Conclusion — have new proposal back in by Friday, and we will try to work something out between the Trust and the SBA to get the event off. At this point, the application needs some work.
  6. LEAD Presentation
    1. Attorney James O'Neil, founder and executive director of Legal Outreach.
    2. Total: $650
    3. The application is done very well and we can work from there without further discussion with the presenter.
  7. OUTlaw Presentation
    1. Daniel Karslake — film director — speaking on religion, spirituality, homophobia, and family
    2. A film will be presented; it is a documentary that will follow several true stories about individuals dealing with loved ones coming out. The movie is delicate and balanced. It indicates the true concerns Christians have with lesbian and gay individuals. Speaker will hopefully share his experiences as a director as well as talk about the positives and negatives that occurred while making the film.
    3. Student Center at Penn State will pay up to $100 for here and UP.
    4. SBA will contribute up to $350 for the purchase of the film and rights.
    5. We are being asked to actually bring the director himself; honorarium — $750.
    6. The director is based in NY and spends considerable time on the West Coast, but we should be able to fly him in from NY at a cheaper rate.
  8. LEAD and Outlaw Deliberations
    1. OUTlaw
      1. $1200 requested from Speakers Trust
      2. Not related to the law; more performative.
      3. We will hold the Outlaw item until we speak with the SBA about whether this is really a Speakers Trust event (Note: the SBA sent them to the Trust).
    2. LEAD
      1. Unanimous approval for $650.
    3. Side bar
      1. Taisha and Joy need to leave — they both cast their votes to approve Judge's Night
      2. Dean McConnaughay said that we should get faculty more involved in the events in order to ensure that events produce more publicity and prestige. Generally, he thinks we are doing well.
  9. Amnesty International Presentation
    1. The ambassador is scheduled to come. It sounds like two survivors will also be coming, however, they are somewhat skeptical; Patrick needs to speak with them again.
    2. Three people all together: Comfort Suites, 1 night — $97.65; $292.95 total for stay.
    3. 240 miles round trip — school rate 51 cents per mile.
    4. Catered dinner for 100 people — looking at roughly $2,000 for this dinner.
    5. Decorations and gifts — $100
    6. Total for event — $3,565.75
    7. The honorarium will be $500 for the Ambassador, and $250 for each survivor.
    8. There is a large exhibit being created for UN, supported by Professor Tiya Maluwa (Executive Director of the School of International Affairs)
    9. This would be a great event for an announcement.
  10. Amnesty International Deliberations
    1. The group needs to get publicizing; it is coming up soon, March 26.
    2. Generally, the event looks great.
  11. Phi Alpha Delta Presentation
    1. Judge's Night: Wednesday, April 2 — Carlisle Country Club.
    2. The administration was adamant about this venue.
    3. $23.95 chicken dish; $16.95 vegetarian dish — includes a salad, entrée, rolls, and dessert.
    4. $2,155.50 (90 times above figure).
    5. Cocktail hour will be open bar, including beer and wine by the glass.
    6. Draft beers — less than $3.25/draft; Wine — $3.75/glass.
    7. Distribution of drinks will stop half way through dinner.
    8. For safety purposes the group is requesting an allocation for a bus — $300-$350 (The group still need to get final prices on this).
    9. The group requests $160 for miscellaneous issues, possibly increased attendance, rates increasing for oil, etc.
    10. Total for event — $3,365.50
    11. The group will be selling student tickets for $5 the week after spring break.
    12. Judges RSVP by March 25 — this is also when the group will have the final bill from the Country Club.
    13. There is a list of roughly 15 faculty and administrators who will be invited.
  12. Phi Alpha Delta Deliberations
    1. Unanimous approval for $3,365.50.
Any other business:
1. Dean Elkin would like to create a joint faculty and student Speakers Trust.
  1. We will be meeting with Jose to discuss this idea.
Schedule next meeting:
1. March 25, 2008 (tentative).
Adjournment:
1. Meeting adjourned.

Speakers Trust Meeting — Wednesday, March 5, 2008