Glen Parker, 2L

Executive Editor

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div align=”center”strongProf. Sheri Rosenberg argues a case before the European Court of Human Rights/divstrong

Sejdić and Finci v. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prof. Sheri Rosenberg, of Cardozo’s Human Rights and Genocide clinic, represents Jakob Finci, a prominent and experienced Jewish political figure in Bosnia and Herzegovina who was prohibited from seeking presidential office because of his ethnicity. Prof. Rosenberg’s challenge before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) invoked articles of the European Convention of Human Rights which prohibit inhumane and degrading treatment and discrimination. On June 3, 2009, the Grand Chamber of the ECHR heard oral arguments from Prof. Rosenberg. This is one of the first cases to challenge laws in Bosnia’s Constitution which prohibit certain minorities from running for high offices. Ari Brochin, 3L and Matthew Diament ’09, members of the clinic last year, attended the court proceedings in Strasbourg.

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Istrongmmigration Justice Clinic reports constitutional violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/div

In late July, the Immigration Justice Clinic released the first public study, entitled “Constitution on ICE,” of widespread misconduct by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to the report, agents illegally performed hundreds of home raids in violation of agency rules as well as the Constitution. The study uncovers dragnet practices by ICE, whose agents, purportedly enforcing immigration laws, yet acting without search warrants, forcibly entered private homes in New York and New Jersey without consent and often using force against legal residents. The report noted a “cowboy mentality” exhibited by ICE agents, some of whom appeared to be raiding for sport. One email from an ICE agent to a state trooper, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, said, “We have 18 addresses—so it should be a fun time.” On July 22, 2009, Jaya Vasandani, 3L, who co-authored the report, presented the clinic’s findings at the National Summit on Local Immigration Policies conference hosted by the Police Executive Research Forum. Many of the nation’s top law enforcement officers were present at the conference, including the heads of ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

div align=”center”strongJoe Jr’s Diner Closes in July/divstrongdiv align=”left”

Joe Jr’s, the local greasy-spoon that served up the best diner grub in the neighborhood, closed down in early July. Despite outcries from loyal patrons and a petition with signatures in the thousands the landlord refused to renew the lease of the 45-year-old establishment. With the slot for number one diner in the neighborhood vacant, the Jurist wants to know: what’s the best place to eat on a pre-lawyer’s budget? Email your thought(s) to a href=”mailto:cardozojurist@gmail.com”cardozojurist@gmail.com/a/divdiv align=”center”

strongVending Machines Change/divdiv align=”left”

The three Pepsi machines that were in the 3rd Floor Café last year (i.e. Aquafina, Pepsi, and Snapple) have been replaced by two machines carrying Coke products (Dasani water, Coke, Powerade).

Through a program called Pouring Rights, whereby beverage companies bid on the privilege of having their products sold on campus, Yeshiva University solicited proposals from Coke and Pepsi for a two-year right to be the exclusive supplier of soft drinks on all its campuses. Coke won the bid.

“Coke’s deal for this University was much better,” said Bruce L. Jacobs, Director of Dining Services. “In these tough economic times we are looking at innovative ways to reduce expenditures and bring much needed scholarship monies into the University.”

Yeshiva University receives royalties from the vending machine purchases, which will be used towards scholarship funds. The school will also be eligible to apply for additional funds through the Coke Scholarship program.

The new vending machines, of which there are 50 throughout the university, will use less electricity. To that “green” end, Coke will assist the school in initiating recycling campaigns with the school. The beverage company is also in the process of changing its fleet to hybrid trucks, “which is in line with our overall commitment to reduce our Carbon Footprint and “Green” our campuses,” said Jacobs.

Furthermore, 90 percent of Coke’s line of beverages is certified kosher.

Another notable change is that the machines only dispense bottled beverages, while Pepsi was sold in cans. “Coke selects bottle colors that have the highest recycling value (clear, light blue and green),” said Jacobs. “They also design caps and labels that are compatible recycling systems. Furthermore, Coke product bottles have been redesigned to use 5% less Polyethylene terephthalate. Pepsi cans continue to be made of aluminum.”

The benefits of the soda switch do not come without a price. The cost for a soft drink at one of the new machines, which accept credit cards, is now $2.00 for 20 ounces. Last year, the cost for a 12 oz. can of Pepsi was $1.00.

Clement Kai Lee, 2L, was none too thrilled about the new containers, “those bottles that are so large that by the time you’re done with four-fifths of it, you really don’t want the lukewarm sugary viscous liquid that’s left on the bottom.”

Because of its close affiliation with Pepsi, Snapple also had to go. The café will continue to offer Tropicana and Starbucks beverages, however, even though those two companies also have significant ties to Pepsi.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the switch was the absence of Wild Cherry Pepsi from the list of beverage options. During his protracted lament on the removal of the Pepsi machines, Lee commented, “most sadly of all, Wild Cherry Pepsi is no longer available as an elixir of life. Oh how I shall mourn.”

Kristen McDermott, ’09, echoed Lee’s woe, “I never drink Wild Cherry Pepsi in my regular life, but had it quite regularly while studying in the 3rd Floor Lounge. Sad.”

“Everyone knows that end-of-semester desperation and bleary-eyed 1 a.m. study sessions are synonymous with the familiar feeling of rubbing four quarters in your pocket and the zing of artificial cherry on your tongue,” said Lee, “I’ll miss that.”

Jacobs, however, said he welcomes feedback from students about the change and will be happy to accommodate the myriad cravings of the refined Cardozo palate.

Any concerns about the new vending machines can be directed to Jacobs, whose email address is bjacobs1@yu.edu. Students are welcome to request Cherry Coke, or even Cherry Dr. Pepper which is delicious, accordingly to Lee who believes that “all sodas should come with a flavor in which it tastes like you accidentally dropped a cherry Jolly Rancher in it, shrugged your shoulders, and drank it anyway.”/divdiv align=”left” /divdiv style=”font-weight: bold;”> align=”center”

Dave Johnston on Who Wants to be a Millionaire /divdiv align=”left”

Dave Johnston, 3L was a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” on an episode which aired Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Johnston won $50,000. “After taxes, it doesn’t cover tuition,” he said. While a portion of his winnings is going towards tuition, he has promised to give his mother a cruise. He also intends to treat his fellow Cardozites to lunch one day. “That plan is in the works.”

Johnston’s final winning question was “What is the rough translation of ‘buzkashi,’ the name for a popular sport in Afghanistan? A: Camel-boxing, B: Dog-muzzling, C: Goat-grabbing, D: Monkey-wrestling.” To answer, Dave used his “Double Dip” lifeline, which gives a contestant two chances to guess the correct answer. Johnston answered the ques
tion on his first try: it was goat-grabbing. “it just stuck out in my mind,” said Johnston, “I think I subliminally
remembe
red that there were goats in Afghanistan.”

Johnston, who described the experience of being on the game show as “exhilarating,” had gone through several rounds of testing and interviews before getting selected to be on the show. This was his first appearance as a contestant on a game show. He had previously applied to be on Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and was once an audience member of The Price is Right. His advice for aspiring contestants: “You have to make constant effort to get on a game show.”

Johnston thanks everyone at Cardozo for their support. /div