by Ryan Behren Only during times of unparalleled crises are the American people able to truly take notice of the strengths, weaknesses, and values of the society for which they live. At these times it is crucial that we keep careful watch over the structural integrity of the rights and laws that this nation is built upon. During the recent outbreak of Covid-19, law-makers, leaders, and the American people have been forced to make a choice between freedom or death. […]
Category: Capstone Commentary
Remembering the Rebels
by Tanner D’Ortenzio Alabama Code Title 41. State Government § 41-9-232 states the following: (a) No architecturally significant building, memorial building, memorial street, or monument which is located on public property and has been so situated for 40 or more years may be relocated, removed, altered, renamed, or otherwise disturbed.[1] Also known as the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, this act essentially prohibits the removal or alteration of any kind to public Confederate monuments. This raises an incredibly important question: […]
Supremacy Over Supreme
by Tanner D’Ortenzio The street-wear brand Supreme has become a colossus in the fashion industry ,with their signature box logo being recognizable in households across the globe. Supreme is especially popular amongst the youth of the United States, evolving over time to fit skate and hip-hop niche. Their popularity can be attributed to their rebellious and high-fashion inspiration, as well as the exclusivity of their products. Throughout their history Supreme has been accused of directly copying the work of famed […]
The Reason Station
by Rachel Sharma In the city of Warren, Michigan, the city hall atrium played host to different booths that “may be reserved for most types of functions or activities”.[1] One of these activities is known as the “Prayer Station”, set up by the Tabernacle Pentecostal ministry.[2] This booth has been in affect from 2009 to the present. Volunteers who run the booth offer to pray with passersby, distribute religious pamphlets, and discuss their religious beliefs with those who approach. Douglas […]
The First Amendment, Abridged
by Rachel Sharma When the First Amendment was created in the constitution, it did not have the same meaning it has today. The definition of this law today has been shaped and morphed by justices and judges that wrote opinions and decided cases pertaining to it. The history of cases relating to the First Amendment from World War I to the end of the 1960s shows the development of the meaning and restrictions of the amendment by the Supreme Court. […]
Iranian Cryptocurrency Restriction
by Soleil Ozols On account of the prohibition of the handling of cryptocurrencies among all Iranian financial institutions, the form of online currency took a hit towards a national progression in Iran, but progress with the emerging currency has not been ultimately banned and forgotten by Iranian financial institutions. As Iran continues to maneuver conflicts, both foreign and domestic, one focus of local financial institutions is cryptocurrencies, or moreover, the benefits and conflicts they pose. A major contributor to foreign […]
Are International Requirements for Addressing Climate Change Being Met?
by Soleil Ozols “The more we disrupt our climate, the more we risk severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts. But, it does not have to be that way… Let’s join a race to the top, a race where there are only winners.”[1] – Secretary-General António Guterres Climate change is a global phenomenon created predominantly by burning fossil fuels. This leads to increasing global temperatures, sea level rise, mass amounts of melted ice in the North and South Pole, as well as […]
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To Disclose or Not to Disclose: The Stigmatization of Attorneys with “Invisible” Disabilities
by Rachel Codair Dec. 10th, 2019 at 9:00 p.m. CDT The language of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is clear. It’s purpose is “to establish a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability” and as outlined in Title I, this applies to employment. So why do many legal professionals with visually indiscernible disabilities choose to conceal their condition in the workplace? Why does a fear of prejudice still keep these people from seeking the accommodations […]
Psychology and the Law: Jury Compilation
by Emily Kabalin Law and Psychology are largely intertwined. The purpose of law is to control behavior, and the purpose of psychology is to observe, explain, and predict behavior. Therefore, psychology can help to evaluate the assumptions that law makes about human behavior. Psychologists study laws by focusing on the individual, and how the individual is responsible for his or her own actions. Psychology examines the thoughts and behavior of individuals, which provide reasons for the laws to be established. […]
Fixing the Fourth Amendment: Software, Surveillance, and Satire
by Samuel Blackington If the old adage that “knowledge is power” is true, then one’s personal information is a priceless commodity in the highly-digital age we currently live in. To clarify what I mean by personal information, this includes data such as an individual’s fingerprint and even a person’s own face that can all be collected through smart devices that utilize either fingerprint or facial recognition software. Although it is an issue that seems shallow at face value, it encompasses […]
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