Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSpanish-language news program awaits vote
By Eric Meyers
Posted: 1/23/08, 12:11 AM EST Section: News
Olatokunbo Olaniyan, a third-year law student, was a member of the successful 2006 and 2007 teams.
"It was overall a great experience," she said. "I hadn't done any advocacy stuff before, so it was really good training, and it helped me learn to be comfortable in a courtroom and in front of judges."
SU was crowned the national champions in 2006, its first year, after successfully arguing that states must honor same-sex marriages made official in another state, in the competition's final round.
"It's been a great opportunity for SU to get some recognition on the West Coast," Sprock said. "We've really made a name for ourselves at UCLA with this."
Olaniyan, while not participating this year, will be coaching and evaluating the team this year and acting as a judge for practice competitions, she said.
Sprock will also act as a judge and coach, but will not participate in writing the briefs.
"I make sure that I have given them every opportunity to argue their position to try a different argument and to give them my feedback," he said. "I'm not allowed to help them at all with writing, but it's my responsibility to teach them about advocacy and put them in touch with other lawyers or professors who can help them."
This year, the team will be receiving additional help from OutLaw: Gay/Straight Law Student Alliance, a group within the law school. Although the team has been considered part of OutLaw, this is the first year the team will be organized by the OutLaw president.
Jason White, current OutLaw president, strives to make sure the team has the resources to make the trip to UCLA in February.
"Last year, the team was doing its own fundraising, organizing, practicing on its own, apart from OutLaw," White said. "This year, as president, I wanted to make sure the team was supported and that it had a support base within the organization."
Sprock said the competition provides valuable, realistic experience, as most of the similar competitions do, but the Williams Institute competition offers something extra.
"I think the competition is a great experience for all students to learn about issues that affect the LGBT community in our country," he said. "It really raises awareness. Not only for the legal issues, but for the social issues as well."
"It was overall a great experience," she said. "I hadn't done any advocacy stuff before, so it was really good training, and it helped me learn to be comfortable in a courtroom and in front of judges."
SU was crowned the national champions in 2006, its first year, after successfully arguing that states must honor same-sex marriages made official in another state, in the competition's final round.
"It's been a great opportunity for SU to get some recognition on the West Coast," Sprock said. "We've really made a name for ourselves at UCLA with this."
Olaniyan, while not participating this year, will be coaching and evaluating the team this year and acting as a judge for practice competitions, she said.
Sprock will also act as a judge and coach, but will not participate in writing the briefs.
"I make sure that I have given them every opportunity to argue their position to try a different argument and to give them my feedback," he said. "I'm not allowed to help them at all with writing, but it's my responsibility to teach them about advocacy and put them in touch with other lawyers or professors who can help them."
This year, the team will be receiving additional help from OutLaw: Gay/Straight Law Student Alliance, a group within the law school. Although the team has been considered part of OutLaw, this is the first year the team will be organized by the OutLaw president.
Jason White, current OutLaw president, strives to make sure the team has the resources to make the trip to UCLA in February.
"Last year, the team was doing its own fundraising, organizing, practicing on its own, apart from OutLaw," White said. "This year, as president, I wanted to make sure the team was supported and that it had a support base within the organization."
Sprock said the competition provides valuable, realistic experience, as most of the similar competitions do, but the Williams Institute competition offers something extra.
"I think the competition is a great experience for all students to learn about issues that affect the LGBT community in our country," he said. "It really raises awareness. Not only for the legal issues, but for the social issues as well."
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