Legal Studies Archives | 91�Թ�� News

91�Թ�� Students, Emmy-Winning Professors Team Up to Give a Voice to the Dead

Natalie Fedor ’26MA — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000

What happens when students from an entertainment law class and a podcasting class walk into a graveyard together? At 91�Թ��, they bring to life the most ambitious cross-college collaboration yet from an Emmy-winning faculty duo.

Legal studies senior lecturer was inspired one day when she came across a video of someone wandering through cemeteries, reading headstones and telling the stories of the people buried beneath them. The videos were pulling in millions of views. Pons, who teaches both entertainment law and funeral law at 91�Թ��, saw a learning opportunity for her legal studies students.

Rick Brunson ’84 and Irene Pons ’00 brought their two classes together for an in-person day of collaboration. (Photo courtesy of Irene Pons ’00).

She reached out to , a senior instructor in 91�Թ��’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) and veteran broadcast journalist, as the first step to what would go on to become a student-produced podcast, The Dead Speak.

Pons’ entertainment law students paired with Brunson’s audio reporting and podcasting students during the Spring 2026 semester — creating a cross-disciplinary collaboration unlike anything either department had attempted before.

The two faculty members are repeat collaborators. Their prior work legal studies-related documentaries that have earned five regional Emmy awards.

But this project presented a whole new challenge. It required bringing together nearly 100 students of very different skill sets to deliver a finished product that would both accurately and legally “bringing the dead back to life.”

Bringing the Dead to Life in Sound

Each class took on a distinct role in the production. Pons’ legal studies students were the researchers. Using legal databases, death records, obituaries and cemetery records — while exercising the entertainment law and copyright skills they were developing in class — they identified deceased Floridians or people with strong Florida ties whose stories were compelling, historically verifiable and legally safe to tell.

A few students even ventured into cemeteries to find their subjects, while others utilized websites for virtual tours of burial grounds.

“Law comes into play because a lot of research goes into databases where death records are kept,” Pons says. “The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record. ‘Did that person really die in 1867?’ Those are the kinds of questions that sharpened our legal research skills.”

“The entertainment law aspect comes in because we have ethical considerations, like copyright, public domain and how to verify the veracity of a record.” — Irene Pons ’00, senior lecturer

Once initial research was completed, the classes met together in person, divided into groups, in NSCM’s state-of-the-art podcasting studio. They pitched their research and determined which subjects would make the strongest episodes.

“My students were coming at this from what I call ‘seeing with your ears,’” Brunson says. “Does this subject and the time period they’re in present rich audio and sound opportunities? Does their story present rich opportunities to tell it in a sonic way?”

From there, Brunson’s students took over, writing scripts that would be narrated in first person and finding voice actors to give an accurate voice to the deceased.

Some students reached out to professional voice-acting collectives, and several professionals were so intrigued that they volunteered their voices. Other students recruited friends, family members or peers who matched the voice characterization they needed.

They further enhanced the production by recording real-world ambient sounds like crickets chirping, musical instruments or an audience cheering to create the backtracks that bring each episode to life.

In total, the collaboration produced 12 publicly accessible episodes that can be streamed on .

Everlasting Benefits

The response from students on both sides was immediate and enthusiastic. Pons’ law students were so enamored by the experience that many asked if they could come into the studio themselves to see their research brought to life.

“They were so invested in what they were doing,” Pons says. “At the end of class, they were like, ‘Do we have to leave?’ That was their favorite part of the whole semester.”

For Brunson’s podcasting students, the project offered an avenue for creativity while still adhering to journalism’s standards of accuracy and reporting and will ultimately serve them well on their resumes.

“The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.” — Rick Brunson ’84, senior instructor

“We have dead-set rules against making things up over here,” Brunson says. “They really enjoyed this opportunity to go out, get sound, create a period of time and make it immersive in a listener’s mind. It stretched their muscles as audio storytellers. Students can say, ‘This is something I built. This is something that went out and is public-facing.’ I think that is so much more valuable to students than just getting an A on a test.”

He adds that the experience reaffirmed what he’s always believed about project-based learning.

“It’s cross-pollination,” he says. “The benefits are two-way. You get smarter by working with really smart and creative people, and you push understanding of ourselves as humans and as a community forward.”

Pons hopes to continue The Dead Speak podcast and partnership with Brunson’s class with her Entertainment Law course in Spring 2027 and her Death, Dying and the Law course in Fall 2027.

“When faculty have the opportunity, they should take advantage of collaborating like this,” she says. “It was so rewarding for the students and for us as professors just to see the smiles on their faces. That says it all.”

91�Թ�� Legal Studies Student’s Internship with Local Judge Helped Shape Her Future in Law

Natalie Fedor ’26MA — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:30:37 +0000

Madison Young always knew she wanted a career in law. What she didn’t know was where that path would lead.

That became clearer during the Spring 2026 semester when the student landed an internship with Judge Christopher Sprysenski, a family law judge and 91�Թ�� adjunct instructor in the College of Community Innovation and Education. The courtroom became a classroom, where for more than 200 hours, she observed family law proceedings, watching the legal system work in real time before debriefing directly with the judge who decided the outcomes.

This internship helped solidify that she’s meant to be here.

The opportunity began after Young took Sprysenski’s Domestic Relations Law course. After learning about her career goals, volunteer work with the Legal Aid Society and growing interest in family law, he encouraged her to apply for the judicial internship program he facilitates.

It proved to be the perfect match.

By the end of the semester, Young had accepted a job offer as a legal assistant and set her sights firmly on law school.

More Than a Front-Row Seat

What made the experience unique wasn’t just observing cases — it was understanding the reasoning behind them.

Madison Young (left) says her internship with Judge Christopher Sprysenski (right), a 91�Թ�� adjunct instructor, opened her eyes to a different side of the legal system and provided an invaluable learning experience.

After court sessions, Young had the opportunity to discuss cases with Sprysenski, gaining insight into how judges evaluate witness credibility, weigh evidence and how attorneys present and advocate for a strong case.

“That was definitely a big difference between doing an internship at the courthouse versus at a law firm,” she says. “I got to see his perspective on what he found important about someone’s argument, what didn’t weigh into his decision and how he came to make his decisions. It gives me perspective for when I become an attorney.”

The internship also introduced her to a side of the legal profession many undergraduates never experience. Sprysenski invited Young to professional networking events with practicing attorney groups such as Central Florida Collaborative Divorce and the Seminole Inns of Court. She’s also pursuing volunteer opportunities with the Central Florida Collaborative Divorce group thanks to these connections.

“Now, I’ve grown a community,” she says. “I got to meet some cool people working in the field I want to go into, and it’s been really inspiring.”

Finding Her Calling

As she watched family law cases unfold and the weight the outcomes carry for real families, Young became increasingly interested in helping families navigate conflict outside the courtroom through mediation, collaborative divorce and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

That interest led her to enroll in Lecturer ‘s mediation practicum and pursue 91�Թ��’s graduate certificate in conflict resolution and analysis while preparing for the Law School Admission Test.

“[Madison] was one of the most dedicated students I have had the pleasure of working with.” — Christopher Sprysenski, 91�Թ�� adjunct instructor

Her work ethic alone speaks for itself — a testament to her dedication to making a mark in the field. While carrying a full course load, participating in 91�Թ��’s Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and completing her internship, Young also worked full time as a bartender and volunteered with the Legal Aid Society as a court-appointed advocate for children involved in active cases.

“I have to say she was one of the most dedicated students I have had the pleasure of working with,” Sprysenski says. “On top of my internship, Madison actively attended many social events with me where she met lawyers in our community, and she is already receiving job offers.”

One of those connections led directly to her first professional role. Young recently joined Bernal-Mora & Nickolaou, a family law firm in Maitland, Florida, where she works as a legal assistant, drafting legal documents, managing case deadlines and filings, communicating with clients and learning what goes into preparing family law cases.

Opening the Door

For Young, the most important lesson from her 91�Թ�� experience is simple: get involved.

“The classes at 91�Թ�� [gave me a strong] foundation, but being able to observe [family law] in real life [gave] me a completely different understanding.” — Madison Young, legal studies student

91�Թ��’s legal studies faculty — many of whom are practicing attorneys, judges and mediators — provided valuable mentorship and connections in the profession, but it was Young’s initiative to build relationships, seek opportunities and step outside the classroom that transformed those opportunities into a career.

“I don’t think I would have realized I wanted to do family law and be a lawyer if I didn’t make those connections,” she says. “The classes at 91�Թ�� [gave me a strong] foundation, but being able to observe [it] in real life [gave] me a completely different understanding. Getting experience early opened up a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I [hadn’t] engaged [with] and connected through them.”

5 Unique Funds to Support on 91�Թ�� Day of Giving

Lindsey Amick — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:48:17 +0000

Knight Nation’s single largest day of impact — — takes place Thursday, April 9. As a united Black & Gold community, we will Bounce, Stomp, Splash and Cheer our way toward major wins for 91�Թ�� students, faculty, programs, research endeavors and more.

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth — we’re counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this 91�Թ�� Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it’s all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together, we’re launching Knights to new heights.

91�Թ�� is committed to supporting and offering relief resources for our students. (Photo by Nick Leyva ’15)

When the unexpected arises, help sometimes comes in the form of . Created to support Knights facing hardship that may hinder their education, this fund provides financial support for textbooks, fees and other education-related expenses for qualifying students.

Your gift ensures that when life’s trials test our Knights, they pass with flying colors, securing the education and future they deserve.

From left to right: military officers and College of Medicine graduates Leeann Hu ’24MD, Tovah Williamson ’24MD and Asanka Ekanayake ’24MD.

The  provides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at 91�Թ��.

helps ensure that those who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

91�Թ�� has been recognized with a Gold Award on the Military Friendly Schools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times’ 2025 Best for Vets Colleges List. Help us continue that legacy of serving those who’ve served.

91�Թ��’s Aphasia House uses the latest clinical research to create a personalized course of therapy for everyone they serve.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy program to those navigating Aphasia, a language disorder that can arise from health challenges such as stroke, brain cancer and brain injury, and affects an individual’s ability to read, write, speak and comprehend language.

Through the program, individuals are empowered to make progress on their long-held goals, like talking with their grandchildren or ordering their favorite restaurant meal.

on 91�Թ�� Day of Giving supports the continuation of this important service for our community, as well as the hands-on experience 91�Թ�� student clinicians receive.

Support 91�Թ�� College of Medicine researchers as they break into new realms of understanding around the country’s second leading cause of death — cancer. Through innovative science, they’re exploring key avenues of discovery including the role that genes play in determining a person’s cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread and how to harness the body’s immune system to kill cancer cells.

The goal: to prevent cancer and find new therapies that improve quality of life for patients. brings us one step closer to lives saved, families unburdened and a cure realized.

91�Թ��’s nationally ranked moot court team competes in a simulated court room setting against schools including Virginia, Yale, UT-Dallas and more.

Did you know that 91�Թ�� has one of the top Moot Court teams in the nation, ranking among the top 15 overall by the American Moot Court Association? Supervised by the , these student advocates are challenged with arguing mock supreme court cases on constitutional amendments.

and national leadership by making a gift on 91�Թ�� Day of Giving. Help cover competition travel expenses, as well as the cost of the annual tournament hosted at 91�Թ�� Downtown each fall.

It’s time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us as we rally around our favorite causes, and maybe even uncover some new ones, during 91�Թ�� Day of Giving. Find more areas of support by ��ǰ��Բ��ٳ��, and save the date to on Thursday, April 9.

Forged in Fire

Jenna Marina Lee — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:03:46 +0000

Anthony Daniels wakes up every morning with a single word in his mind: focus.

It’s taken the 91�Թ�� student years to get to this point in his life; a place of acceptance for the abuse he suffered as a child and the disappointments he has had to endure. Now, as the 30-year-old is one semester away from becoming the first person in his family to earn a college degree, he’s grateful for the focus and drive that brought him to this point in his life.

“I’ve learned if you just persevere and have a clear goal and focus,” he says, “you can get through anything.”

A Tumultuous Beginning

Daniels was born in West Palm Beach and was in kindergarten, the oldest of three brothers, when his parents split up and his mother soon after began dating someone who was abusive. He says he went to school with bruises, sometimes a sprained limb, until child services eventually intervened.

He spent two years in foster care while the courts figured out what his fate would be. He didn’t realize it at the time, but the lawyers involved in his case made an impression on him and would play a role later in shaping his career aspirations.

“They seemed like they’re valued members of the community and people cared about what they had to say,” says the legal studies major. “They were kind of like modern-day heroes, saving children or people in need. They just had a very professional and commanding attitude and presence that I respected.”

Once Daniels was deemed a ward of the court, he was placed with his grandmother, who he says welcomed and adored him. Daniels and his youngest brother, an infant at the time who went to live with an aunt and uncle in Massachusetts, kept in contact over the years and saw each other during the holidays. His middle brother stayed with his mother and moved to the western part of the country. Daniels rarely spoke to either of them.

When he graduated from high school, Daniels planned on enlisting in the Air Force to become a pilot. Just before he was set to head to boot camp, he found out he had a blue-red color vision deficiency, which meant no flying.

“I was devastated,” he says. “For a little while I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I felt like I had let my whole family down because I felt like there was a lot of hype and when it didn’t happen, I was crushed. I ended up running away from home because I didn’t want to face it.”

“When I was younger, I wished all the time, ‘Why can’t I just have a normal life?’ Now that I’m older and I’ve learned a little bit more, I think it’s like the furnace for steel — it hardened me and made me a stronger person.”

Longing for More

For a while he did odd jobs. He worked at Panera Bread. He sold nuts and bolts for an industrial-supply company. He was a car salesman for a couple days.

“I just felt a longing for something more,” he says. “I just knew I wanted to go to school and make something of myself.”

He enrolled at St. Johns River State College and eventually transferred to 91�Թ�� to major in computer science. When he quickly realized the required math classes weren’t for him, he took an aptitude and personality test he found online. Lawyer popped up among the list of professions he matched with, and he started to think about the lawyers from his childhood.

He switched his major to legal studies and nearly every facet of his life started pulling in the right direction, he says. He made the dean’s list. He started seeking counseling through to unpack his childhood trauma. He finally made lasting friendships he always wished for as a kid by playing his favorite game, Dungeons & Dragons. He became engaged in his classes, even when they challenged his weaknesses.

“We have a mock courtroom on the downtown campus so we can get a feel of how it will be. I’ve shied away from public speaking, but it’s been a really fun challenge to see myself progress,” he says. “I found that I like to command that room.”

He says once he pays off his student loans, he would like to offer legal services pro bono to help children who are in the same position he was in as a child. Daniels is most proud of the work it took to get this far, and that his youngest brother has told him he wants to go back to school, just like Daniels did.

“At risk of sounding cliché, they say ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ I definitely agree,” he says. “When I was younger, I wished all the time, ‘Why can’t I just have a normal life?’ Now that I’m older and I’ve learned a little bit more, I think it’s like the furnace for steel — it hardened me and made me a stronger person.”

New Study Offers Clues to Origin of Laws

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:18:48 +0000

Speculation about where laws come from ranges from crediting judges and legal scholars to God.

However new research co-authored by a 91�Թ�� researcher and appearing in the journal today offers evidence that criminal laws come from an intuitive and shared, universal sense of justice that humans possess.

“We sometimes think of the law as this completely rational enterprise that is the result of wise experts sitting around a table and working from logical principles,” says Carlton Patrick, an assistant professor in the 91�Թ��’s and study co-author. “And instead, what this study suggests is that these intuitions that people tend to share about justice may be the things that are becoming institutionalized.”

Patrick and Daniel Sznycer, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Montreal and the study’s lead author, made the finding by comparing modern and ancient people’s sense of whether a punishment fits a crime.

And while previous studies have examined people’s intuitions about justice, this is the first one that compared them across thousands of years.

Carlton Patrick is an assistant professor in the 91�Թ��’s Department of Legal Studies who co-authored the study.

Using participants from the United States and India, the researchers had people rate offenses from one of three legal codes: the Laws of Eshnunna, Sumerian laws from nearly 3,800 years ago; the Tang Code, Chinese laws from nearly 1,400 years ago; and the Criminal Code of Pennsylvania, which reflects modern U.S. laws.

Participants were shown the offenses, but not the punishments that the law established.

The crimes ranged from ancient offenses, such as not keeping an ox in check, which caused a person to be gored, to modern ones, such as assault.

Some participants were asked to determine the appropriate fines for each offense, while others were asked to determine prison sentences.

The researchers found that the more seriously modern people judged a crime to be, the higher the actual legal punishment for the crime.

This was despite participants living in different countries and legal codes that were separated by thousands of years.

“The match between participants’ intuitions and ancient laws was notable,” Sznycer says.

“This new research adds empirical weight to the possibility that the capacity to make laws—the brain mechanisms that appraise offenses and generate justice intuitions—are universal, and a part of human nature.”

“Criminal laws, like the writing that supports those laws, are cultural inventions: present in some societies, absent in others,” he says. “However, this new research adds empirical weight to the possibility that the capacity to make laws—the brain mechanisms that appraise offenses and generate justice intuitions—are universal, and a part of human nature.”

Patrick says the study is an important step in helping to demystify the origin of laws.

“I think what this study does is lead us into the black box a little bit,” he says. “It removes one layer of the shroud of mystery that surrounds the lawmaking process, and it also gets us closer to understanding why we sometimes feel that something’s wrong, even when we can’t explain why.”

Patrick received his law degree from Boston University School of Law, his doctorate and master’s in psychology from the University of Miami and his bachelor’s from Florida State University. He joined 91�Թ��’s Department of Legal Studies, which is a part of 91�Թ��’s , in 2018.

9 91�Թ�� Alumni-Owned Businesses to Support on Small Business Saturday

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 17:20:49 +0000

While the season of holiday sales is upon us, don’t forget to support local business owners on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24. These entrepreneurs are some of the 91�Թ�� alumni who provide goods and services that make Orlando an even greater place to shop, eat and relax.

Pop Parlour

Serving up sweets is practically in graduate Brandon Chandler ’10’s DNA. In 2013, Chandleropened Pop Parlour, a shop offering fruity, creamy and boozy frozen treats as a tribute to his grandfather PopPop, who sold similar items after World War II. Pop Parlour has grown to two locations and serves coffee, tea, craft beer and wine, depending on which spot you visit.

��ǳ��پ��ǲԲ�:��4214 E. Plaza Drive on the 91�Թ�� campus; 431 E. Central Blvd., Suite C; ThePopParlour.com
(Pop Parlour’s 91�Թ�� location will be closed on Small Business Saturday due to campus closures, but you can still visit the downtown location or stop by another day.)

Six28 Boutique

Six months after graduating with a degree in elementary education, Rachel Ledbetter ’16 took a risk to pursue entrepreneurship by opening clothing boutique Six28. Located near 91�Թ��, Six28 sells trendy, affordable women’s clothing and accessories, which can also be purchased on the store’s online site.

Location:12082 Collegiate Way; 407-630-3890; Six28Boutique.com

Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux

Cycling enthusiasts Darrell Cunningham ’93 and Jen Cunningham ’95 ’96MSW opened Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux to provide a space for people to bond over good food, drinks and company. With a commitment to health in mind, the shop sells breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, beer, wine and more daily and at special events each month. While at 91�Թ��, Darrell studied civil engineering and Jen majored in social work.

Location:3022 Corrine Drive; 407-427-1440; BikesBeansandBordeaux.com

Deli Fresh Threads

Marketing major Anthony “Biggie” Bencomo ’98 merged his love of sandwiches with another creative passion by opening Deli Fresh Threads, a clothing store? with designs inspired by what he considers the #KingOfMeals. You can buy foodie fashion in the form of T-shirts, hats, pins and stickers on the online shop. Bencomo also hosts a monthly #SandwichEatUp at local shops around Central Florida to help support other small businesses.

Location: 321-303-5129; DeliFreshThreads.com

Tactical Brewing Company

Owned and operated by veteran and psychology graduate Doug Meyer ’14 ’16MBA, Tactical Brewing Company serves craft brews created on-site to veterans, first responders and all beer lovers alike.

��ǳ��پ��ǲ�:��4882 New Broad St.; 407-203-2033; TacticalBeer.com

Retrolando

Retro Orlando captures the City Beautiful’s history while giving back to others. The online T-shirt company offers men and women’s clothing inspired by former iconic Orlando businesses, organizations and landmarks. Each purchase is something you can feel good about because owner and English major Shannon Flesch Couillard ’04, donates a new shirt to a local homeless shelter for each shirt sold.

��ǳ��پ��ǲ�:��Retrolando.com

Yaupon Brothers Tea Co.

Brothers — 91�Թ�� senior hospitality major Kyle White and legal studies graduate Bryon ’09— have revived an ancient Native American superfood with their yaupon holly tea company. The brothers sustainably harvest their organic crop and distribute their product at restaurants and shops. Online purchases can also be made on their official site and Amazon. Yaupon Brothers also offers sustainable agricultural consulting services for Florida farmers looking for alternative crops.

��ǳ��پ��ǲԲ�:��Various local shops such as Lucky’s Market, Credo Coffee, Infusion Tea and Dandelion Communitea Café; YauponBrothers.com

A Piece of Work

Started by marketing graduate Curtis Young ’04 in 2007, A Piece of Work apparel company creates custom embroidery and screen printing. Through partnerships with companies such as the Orlando Magic, Funky Buddha and more, the online site offers quality work clothing. A Piece of Work also sells eco-friendly items such as recycled journals and organic cotton totes.

��ǳ��پ��ǲ�:��321-662-3836; APieceofWorkGear.com

Just Save the Date

Whether you need to put together a small intimate gathering or a major extravagant event, Just Save the Date can help make any occasion special. Communication graduate and owner Kelly Erickson Fowler ’02 started the event planning company after planning her own destination wedding. Just Save the Date operates from two locations in the Orlando and Key West areas.

��ǳ��پ��ǲԲ�:��Orlando – 407-258-1944; Key West – 305-767-3774; JustSaveTheDate.com

91�Թ�� Undergraduates Publish New Law Journal

Drexler B. James ’13 — Thu, 31 May 2018 17:33:14 +0000

A new law journal written, edited and published by undergraduate students at 91�Թ�� is now available and will be distributed to law offices across Central Florida.

“By establishing an undergraduate law journal, 91�Թ�� joins a very elite group of universities that provides students this unique, unparalleled and quintessential experiential learning opportunity,” says Alisa Smith, chair of the Department of Legal Studies.

Patricia “Trish” Cashman, a local attorney and longstanding member of the Department of Legal Studies Advisory Board, said the process of creating the journal provides a great educational benefit for the students and is a great way to educate and connect with the local community.

“It’s a journal that has something for many different people in the community who are interested in different issues,” says Cashman, also a legal studies adjunct professor for 91�Թ��. “It’s a great way to engage people in thought for them to potentially learn something new.”

Legal studies professors recommended students for the editorial board during the fall semester, and 91�Թ�� legal studies professor James Beckman, who served as the journal’s faculty advisor, selected the inaugural board, which comprised 15 students.

As part of the journal’s board, students enrolled in a new legal-studies course focused on the best practices involved in preparing and editing an academic scholarly journal for publication in Spring 2018. The students also completed extensive research and reading in order to conduct multiple blind peer reviews typical for an academic journal and conducted extensive editing of the accepted articles prior to publication.

The editorial board invited 91�Թ�� students from any major to submit articles. By late January, the editorial board had received more than 50 in-depth and well-researched pieces covering a variety of topics for the journal. They chose 12 articles and a book review for publication. Topics in the 175-page journal include President Trump’s use of social media, the impact of race on the U.S. correctional system, and the legality of police officers’ use of automatic scanners and whether such practices are privacy violations.

“It was so wonderful to do it and publish it at the end,” says legal studies junior Samantha Forkel, who authored “Making Millions of Dollars off Constitutional Violations.” “I learned a lot about legal writing and editing.”

Know When to Hold ’em…

Angie Lewis, ’03 — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 19:00:16 +0000

91�Թ�� alumni and friends from the Central Florida legal community mingled at Ember in downtown Orlando for a fun night of blackjack, craps, roulette and poker at the Legal Knights & Friends Alumni Chapter‘s annual Casino Knight on Oct. 29.

Beginners and high rollers alike enjoyed fine wines, craft beers and hors d’oeuvres, while pressing their luck with the house.

Proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships for students in pre-law programs.

“Since this organization started, we’ve always focused ourselves on providing 91�Թ�� students aspiring to go to or are already in law school with something many different lawyers in our local community didn’t have while in school: Perspective and the opportunity to help fund the start of their careers,” says Mike Mendez, ’04, immediate past chair of the Legal Knights & Friends Alumni Chapter. “I’ve met all of the recipients of the scholarships we’ve awarded throughout the years, and there’s no better feeling than seeing the difference we’ve made for these hard-working students.”

MORE INFO

legalknights@ucfalumni.com | 407.823.3491 | 407.823.3525

91�Թ�� to Observe Constitution Day at Wednesday Forum

Kevin Deo — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 19:00:16 +0000

The U.S. Constitution was adopted Sept. 17, 1787, and is the foundation on which Americans live their lives; after 227 years, it is just as relevant today as it was then.

A forum to celebrate the Constitution and the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 will be sponsored Wednesday by the 91�Թ��’s Office of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Legal Studies, Department of Political Science, Department of History, Lou Frey Institute, John C. Hitt Library and Student Government Association. The forum will focus on how different interpretations of the Constitution have changed over time and the effect it has on society.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon at FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and is free to 91�Թ�� students, faculty and staff members. Former Ambassador William J. Hughes and Congressman Peter Torkildsen will address the topic, after which they will join a panel alongside Legal Studies faculty members James Beckman and Cynthia Schmidt to answer questions.

“We encourage the involvement of 91�Թ�� students, as this is a wonderful opportunity for them to be a part of an event with such prestigious speakers,” said Juan Lugo of the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

For more information about the Constitution Day event

White House Enlists 2 Interns from 91�Թ��

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:17:47 +0000

One 91�Թ�� student and a recent graduate are serving as White House interns this spring.

Brandon Clark, a junior with a double major in criminal justice and legal studies, and Caroline Engeman, who graduated in December with a bachelor’s in event management, are working in Washington through May.

Clark is interning in the correspondence department in the Office of the First Lady.

“We process all of the first lady’s mail from the public. I help process mail from students, letters inquiring about the first lady’s Joining Forces and Let’s Move! initiatives, and policy-related correspondence for my department,” he said.

A graduate of George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, Clark plans to attend law school after graduation and stay engaged in public-service opportunities.

“Through this internship I hope to better understand how the executive office of the president works and runs,” he said. “I believe it will provide me with an opportunity to develop skills necessary to further my education and future career goals.”

Engeman is interning in the White House visitors office.

“We handle all events open to the public, such as White House tours, the Easter Egg Roll, spring/fall garden tours, state arrival ceremonies, and other various events that take place at the White House,” said the Winter Park High School graduate.

Engeman, who plans to stay in Washington to continue a career in government, said she hopes to learn during her internship “why there is a great emphasis on opening the White House to the public.”

“Also, I hope to learn more about the different roles that each department within the White House holds pertaining to all events and how together they build the foundation for the success of the event,” she said.

White House interns work in one of several White House departments, ranging from the Office of Legislative Affairs, to the Domestic Policy Council, to the Office of the Vice President. The mission of the White House internship program is to make the White House accessible to future leaders around the nation and to prepare those devoted to public service for leadership opportunities.

Legal Studies Archives | 91�Թ��� News

91�Թ��� Students, Emmy-Winning Professors Team Up to Give a Voice to the Dead

Bringing the Dead to Life in Sound

Everlasting Benefits

91�Թ��� Legal Studies Student’s Internship with Local Judge Helped Shape Her Future in Law

More Than a Front-Row Seat

Finding Her Calling

Opening the Door

5 Unique Funds to Support on 91�Թ��� Day of Giving

Forged in Fire

New Study Offers Clues to Origin of Laws

9 91�Թ��� Alumni-Owned Businesses to Support on Small Business Saturday

Pop Parlour

Six28 Boutique

Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux

Deli Fresh Threads

Tactical Brewing Company

Retrolando

Yaupon Brothers Tea Co.

A Piece of Work

Just Save the Date

91�Թ��� Undergraduates Publish New Law Journal