Category Archives: Division News

Law School Fair November 9th on Seattle Campus

Posted on by

Thinking about Law School?  Then don’t miss the annual Law School Fair on Thursday, November 9th from 10am – 2pm in HUB North Ballroom, sponsored by the Career & Internship Center and the Pre-Law Student Society.

Career & Internship Center

Campus Map

Representatives of more than 50 law schools from across the country gather at the UW looking for potential new students – like you! At the Law School Fair, you have the opportunity to interact with admissions staff, pick up brochures and applications, ask questions, get information on how to apply for financial aid, and learn more about the schools which interest you. Continue reading →

Chinese Scholar of Failed States Visits UWT This Year

Posted on by

This year, the Division of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs is pleased to be hosting Dr. Yan Jian (left) as a visiting scholar. Dr. Yan earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Beijing’s prestigious Renmin University in 2012. Since 2005 Dr. Yan has been a research fellow in the Center for Global Governance Studies in China’s Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, where he has translated numerous political science books and journal articles into Chinese.

Dr. Yan’s current scholarly focus is on failed states in Africa and he has published more than 20 articles in this area. This interest was sparked by a particular conversation with his dissertation advisor, Yu Keping, author of the famous essay, “Democracy is a Good Thing,” that led Yan to consider why it was that a number of contemporary African states seemed to be worse off than during their colonial period.  While at UWT Dr. Yan will continue his research on this topic. He has already delivered one informal “brown bag” talk on his research; stay tuned for other seminars by him over the coming year.

Dr. Yan is accompanied here by his family. Wife Jia Yajuan is the English editor of The Journal of Modern Chinese History. Five-year-old daughter Beixi (“Bessie,” whose favorite color is pink and whose favorite animals are dogs) is bravely integrating into kindergarten at a local elementary school. The family has already made a habit of exploring Tacoma’s local parks and playgrounds and looks forward to continuing to learn about the local area and beyond. “Someone” has promised that the Tacoma winter will be milder than in Boston, a city where several years ago Dr. Yan and his wife spent a winter.  Let’s hope so!

Dr. Yan’s office is on the second floor of Keystone.  You can reach him at yanjian@uw.edu.

New Law School Application Success Series

Posted on by

Ernesto Chavez (left) joined our faculty this fall as a Lecturer in Law and Policy; he is also the campus’ new Pre-Law Coordinator.  Prof. Chavez comes to us from Saint Martin’s University where he taught courses in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. Prior to Saint Martin’s, he spent fourteen years as a criminal defense attorney after receiving his law degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, As our Pre-Law Coordinator, Prof. Chavez will be supporting UWT students aiming for a law-related career. This year, in conjunction with the Teaching and Learning Center, Prof. Chavez has initiated the Law School Application Success Series, a series designed to help students navigate through and succeed with their law school applications. The series will include UWT’s first ever slate of LSAT preparation classes. Please join Prof. Chavez and the TLC for its kick off event on October 11th.

What:  Kick Off Event for Law School Application Success Series

When:  Wednesday October 11th, 3-4:30

Where:  Lucien Boardroom, 320 GWP

For more information, contact Prof. Chavez at elchavez@uw.edu

Prof. Will McGuire To Join Taiwan Delegation

Posted on by
Professor Will McGuire will be joining an academic delegation to Taiwan this summer organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Will’s participation in this high-level delegation is the result of an invitation from the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle. The trip brings American scholars of Taiwan or Mainland China together with Taiwanese government officials and scholars. This year’s delegation includes American academics from Harvard University, UCLA, Emory University, Brigham Young University, the US Air Force Academy, the University of Texas at Dallas, and the Jamestown Foundation. It begins July 15th and ends July 21st.
Professor McGuire will be sharing his experiences in Taiwan during an upcoming Travel Talk organized by World Affairs Council Tacoma on November 15th.  The event will at held at Tacoma Community College from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Spring interns served the legal profession

Posted on by

Bethany Johnson

This spring, four Law and Policy students interned with different parts of our criminal justice system. Each provided valuable services while also gaining first-hand experience.  Both Bethany Johnson and Margarita Varaksa interned with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office; Margarita worked in Pierce County’s Juvenile Court while Bethany was in its Property Crimes division.  Amy Magnuson worked down south with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office.  Among other things, Amy filed petitions and notices of hearings, prepared Orders of Non Compliance and Bench Warrants, handled discovery, and logged trial exhibits.  Kanani Palafox worked for Pierce County’s Department of Assigned Council.  Kanani found her internship to be provocative. Reflectin

Margarita Varaksa (right)

g on her experiences, she commented: “I often sit with alleged criminals, and find myself wondering about their lives. How did they get here? What circumstances in their lives led them to being incarcerated? How are their families affected by their choices?  And some moments at work strike a chord with me, and I realize it is what I want to do as a career. Being an advocate and a voice for justice is something I continue to be passion about.”

Kanani Palafox

All four students met their major’s capstone requirement by writing a substantial policy paper corresponding with their weekly internship obligations. Their supervisors were all thrilled with the extra support the four provided to each of their offices.  “She’s a keeper!” said Amy’s supervisor Wendy Ireland.  “As good as any of our paralegals.”

Fellowship For Women and Public Policy

Posted on by

The Congressional Fellowships on Women and Public Policy are extended each year to a select number of students pursuing a graduate degree or those who have recently completed a master’s, doctorate, or professional degree with a proven commitment to equity for women. Fellows gain practical policymaking experience and graduate credit as they work from January through July in congressional offices. Fellows receive stipends toward living expenses and meet weekly for issue seminars directed by the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute staff. The Fellowships are designed to train potential leaders in public policy formation to examine issues from the perspective, experiences, and needs of women.

Eligibilitity  U.S. citizens.  Currently enrolled in a graduate program or completed a graduate program within the past 18 months.  Serious interest in research and policy making relevant to women’s issues.

Deadline  The application deadline is June 1, 2017.

Additional Information.  Visit the program website, and/or email Cindy Schaarschmidt, Director, Student Fellowships & Study Abroad at UW Tacoma.

Bowling and McMinimee To Discuss Constitutional Rights in Criminal System

Posted on by

Nate Bowling

This Tuesday evening, Prof. Shannon McMinimee and Lincoln High School’s Nate Bowling (Washington State Teacher of the Year, and National Teacher of the Year finalist) will lead the discussion “Beyond Law and Order: Understanding Your Rights in the Criminal Justice System.”  Designed for both high school and UWT students, the conversation will focus on individuals’ constitutional rights from initial interactions with police through a trial.

Date and Time:  April 25th 6:30 p.m.

Location:  UWT’s Science 309

Shannon McMinime

Mr. Bowling teaches AP Government and Politics and AP Human Geography at Tacoma’s Lincoln High School.  He is a 2016 National Teacher of the Year Finalist, as well as a 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year.  In 2014 he won the Milken National Teaching Award; he is also the Co-Founder of Teachers United.  Prof. McMinimee is an attorney specializing in school and employment law, providing her clients with guidance on their Constitutional rights and liberties.  She represented the Seattle School District before the United States Supreme Court.  She teaches Constitutional Law at UWT this quarter.

Governor Inslee and Mayor Strickland Visit UWT

Posted on by

 

Gov. Inslee and Prof. Will McGuire

PPPA students and Prof. Katie Baird with Gov. Inslee

 

On March 9th, UWT’s Division of Politics Philosophy and Public Affairs teamed up with World Affairs Council Tacoma to bring Gov. Jay Inslee and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland to UWT.  The two came to campus to discuss Tacoma and Washington State’s role in global affairs.

Gov. Inslee and Mayor Strickland. began the event with opening remarks. Moderator Will McGuire, UWT professor of economics, asked follow-up questions.  He inquired with both officials about the controversial call by the Tacoma City Council to not declare the city a “sanctuary city”, and also about recent racially and religiously motivated violent acts in Washington 

The final 45 minutes were devoted to questions from the audience of more than 300 attendees. These questions ranged from the local — development on Tacoma’s tideflats — to the global — how national politics might affect Washington’s trade-based economy.

Prior to the event, Gov. Inslee met with numerous PPPA students to hear of their concerns.  He also met with some UWT students who are also immigrants.

More pictures of the event can be found here.

 

Students Intern Around Our Community This Winter Quarter

Posted on by
Four PPPA students undertook internship this winter to fulfill their major’s capstone requirement. Stepan Abramov, a senior Law and Policy student, interned with the Tacoma Housing Authority.  “As a intern with THA, I learned first hand how dependent many residents are on government funding. The smallest change in policy can create serious consequences in the lives of thousands.”  Stepan wrote a paper examining inclusionary zoning policies. Maria Reyes is about to graduate with a degree in Law and Policy.  She interned with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office, one she called “the best experience. It made me figure out what type of law I want to practice”.  Maria’s paper examined the legal history of indigents’ right to counsel.  Anna Nepomuceno is majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, and spent the winter quarter working in Olympia with the Washington Student Association, 

Maria Reyes

a lobbying organization for institutions of higher education.  Her paper examined the shortcomings in higher ed policy for the growing population of non-traditional students.   Ruddy Salas is also in his senior year, majoring in Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies.  He spent his winter quarter with the Pierce County Department of Assigned Counsel.  His paper investigated the history of mass incarceration in the U.S., and the effect policy reform in Washington has had on incarceration rates. Congratulations to all!

UW Law School Hosts Open House for Students

Posted on by

UW’s Law School is hosting two upcoming events. The first is an Admissions Information Session on April 12 from 5:45-7PM.  Come hear information about the application process. Students may RSVP here: https://www.law.washington.edu/admissions/events/.

The second event is an Annual Open House on April 29 where students are invited to participate in a mock class, speak with students, and learn about the student organizations.

Questions?  Contact Mathiew Le, Asst. Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, UW School of Law (mathiewl@uw.edu).