The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 90, Issue 8 - September 29, 2011

Los Angeles THUR FRI SAT SUN 7Г-6Г 73"- 63" 7Г-63" 70"- 62" ESTABLISHED 1921 September 29, 201 1 Volume 90, Issue 8 Your Home. Your Voice. Your Newspaper. Loyola Marymount University www.laloyolan.com University prepares for Opus Prize ceremony Photo by Devin Sixt | Loyolan The U.S Supreme Court's Anthony M. Kennedy (left) was joined at Loyola Law School (LLS) yesterday by Judge Ar¬ thur L. Alarcon of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (right), for whom LLS' new advocacy center is named. Supreme Court Justice speaks at LLS Students travel to observe nominated humanitarian organizations firsthand. By Tierney Finster News Editor LMU will host the Opus Prize Foundation’s highly anticipated Humanitarian Award ceremony and celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and Tuesday Nov 3. The organization chooses one Catholic university to partner with in awarding and presenting the Opus Prize, a large humanitarian scholarship, each year. Other universities that have a relationship with the Opus Prize Foundation include fellow Jesuit institutions such as Fordham University, Seattle University, Marquette University and the University of San Francisco. The Opus Prize Foundation also partners with non-Jesuit universities, the University of Notre Dame and the University of St. Thomas. According to the official Opus Prize website, the foundation seeks to work with universities that “have a rich tradition and history of nurturing in their students a lifelong commitment to social justice.” Vice Chair of the Opus Prize Steering Committee Kristi Wade commented more specifically on why LMU was chosen to work with the foundation this year, citing the University’s “rich history of Catholic faith and philanthropy.” As this year’s partner university, LMU does not just host the awards. Rather, various representatives from LMU’s faculty and student population also contributed to choosing the finalists for the award. Opus Prize nominees were first nominated through University contacts and alumni. Eventually the finalists were narrowed down to Father Gregory See Opus | page 2 Loyola Law School hosts a discussion with the Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy. By Tierney Finster News Editor Students, faculty and guests crowded Loyola Law School’s (LLS) Merrifield Hall yesterday morning in anticipation of an academic dialogue with the Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Honorable Arthur L. Alarcon of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. This private event was part of the larger Alarcon Advocacy Center dedication ceremony that occurred yesterday. Named after the U.S. Court of Appeals judge, the Alarcon Center connects students with clinical programs like Loyola’s Institute for Continuing Education and policy studies and Loyola’s Project for the Innocent. “No one knows what’s going to happen here today,” Kennedy said in his opening address. This proved to be true during the following one-hour conversation between Kennedy and Alarcon. Professor Laurie Levenson, who is also a William M Rains fellow, and the David W. Bure ham chair' in Ethical Advocacy, moderated the event. Levenson posed both her own questions and those previously submitted by students as Kennedy and Alarcon sat at tbe front of the intimate auditorium, in which almost everyone was in close proximity to the speakers. In discussing the challenges that future lawyer's face, Kennedy emphasized how much room there still is for growth and change in the judicial world today. “The framers of the Constitution did not know' all of the details of a just society. That is why they used such terms as liberty and justice,” Kennedy said in explanation of the large degree of the dissent between what people want and believe the Constitution to stand for. As for mistakes made throughout legal history, Kennedy asserted that, ‘The nature of injustice is that it is hidden from our eyes. The human mind learns through experience.” Kennedy and Alarcon acknowledged that although there have been some missteps in the history of the American legal system, the judicial branch has always provided explanations for their decisions. “We’re the only branch of government that gives reasons for what we do,” put Kennedy succinctly. As for politics, Kennedy and Alarcon both advocated for the removal of political beliefs from the practice of law'. Kennedy clearly stated, ‘There is no basis for politics in the law.” Kennedy provided further insight into the relationship between politics and law w'hen he said, “Our [the Supreme Court’s] decisions have political consequences, but we don’t deride them in a political way. We use the neutral language of the law to explain our derisions.” Alarcon mirrored this statement, explaining the dual nature of his job as both a citizen and See Justice | page 4 LMU to host cultural leadership event APLA-U Leadership 101 training will take place at LMU for the second time. By Brigette Scobas Asst. News Editor Several groups on LMUs campus form a tight-knit community within the larger LMU community, and the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) students are included in that mix. These students wall have the chance to attend the APLA-U: Leadership 101 training, sponsored by the Organization of Chinese Americans and State Farm Insurance. The training on Saturday, Oct. 8 in U-Hall wall be directly related to issues and leadership skills pertaining to them. LMU is the host for this year- and also hosted this training during the 2005-06 academic school year. Michelle Ко, the director of Asian Pacific Student Services said, “The training is to bring together Asian and Pacific Islander See APIA | радеЗ to this group, To read more about this trend, see "Businesses increasingly rely on student ambassadors" on page 4. Dol-Anne Asiru | Loyolan И ftit'S'/e //e ce/ife/mia/ ц •*£ Index Opinion... ...5 M* A centennial-inspired merlot, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay were Cartoon . . 8 •: A&E 9 _ commissioned by the University to celebrate its 1 00th year. ^ Classifieds . ...12 A&E, Page 9 Sports . ...16 ц&ЙШ. V The road to the MLS Former Lon, Rafael Baca, slarls (o find success after long journey to the San Jose Earthquakes. \ Ы. Imports. Page 16