Pre-Law Students Visits Harvard Law Conference
At Harvard Law School’s Future of Animal Law Conference, a group of Green Mountain College students tested their legal acumen and walked away with newfound knowledge and confidence.
Prof. Sam Edwards organized the trip—something he tries to do frequently. Edwards says he would attend these conferences anyway for his professional life; inviting students along is an added bonus—and a great opportunity. Despite the fact that the conference was geared toward professional lawyers, GMC students had no problem feeling comfortable. More...
Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force Workshop
Popular network shows like CSI: Miami portray crime scenes swarming with detectives and cordoned off by yellow caution tape. But sometimes the victim is not a person but an animal, and signs of animal abuse are not always easy to identify.
"We all understand and agree that animals-pets, livestock or wild animals-have inherent rights, but it is not always easy to know when an animal is a victim of abuse," said Sam Edwards, associate professor environmental studies and director of the College's Pre-Law Program. Students in his wildlife law and policy class are studying legal rights of animals, and last month they participated in a workshop from local animal abuse experts who used CSI-type forensic during a day-long workshop at the College on Saturday, April 17 presented by The Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force (VACTF). A conservation biology class taught by Prof. Mark Jordan (biology) also participated in the workshop.
Washington D.C. - Topics at the U.S. Supreme Court
Sometimes the cherry trees are in bloom - sometimes the timing is a little off - but no matter what the fickle early spring weather brings students in Prof. Rebecca Purdom's "Topics at the U.S. Supreme Court" class head to Washington D.C. to hear oral arguments in front of the highest court in the country.
It's a whirlwind trip: Students spend the ten hour van ride pouring over documents related to the case they will hear the next day. In the morning, the class treks to the Supreme Court building well before dawn, ensuring them seats. This year, senior Jenna Calvi scored the #1 ticket to the court. The last day in D.C. students sit down with elected officials or their staff members to discuss a current issue - in the spring of 2009 they met all three members of Vermont's Congressional Delegation on the steps of the Capitol building.
View a video featuring the 2009 Washington D.C. trip.
Nagoya 2009 - Japanese Life and Culture
Students challenged their assumptions and explored the culture and customs of Japan through a trip in May and June of 2009. Prior to leaving, the group completed an intensive Japanese study week. They wrote papers and gave presentations on an aspect of Japanese culture, then revisited this work after experiencing the nation first-hand. While in Japan, students traveled to the cities of Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo, and visited places including Nagoya Castle, the Toyota plant, the Tokugawa Art Museum and the Peace Park and Bombing Museum in Hiroshima. The course was led by Prof. Sam Edwards (enviromental studies, law & policy). GMC maintains an exchange program with Nagoya University School of Law.
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