Law-Related Student Organizations Elect New Officers, Look Forward to 2020-21

Phi Alpha Delta on a law school visit

The Center for Law, Justice & Culture provides robust opportunities for students to engage in co-curricular and experiential learning through its several-affiliated student organizations and programs.

For many, student organizations are a way to actively engage with their future career in law, politics, and advocacy outside of the classroom.

“Getting actively involved in student organizations is beneficial to students for a host of reasons,” says Pre-Law Advisor Larry Hayman, Esq., who serves as an adviser to many of the organizations.

“In addition to making friends and having fun, students are able to expand on concepts and skills that they learn in the classroom while learning new ones such as teamwork, networking and public speaking skills. Participation gives opportunities to develop their leadership skills while working with diverse groups of people. All of these skills will serve a student well in whatever path they choose—whether it be law school, graduate school, or entering the workforce.”

As spring semester comes to a close, these organizations have been holding virtual elections to select their executives for the 2020-21 academic year. Executive board positions provide students opportunities to develop leadership skills and invest in an organization’s mission while bringing innovative and exciting ideas for the future or the organization.

Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity

Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, International is Ohio University’s only pre-law fraternity. The organization boasts more than 80 active members on campus. With a long legacy at OHIO and internationally, Phi Alpha Delta values legal education, service, and community among members. After an incredibly competitive election, Phi Alpha Delta will be led by

• President Alex Ruttman, a junior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law with a certificate in Diversity Studies
• Vice President Kheara Wright, a junior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law with a minor in Economics
• Treasurer Ali Gucwa, a sophomore double majoring in Geography Environmental Pre-Law and Political Science with a certificate in Environmental Studies
• Secretary Alexander Bihari, a sophomore double majoring in Spanish and Political Science
• New Member Coordinator Angel Vergona, a junior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law, with a minor in Sociology, and certificates in Law, Justice & Culture and Diversity Studies

Ohio University Mock Trial Team

The Ohio University Mock Trial team is a selective and competitive student organization, competing in the American Mock Trial Association’s network of nationwide tournaments. Each year, approximately 20 students divide into teams to prepare a legal case for trial against competing colleges and universities. Students compete for individual awards, such as Best Attorney and Best Witness, as well as working to advance the team into more competitive rounds. As the organization looks ahead to an exciting civil case, involving the murder of a confidential informant, Mock Trial is also introducing a new leadership board:

• President Ellen Gill, a junior double majoring in English Pre-Law and Sociology-Criminology with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Vice President Micaela Beatham-Garcia, a sophomore double majoring in Political Science Pre-Law and Global Studies with a minor in German, with certificates in Law, Justice & Culture and War and Peace Studies
• Treasurer Ali Gucwa, a sophomore double majoring in Geography Environmental Pre-Law and Political Science with a certificate in Environmental Studies
• Secretary Nick Bohuslawsky, a freshman majoring in Political Science Pre-Law with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• New Member Coordinator Jane Roche, a freshman majoring in Political Science Pre-Law

OHIO mock trial prosecution team

Ohio Innocence Project-u, Ohio University chapter

The Ohio Innocence Project, based at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, has undergraduate advocate networks across campuses in the state of Ohio. OIP-u is an organization committed to supporting the Ohio Innocence Project’s initiatives advocating for the rights of those exonerated while working to raise awareness behind the reasons wrongful convictions happen in the first place. The OIP-u 2020-21 Executive Board will will be led by:

• President Kheara Wright, a junior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law with a minor in Economics
• Vice President Molly Moore, a junior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law
• Treasurer Cassie Coleman, a sophomore double majoring in Psychology and Sociology Pre-Law, with minors in Philosophy and Sociology and a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Secretary Diamond Brooks, a sophomore Honors Tutorial Student majoring in Political Science
• New Member Coordinator Naomi Kuo, a freshman Political Science Pre-Law major

Film screening of Southwest of Salem by OIP

ACLU of Ohio University

The Ohio University American Civil Liberties Union is the only undergraduate branch of the ACLU in all of Ohio. With a small but mighty group of dedicated students, the ACLU works to
educate the student community on their civil liberties, as well as promoting opportunities for civil discourse. Looking into the next school year, the organization will be led by:

• Director Micaela Beatham-Garcia, a sophomore double majoring in Political Science Pre-Law and Global Studies with a minor in German, with certificates in Law, Justice & Culture and War and Peace Studies
• Deputy Director Katie Gold, a junior studying Communications Studies
• Treasurer Naomi Kuo, a freshman Political Science Pre-Law major
• Secretary Sydney Borsellino, a sophomore HTC student majoring in Sociology
• New Member Coordinator Hailey Gifford, a freshman Political Science Pre-Law major

Students Defending Students

Students Defending Students is an organization dedicated to representing and advocating for students that are navigating the student disciplinary process with the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility. Made up entirely of student volunteers, SDS leads by example to all of the nation’s student representation groups. Among the new students leaders for another year of service are:

• Director Cam Sico, a junior double majoring in Russian and Political Science
• Associate Director Ellen Gill, a junior double majoring in English Pre-Law and Sociology-Criminology with a certificate in Law, Justice & Culture
• Director of Recruitment and Training Brooke Pasquale, a junior double majoring in Sociology Pre-Law and Political Science
• Office Administrator Olivia Gemarro, a senior double majoring in English Creative Writing and Sociology Criminology with a minor in Political Science, with certificates in Law, Justice & Culture and LGBT Studies

The Center of Law, Justice, & Culture is proud of the work of the work accomplished by the leadership of the law related student organizations in 2019-2020 and is excited to usher in a new group of leaders on Ohio University’s campus for the Fall.