Having dinner with my fellow Asians

I know you’re tired of hearing how much work Northwestern Law is, so I think it’s high time I tell you some of the fun things we do. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday went by with the usual hectic pace. Wednesday evening, I had dinner with fellow members of the Asia Pacific American Law Student’s Association (APALSA). I know, you’re obviously wondering what Asian heritage I claim, and I promise to let you know as soon as I discover. I was admitted into the organization because they had difficulty disproving my claim that I am 0.01% Blackanese. Hehe. On a more serious note, most clubs on campus allow any student interested in knowing more about there group to join. Since one of my best law schools buddies is part Chinese, I decided to imerse myself in the Asian culture. Also, the more organizations I join, the less I have to cook.

Thursday after my Criminal Law class, I received a second note from my professor commending me on my “stellar thinking and contribution to the classroom discussions.” Though a note seems like nothing, such feedback means a great deal, since we wont receive any concrete feedbac until after finals in December. Law School is so structured that the only exam of real worth is the final exam for each course. Some classes give “practice” midterm exams, and I try to approach those as if my grades depend on them. There I go talking about Northwestern Law again.

On Saturday, I went to an event at the Jamaican Consulate in Chicago. Earlier in the week I had recieved an invitation to a diaspora conference. I RSVP’d when I was informed that I would get Jamaican food for lunch. The meeting was somewhat useful, and the food was wonderful. Also, I had the opportunity to meet with the daughter of one of Jamaica’s founding fathers (B.B. Cooke – I think Jamaica’s second education minister). Midway true the conversation, she tried to convince me that I should consider entering politics; ofcourse, I informed her that politics was not the only medium through which I could make a meaningful (positive) contribution to the country. Not sure who I’m kidding – the thought of entering politics still lingers. Maybe I will grow it out. Maybe a family will remove it entirely. Maybe I will enter politcs.

By Saturday night, I wanted nothing to do with any conversation involving anything of substance. Three classmates and I decided to attend a Halloween party hosted by a friend and his girlfriend. The party was good. Us N Law student’s know how to throw a good jam. I went dressed up as… uhm… well, I didn’t really go dressed up. I wore an African hat. That was either a costume, or just me getting intouch with my inner “Africanness.” Either way, we had a blast. Of note: just so you get a glimpse of the diversity at Northwestern Law – I am from Jamaica (went to college in NY), Rishard is from the Bahamas (went to Princeton), Frank is Chinese and Ayo is from Nigeria. That was the party crew; and it was beautiful.

The coming week should be very hectic. I have research to conduct for a case, and a midterm on Friday. I have three Haloween party invitations for this Friday, so hopefully, this weekend will be fun.

Will keep you posted!

Friday night I went to a Chicago-wide Black Law Students Association (BLSA) bowling event. I had the opportunity to meet future counsels from University of Chicago Law School, and DePaul University College of Law. DePaul easily has some of the coolest law students I’ve ever met. The vibe was right, everyone was uber friendly, the conversations were intelligent (assuming that one can have an intelligent conversation about bowling after a few drinks), but the event lacked the air of competition that law school events have become known for.

I spent the better part of Saturday morning searching for and adding as many of the new people I met the night before to my Facebook. The under representation of people of color in the legal profession strengthens the need to build as large a network as possible. Plus they were way too cool to lose contact with.

The rest of Saturday was spent at home preparing for school. I decided to stay in Saturday night, and read for my Monday classes. When I got around to check the time, it was already minutes after three am. This morning (Sunday) I slept in late. Didn’t get up until 12:30, and (true to form) I’ve been surfing the net and catching up on the news since then. After my soccer game, I have a meeting with a research group, then hopefully I’ll get a chance to put some work in.

At our debate watch party last week, the atmosphere was incredible. It is difficult to get an accurate feel of the pulse of America from a law school political event. If the general election was a law school affair, Obama would have very little need to campaign. However, lucky for most of us who believe in the process, the election battlefield is much larger, and no interest group (except perhaps the Supreme Court) has the authority, nor ability to hyjack it. This election is certainly the most important for my generation (so far). Please do not sit at home tentatively while history is being written. Call a family member, a friend, an old schoolmate, a new schoolmate; TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING SOMEONE GOES TO THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER FOURTH – you’ll feel good about it.

Please tell someone about this blog. I have great plans for the website (omarnewell.com) and will update you in due time.

Went to Church with a friend on Sunday… very interesting sermon on giving to others. We were encouraged to help people in whatever way possible, and expect nothing in return. A little shout out to the St. Luke Church of God in Christ, a lovely church family in Chicago. Sunday evening I received another email reminder from the Black Law Students Association, that the deadline to enter the race for 1L representative was at midnight. I decided not to run, because a friend told me that someone else was interested in the post.

Monday after class, my friends and I went to a Latino Law Students Association event. I was very impressed with the presentation. Shout out to our Latino brothers and sisters who started the fight for segregation in California, and paved the way for Brown v. Board of education (the landmark anti segregation case lead by the NAACP and Thurgood Marshall). In Torts we began to look at causation.

We had Black Law Students Association meeting on Wednesday. The president decided to accept nominations for 1L rep from the floor, and I wound up being one of three students debating for a position I had earlier promised myself I wouldn’t run for. My love affair with politics is beyond help. As fate would have it, I was elected the new 1L representative to the BLSA E Board. I also developed tremendous admiration for my two colleagues who ran in the election. Northwestern is lucky to have them.

On a whole, the pace picked up last week. I found myself reading until 1AM Thursday morning, and in the library from 10AM – 5PM on Saturday. Maybe it’s my method, maybe I’m too detailed, or perhaps I’m extremely slow, but with all the hours I’m putting in, I still cant seem to finish my assigned readings. I have a legal memo to rewrite, which is adding to my pain.

Saturday night, a few of us decided to hit the town. Our unwritten agreement is that we will try to go out at least twice per month, in order to remain sane. The night was good. Got a chance to get to know a few of my colleagues in a more casual setting. Our gathering was much more intimate than Bar Review, and twice as much fun.

I’m missing my family and friends a lot. I looked in the mirror yesterday, and saw my dad– then I shaved. Find myself wondering what would we be doing this weekend if I was in New York. Maybe we’d drive to Albany, or take that long overdue trip on the Metro-North to hang in hotel in some unknown town. I guess in an unfair world we must constantly open our hearts to making new acquaintances, doing the awkward dance until they become friends. Sadly, as soon as the awkwardness leaves, and new acquaintances take a place of friendship in our hearts, we must move again to repeat the cycle. Though we evolve, some things never seem to change. So we move from being nomads with weapons made of stone, and shells for money to sophisticated nomads with platinum cards.

Enough of my ranting. Again, I’m terribly sorry that I don’t have the time to polish up my postings as I would like to. I know my supportive readers such as Tammiks deserve a lot better.

Until next week. God’s blessings, and I leave you with a quote from the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown– “Love and hate, could never be friends… “

This is the first in what I promise will be a weekly update on my law school progress.

Northwestern University School of Law may very well be the best Law School in the country. Located in downtown Chicago, we have access to to restaurants, beautiful parks, miles of beaches, and Chicago’s premier shopping district. The students are drawn from some of the best undergrad (and grad) programs in the country, and my classmates on average have atleast one year of work experience. With such a group, it’s easy to believe that we are a snobbish bunch… absolutely not (British accent).

Every Thursday, we have a student sponsored event called Bar Review. We meet up at a local bar, and migle with members of the law school community. In addition to Bar Review, there is always a house party somewhere close to campus. Firms frequently host events on campus giving us a chance to mingle with attorneys and partners at top Chicago firms.

Of course, I didn’t come to Chicago stricly for the social interactions. The classes are challenging, and the professors are some of the sharpest legal minds you will find anywhere.

(Yeah, I know I’m starting to sound like a N Law brochure… deal with it… I drank the purple kool aid..lol.) Seriously though, I have absolutely no regrets about choosing N Law.

Anyway, I just got in from soccer…a bit sweaty…and I have a lot of readig to do for Monday. Pardon the grammatical (and other) errors. I will try to post at least one update each week, but it will be unedited. I promise it will not be (strictly) focussed on law, and terms that neither you nor I understand. Why would you care what is a demurer anyway? If you want to talk law, hit me up..hehe…