March 23, 2009
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OBITERdicta Against All Odds, I’ll Miss You “The definitive source for Osgoode news” Osgoode Hall Law School, 011 York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Tel. 416.736.2100 x77527 Fax. 416.736.5736 E-mail. ObiterDicta@osgoode.yorku.ca Website. www.yorku.ca/obiter\
“If you were a professional soccer player, what would be your goal celebration?” - Tong
“I dunno, but it’d probably have something to do with whipping out my penis.” - Spong
Editors-in-Chief: Rebecca Ross Stephen Spong Business Managers: Brandon O’Riordan Kathy Peto Features Editor: Tamara Maurer Hero: Jonathan Tong Heir Apparent: Neil Wilson Copy Editor: Lauren Kehoe Staff Writers: Dan Waldman, Jamie Greenberg, Katya Pereyaslavska, Sara Nooraei, Luke Field, Adrienne Lei, Vanessa Amyot, Karen Steward Contributer Extraordinaire: JP Rodrigues Staff Photographer: Katya Pereyaslavska Poet Laureate: Rob Smith Contributors: Jeremy Barretto, Mahbod Hosseinian, David Adanja, Pulat Yusinov, Katherine Hennig Articles are due at 2 p.m. on the Wednesday before date of publication. The appropriate maximum length for articles is approximately 800 words. Please submit articles in Microsoft Word format via e-mail attachment to obiterdicta@ osgoode.yorku.ca. The Obiter Dicta is the official student newspaper of Osgoode Hall Law School. The opinions expressed in the articles contained herein are not necessarily those of the Obiter staff. The Obiter reserves the right to refuse any submission that is judged to be libelous or defamatory, contains personal attacks, or is discriminatory on the basis of sex, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Submissions may be edited for length and/or content. The Obiter Dicta is published weekly during the school year, and is printed by Weller Publishing Co. Ltd.
monday- march 23 - 2009
Having drawn the straw for the final editorial, I was drawing a blank on how to sum up my three years at this storied institution. Should I go the way of my colleague, Spong, who has aired his numerous grievances on page three? Should I wax nostalgic, and run the risk of becoming disingenuous, by expressing my “love” for this concrete gulag and its Business Associations offerings? Or should I fall somewhere in between and honestly discuss the things I enjoyed, the things I tolerated, and the things that I was barely able to stomach during my time here? The third option is obviously the most prudent, not only because it prevents me from having to lie, but also because it may have some pedagogical value for students who feel as despondent as I once did. And I’m nothing if not prudent. With the benefit of hindsight, I can positively say that things do get better with time. But, like many students, my years at Osgoode have had their ups and their more numerous downs. The most soul-crushing time for me, and likely for you, was during first year. I’ll never forget sitting in my first Contracts class in September 2006 and thinking, not unlike Gob Bluth, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” (Speaking of Arrested Development, at least one benefit of being a law student is its accompanying jokes. I often refer to my work for TheCourt.ca as posting on “Bob Loblaw’s Law Blog,” and when I participated in Mock Trial, I didn’t hesitate to refer to it as “Mock Trial with J. Reinhold.” So even if you hate being here, at least you can be funny and culturally relevant about it). But beyond this small respite of hilarity, my first two years were a trying time. I can trace the origins of my first year self-doubt to the concept of consideration. I was an English student, and I was being told to forget my belief that consideration meant “kindness” and to think of it as “necessary for a valid contract.” My language skills, which I had once thought of as a personal strength, were being consumed by a gaping maw of legalese. My confusion only grew over the course of the school year. I tried to distinguish between actus reus and mens rea while Professor Mandel lectured that there wasn’t really a difference; I attempted to treat Constitutional Law cases as something other than an insomnia cure; and I made an effort to rationalize why the feudal land system was essential to modern-day Property Law. I failed on all counts. In addition to the havoc that these first year courses wrought on my psyche, I discovered that Osgoode was devoid of windows, pleasant aesthetics, and sympathy. If I wanted to know the weather, I had to leave the building; if I wanted to see something pretty, I’d have to leave York campus; and if I wanted someone to listen to me complain, I’d have to call my grandma when I got home. This inauspicious beginning did not get any more enjoyable, but the utter desolation that I felt in my first year eventually began to wane. This was not due to any lightning-bolt realization that a certain area of the law was my calling (this, by the way, has still not happened); rather, my feelings were gradually anaesthetized to a point where I could blithely tolerate what was demanded from me. “What’s that, you say? OCIs? Is this what we’re expected to do now? Oh, and I have to put together thirty applications during my summer vacation? No problem.” In preparation for this process, we rabidly joined clubs, perhaps to do good but certainly to pad our resumes. We piled into Osgoode’s business courses because they sounded
interesting, but also with the knowledge that they put us in good stead with Bay Street when it came knocking. We applied for Clinical and Intensive Programs, perhaps because we were interested in Criminal Law, but really because we could better market ourselves if we had done hands-on legal work. In second year, the wide-eyed innocence that I had carried with me through Osgoode’s doors, already jolted by my first year experience, had been further eroded by the callous nature of the Bay Street job hunt. I was a withered husk of my former self, but at least I could clothe it in a power suit. Yet, my third year has brought with it change for the better, and no one is more surprised at this turn of events than me. Perhaps, in a Stockholm Syndromeish turn, I now love my captor; nevertheless, I have gained perspective on law school and the outlook is good. This is even more surprising given the year’s significant challenges. Osgoode had to deal with a PR disaster courtesy of transcript forgery, Mock Trial participants and attendees learned that the school has a bit of a bat problem, and of course, there was the small matter of the York strike. Toss in the newly-managed, exorbitantly-priced cafeteria and the fact that the grad pub was shut down during the strike and therefore did not offer veggie burritos, and the year could have been a complete disaster. But lo and behold, it was not. As I write this, I’m sitting on the Obiter couch; like spending three years at Osgoode, its somewhat unpleasant odour dissipates if you hang around it long enough. Sure, classes still suck; but even though I’m incapable of getting excited about Estates, I’ve come to learn that some things make up for it. For every pompous douchebag I encounter, there are twice as many people that I find delightful (particularly the ones that surround me on this Thursday afternoon in the Obiter office); for every case I read that makes me want to defenestrate my textbook, there are surprisingly entertaining lectures (like when Professor Stribopoulos’s anal search lecture echoed into the neighbouring classroom due to a malfunctioning microphone); and for every irritating administrative hoop I have jumped through, there has been an extracurricular activity into which I have actually enjoyed putting effort (the Obiter and Mock Trial immediately come to mind). It may be due to my lowered expectations, my declining faculties, or the looming spectre of articling, but whatever the reason, my third year has been unexpectedly great. Hopefully, my final editorial has done more than merely serve as a forum for rambling storytelling. If you’re concerned that law school sucks right now, have faith that it will get better, or at least easier to manoeuvre. If you aren’t finding a way to temper the bad experiences, get involved in something that excites you (and preferably, choose something that comes with the benefit of a couch, so that you can nap after your 8:30 classes and significantly reduce your misery). And if you still hate it after following this advice, just keep in mind that three years goes by surprisingly quickly. At the end of my three years, against all odds, I am sad to leave Osgoode. And if I can do it, anyone can. ~ R.R.
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Spong signs off: Good night, and good luck
Stephen Spong Co-Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to the jungle It gets worse here everyday You learn to live like an animal In the jungle where we play If you got a hunger for what you see You’ll take it eventually You can have anything you want But you better not take it from me - Guns n’ Roses, “Welcome to the Jungle” Well, this is it. This is the last issue of the Obiter Dicta both for this strike- and scandal-ridden school year, and for me. I wish I could say that I will be sorry to leave the fallout shelter otherwise known as Osgoode Hall Law School, but while I may have lied to myself into thinking that law school was the best option for me, I cannot and will not lie about the fact that I will miss Osgoode about as much as I would a virulent strain of STD. The Obiter has really been the bright spot for me in the previous three years, and my involvement with the paper has been quite the ride – we’ve laughed, cried, busted our asses, partied hard and, ultimately, managed through thick and thin to put out an issue of the paper every week. It’s been a blast, and I will miss it terribly. As for the rest of the school? Not so much. On my first day of classes back in first year, I got a ride from my father, who graduated from Osgoode in 1974. It was a strange trip for him, as he had never been back to the school since he had graduated thirty-two years previously. I thought that to be rather peculiar, but now, three years later, I understand only all too well. While Osgoode serves its purpose, it certainly is not an institution that inspires loyalty, passion, or even mildly warm feelings. Instead, it is an institution that reflects the attitudes of the very profession that it serves – dispassion, utilitarianism, and perhaps even callousness. That it serves its purpose is beyond question. After three years, I will be the possessor of a shiny new Osgoode Juris Doctor degree. My emotions fall somewhere between relief and revulsion, as I will likely feel somewhat tainted and dirty, but by the same token, relieved that it is all over. I will, should I ever decide to do my articles, be able to call myself a lawyer. Some might argue that that’s something to be proud of, and there are undeniably great minds and spirits that have committed themselves to the practise and thinking of law, but I am not one of them. Instead, at the end of three years I simply have the feeling of having been through some perversely institutionalised hazing ritual. Of course, it would be unfair to solely pin the asses’ tail on Osgoode – it is undoubtedly a culture that traverses the law school culture from coast to coast and country to country, and Osgoode is simply a pawn in the greater game. What is it about law school and the legal profession that so repulses and revolts me? Good question, and I wish that I could more adequately answer it myself. The collapse of the economy and its fallout has served to highlight much of it for me. While people blame the banks, the government and all who had a hand in fostering and nurturing the culture of unchecked and unadulterated greed and narcissism, the legal pro-
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The Defence Rests Robert Smith Poet Laureate
“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, fession undeniably has its place in that filthy hall of toward which we have striven these many months. The shame. The prevailing legal culture is that of enablers eyes of the world are upon you” – money is the fuel that pushes the profession for– Dwight Eisenhower ward and had a hand in constructing and allowing the system to develop in the way in which it did. Of course, the fallout has affected lawyers as much as anybody else. Just ask anybody who’s trying to get an articling job now. Somewhere along the line, principles, ethics, and values got left in the dust, becoming some desiccated, fossilised shell to be hauled out and inspected, maybe even praised in some ironic manner, but ultimately not heeded. This is not the case of all lawyers and members of the legal institution, but those who truly believe in such ephemera have been practically relegated to the lunatic fringe, shouting at the wind in a pathetic pantomime of King Lear’s descent into madness. It’s an infectious madness, however. Law school has become the breeding ground for the Jonestown that is the legal profession. At first, I myself got caught up in it all. Why not? Everybody else is doing it, so it almost seems normal. The mob mentality makes it easy to get swept up so that you believe that you want it for yourself. The OCI process is a case in point. I know that many people wanted that plum job, but there were many others who did it because everybody else was. We had been led to believe that this was the only way, and without it you would be a failure as a law student and a person. When did we cease to be individuals and start to become lemmings? A reality check is something that can sometimes be in short supply, and it certainly doesn’t help when most of your friends and colleagues are in the same boat as you, drinking the same Kool-Aid. It’s all a vicious cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy, with no meaningful form of checks and balances. The overall culture of law school is corrosive, venal, and corrupt – corrosive to the body and the soul. No number of showers or exorcisms will ever erase the stain upon my body and soul that has been placed upon them over the previous three years. I feel like I have been infected with some sort of a virus that requires me to fight against its effects at every waking hour in order to resist succumbing to its destructive power. I think that I have only partially succeeded. I have changed in the last three years, and I don’t particularly like who and what I have become. It has placed strain on my personality, my interests, my relationships, and every fibre of my being (not to mention my finances). I am angry, confused, bitter and depressed. I hope I will get better but, as it is in every abusive relationship, the first step is to recognise that you need to cut your losses and put it behind you. The second step is to walk away. Come April 17, I will do that very thing. Maybe then the healing process can begin. To the friends I have made, I love you all and I will miss you, and hopefully we will meet again in happier circumstances. To the many confused individuals trying to navigate the morass of law school and the legal profession – good luck. You’ll need it. To the rest of you sycophants, toadies, and lemmings – kiss my shiny metal ass. To law school and the legal profession, my final words are the words of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet – “a plague o’ both of your houses! / They have made worms’ meat of me: I have it / And soundly too: your houses!”
The vine-draped brick is what I see; Yon solid, flawless wall. This far-off place could only be The mighty form of Osgoode Hall. Behold, this fortress of the laws That’s taller than the trees; Cathedral of the Righteous Cause And storehouse of all Equity.
Its courses, they are often taught By scholars, learned and wise. But their great minds are only bought By Tuition’s mighty size. That Osgoode value patience Is oh-so plain to see. We have a way to teach you it: That’s called the MDC. I tell you that we must create And grow law’s Living Tree. And also we shall be the great Protectors of the free.
I know not where in life I’ll go, My fate is not yet drawn. In spite of that, this much I know: I’ll miss this when it’s gone. And so we come to my last lines, I write them with finesse: I wish you love and happiness, Sincerely, Robert S.
monday - march 23 - 2009
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Bathroom Wall Prophecies Waldman bids adieu to Oz
anxiety defines law students in the same way that skin defines hardcore pornography. This, combined with the slumping economy, perpetuates the unease underlying this school. Everything that accompanies the law school experience – the race to Bay St., the constant scrutiny, the Make-It-Rain edict – is dialed up a couple notches. It is against this backdrop that many are left begging for someone to take their hand and tell them that everything’s going to be ok. Indeed, we want clean lines and shining slabs of certainty. Things are A couple weeks back, I handed in my last edito- made worse by the fact that everyone appears affected rial and promptly proclaimed that I would never by this economic malaise; you know things are bad write for this paper again. Sure, I planned to stick when dudes like Lebron and Wade are rushing to sign extensions whilst in search around to copy edit and of economic certainty. write inappropriate things I guess this is the point on the white board (yeah, in the article where I I know I’m cool), but with tell you that life is good regards to writing articles, I and everything’s going was fully prepared to stow to be Tony The Tiger away my inkwell. Plus, I GRRRRRRRRRRREAT. had already written my It’s where I’m supposed to “Goodbye” editorial: What pretend that I know what’s else could I possibly say? going on. I know, I know, So I was done. I hung em’ Your Friendly Neighup, packed my bags, took bourhood Tong is always my ball home, however you running his mouth like want to describe it. Then everything’s peaches and The Powers That Be waved cumulous nimbus clouds. their baited hook and But I assure you: I don’t promised me this space to have an overly positive impart my final thoughts in outlook on things, nor do the Obiter. I have a cosmic Jacuzzi of That’s when I did my clairvoyant know-how. All best Favre impersonation we can do is worry about and started asking myself things we can control, whether I had pulled the work hard and appreciate plug prematurely. What’s our opportunities when one more article, anyway? they present themselves. The more I thought about You know, do what we do. it, the more inexplicable Make it rain. Perhaps we’re in for my proclamation became: some rough patches, some It’s akin to having a professional athlete retire in the penultimate game of the bumps along the way. And it’s inevitable that we’ll season. Besides, few would eschew a second chance meander into various directions. I don’t know how to wave goodbye to pious eyes and passersby; to paint stressful the next stage of our lives will be or when a picture worth a frame. So here we are. Rock-and- things are going to get better. I’m not sure where each of us is headed or even what places we’re looking to roll. While thinking of things to write about, my mind go. But one thing I’m certain of is that we’ll get there, kept moving in fast-forward; forever and anon, people eventually: It’s the river to which waters wend their way. have parsed to Obiter see what the future holds. Bereskin & tea Parrleaves Ad for Dicta (Jan, Feb & Mar 2009) Everyone’s aware of our constant state of worry: JONATHAN TONG Managing Editor
IN HIS FINAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE OBITER, JT LOOKS INSIDE HIS CRYSTAL BALL
Dan Waldman Staff Writer
Well, the time has come to say goodbye. The year is far from over, we still have exams and other things to do, but the Obiter is done for the 2008/2009 year. And that sucks. I like the Obiter, but we have to wrap things up nonetheless. So, to keep with the running theme of this publication through the school year, it is suitable to pay tribute to one of our favorite movies one last time, before we hang up our masks and capes. In one of the first great lines of The Dark Knight, the Joker and his gang of thugs knock over a huge bank and get away with a literal busload full of cash. Before making his escape, the green-haired villain reveals himself after an incapacitated shotgun-wielding mob bank manager asks him what he believes in. In a quaint twist on Nietzsche’s cherished anecdote, the Joker responds: “I believe whatever doesn’t kill you, simply makes you…stranger.” I think the Joker’s wisdom is very apt at this time, because it essentially sums up the last three years of my life. Law school did not kill me. It came close at times, especially in first year, and articling may very well finish the job. But I’m still here, and I’m much stranger than I was at the start of this experience (not that I was exactly normal to begin with). Now, I don’t know if I’m necessarily better or worse, but I’m different. How? It’s hard to say. I guess I’m a little more jaded, a little more confident, a little friendlier, and a lot more fed up and nihilistic than I was before. As my last hurrah, I would like to talk about a few things that have made me this way by discussing what I will miss about Osgoode and what I’m happy to run away from. Permanently. Things I’ll miss about law school The ‘Security’ In the first article that I wrote for the Obiter, I talked about some of my close friends who are in the midst of the articling experience and hating every second of it. At the beginning of the school year, they all told me how lucky I was to be going to back to school. Why? Because we can hide from the real world in school, and we won’t know what real stress is before we start articling. This time next year I’ll
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monday- march 23 - 2009
MISSISSAUGA
WATERLOO
MONTRÉAL
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Loving them more than they love me
The People As expected, Osgoode had its fair share of annoying, competitive sociopaths. But there are some decent people here as well. I plan to keep in touch with many of the people I’ve met here after we all Tamara Maurer become a pack of scumbag lawyers. Features Editor Criminal Procedure It’s too bad professor Stribopoulos doesn’t teach this class anymore. It was one of my favorite classes in law school. It was a little heavy on the material, but we got to study cases about prostitutes, reefer, feces and strip searches and we learned that the cops can’t harass us at will, because the Charter will always protect us. I guess secured transactions and capital cost allowances are interesting too, but they just don’t hold my attention in the same way. The Parties Some of the most fun parties I’ve ever been to have happened during my Osgoode years. There have been big end of term parties at loud clubs, wild pub nights after Mock Trial, kickass birthday parties and recently we had an Eazy-E themed party with Osgoode people. What more could I ask for? Things I won’t miss There is a lot to enjoy here in the magical land of Oz, but there is also a lot to despise. We have all had to endure certain things during our time here, and many of them will not be missed. For example: The Commute It takes me an hour to get to school, and the bus from Downsview station is possibly the worst thing to ever happen to the world.
Warning: This article makes little to no sense. An old relationship adage: Be with someone who loves you more than you love them. Although I am aware of this timeless advice, I feel as though I have entirely failed at observing it. I am the person who trusts blindly, loves freely, and believes that basic rationality will always prevail. And I get methodically and consistently screwed as a result of my stubborn refusal to adhere to solid advice. When it comes to school and all the activities higher education involves, I seriously have come to terms with the fact that I fall in love with my involvements and commitments. And I am aware that they don’t really love me back (well, not in the same obsessive, all-encompassing way, that is). Extra-curriculars are a fantastic way to enrich the student experience. But somehow, the love is lacking once the reality of avoidance of real work and procrastination in the face of more enjoyable pursuits has set in. The funny thing is, although we somehow feel that our involvements simply can’t exist without us, it really isn’t true. Of course, they may not be the same, but they will go on whether you dedicate every ounce of your fervent blood, sweat and tears or not. It’s great to feel important – to feel needed – but once the cold sweat breaks (usually prior to looking up grades), the love inevitably sours a little. Simply put, Mock Trial or the Obiter Dicta won’t be there to keep me warm at night. MT won’t pay your parking tickets. And the Obiter certainly will not wash your bedsheets.
That being said, the best times at Osgoode have not been the ones spent pretending to pay attention in class. They have happened within the shoddy-yetendearing walls of the Obiter office. In the horrendously foul-smelling Mock Trial lair. On the “stage” of the Moot Court. At midnight around an oval table, snacks spread wide. The best times have been drunk in the JCR. Drunk in the Obiter Office. Drunk in the streets (specifically: Spadina Road). And so goes the “profound thought” with which I will end my year and craft my final article of 2009: Many of the people who were drunk with me are leaving Osgoode this year. And I am not. Although I adore many members of the class of 2010, I can’t help but cringe at the thought of enduring another year at Osgoode without my beloved ’09 crew. Why not name names? I don’t know how the Obiter will function without the delightfully juxtaposed “Rosspong”, and a gaping hole will be left in the fabric of Mock Trial shananigans with the exit of the one-and-only Spencinator and the devilishly handsome Tom Mac. Songbirds croak with the exit of The Bobkin, my basketball knowledge will flounder in the absence of JT, and we all know the real reason the Dean resigned is in silent protest to the end of the scandalous-yet-stylish reign of JP Rodr-ee-gs. I will surely learn to appreciate the naked male form again after a brief separation from Alexandre, and my days shall be a little bleaker once free of Waldman’s pipes. The ’09-ers have a lot to look forward to. The ’10-ers all have big shoes to fill. But maybe I only say that because I shamelessly love them more than they love me.
Law School Exams Stressful and boring. SNAILS Absolute scum. How much are they paying to be here? Nothing? Then they should kindly get the fuck out of my school. The Cafeteria The staff are really friendly, and some items are edible, albeit overpriced. But I wouldn’t feed one of those thai tuna wraps to a rabid chimpanzee. Tax Law I liked my prof a lot, but I found the subject matter to be about as fun as throwing a cinderblock in the air and catching it with my teeth. So, there you have it. These lists are far from exhaustive – there are a few more things that I like and a LOT more things that I hate, but I’m tired, and the time has come to resign. I hope to see some of you in the real world, beyond these cement walls. And for those of you who still need to serve a few more years, remember what the esteemed Jon Tong wrote a few weeks ago: Law school is not as hard as you think. So don’t be a douchewad, try and make the experience enjoyable. It won’t kill
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monday - march 23 - 2009
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womenofdistinction.ca
ilana landsberg-lewis
International Development
CHAMPIONING women’s rights as human rights
YWCA
WOMEN of DISTINCTION AWARDS ™
2009 YWCA Woman of Distinction
2009
Ilana Landsberg-Lewis has devoted her career to bettering the lives of women and she is a passionate advocate for human rights. She has captured the imagination of people across Canada and the hope of grandmothers around the world. Ilana Landsberg-Lewis is the 2009 YWCA Woman of Distinction for International Development. Ilana could have followed a conventional path as a bright young lawyer, but instead she chose a life devoted to internationalism and women’s equality. As a law student at Parkdale Legal Aid Clinic, she founded a support group for domestic workers. Later, at the firm Ryder, Whitaker, Wright, she practiced union-side labour law and discrimination human-rights law. In 1993, Ilana made her first foray into international development when she volunteered at the Vienna International Conference on Human Rights, and worked with activists to bring the voices of abuse victims to the attention of delegates. She worked with The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and was an advisor on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to advance the human rights of women internationally, and to strengthen the United Nations support for CEDAW. As the women’s rights programme officer at UNIFEM, she travelled the world working with grassroots women’s groups to address female genital mutilation, gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination against women. As a program officer at UNIFEM, Ilana was aware that gay and lesbian workers in the United Nations civil service had no legal rights and many lived in fear and secrecy. She helped found UN GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual Employees), and gained a charter as a recognized UN club. She met with the Secretary General and Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson to press for equal rights, and under her leadership the membership in the club increased to 100. In 2003, Ilana returned to Toronto to help her father establish the Stephen Lewis Foundation where she put her feminist vision into practice by shaping the ideas, goals and practices of this successful organization dedicated to helping turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Currently the Executive Director of the Foundation, in the past five years she has grown the organization to include 23 full-time employees in Canada, assisted by a team of Field Representatives in Africa. She has fostered a working environment where every voice is equally respected, and this respect and trust is something she has also fostered with the African AIDS activists, insisting on treating
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womenofdistinction.ca
them as the experts. This approach has been so successful that other donor agencies have taken note and activists praise the Stephen Lewis Foundation as the agency that really “gets it”. In the last five years, the Foundation has raised over $30 million and supported more than 300 community-based projects in 15 African countries, to help women, grandmothers and children living with HIV and AIDS. Ilana is the architect behind the groundbreaking Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign in support of tens of thousands of African grandmothers struggling to care for AIDS orphans. She brought 100 African grandmothers from villages in 11 countries to Toronto for a three-day Grandmothers’ Gathering at which the African women led workshops and taught the 200 Canadian grandmothers about their challenges and needs. This unprecedented event was featured on the major mainstream news and has developed into a movement in Canada involving over 5,000 grandmothers. Ilana Landsberg-Lewis is fiercely dedicated to the lives of the women and girls she serves. Her lifelong commitment to equity, social justice, racial inclusiveness and progressive causes is evident in every step of her personal and professional path. The daughter of Woman of Distinction Michele Landsberg, (Communications, 1983), and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis, Ms. Landsberg-Lewis makes her home in Toronto with her partner and two sons.
Build your momentum.
CALGARY • TORONTO • EDMONTON • OT TAWA
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the OBITERdicta
monday - march 23 - 2009
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Temporary Resident Permits Holla @ Ya-Boy for Victims of Trafficking JP Rodrigues Contributer Extraordinaire
Devi Kapoor Contributer
temporary TRPs to victims of human trafficking in May 2006. In 2007 new measures were introduced increasing the length of the permit from 120 days to 180 (which can be renewed depending on the circumstances) and allowing victims to apply for a work permit. Immigration officers interview potential victims and decide if they qualify for a TRP, in which case they will assist them in accessing health benefits and counselling that they are eligible for under the Interim Federal Health Program. However, recently it has come to light that there are severe problems in the implementation of this “promising practice”. George Perrin, an assistant law professor at the University of British Columbia, requested the release of records from May 2006-May 2008 by CIC under the Access to Information Act. The records indicated that 31 victims of human trafficking were identified but only 12 TRPs were granted, 7 TRPs were declined, 1 TRP was cancelled, one claimant did not appear for the interview and 10 victims’ cases were either pending or were able to gain an alternative form of immigration status. Furthermore, Perrin suggests that these only represent a fraction of the real number of human trafficking cases, with most victims being unable to come forward because of threats of violence or coercion. On March 5, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime launched the Blue Heart campaign against human trafficking. Before Canada wears the Blue Heart it should realize that although on paper it appears to be combating human trafficking, until its “promising practices” are implemented in reality, it is far from it.
It is estimated that between 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked each year. Victims of trafficking may be reluctant to come forward because of the possibility of detention or deportation as a result of irregular immigration status. Although the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons does not impose any obligation on State Parties with regards to status of victims, it does suggest in Article 7 that they should “consider adopting legislative or other appropriate measures that permit victims of trafficking in persons to remain in its territory, temporarily or permanently.” The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has produced a Toolkit to Combat Trafficking in Persons (the “UN Toolkit”), which aims to share knowledge and promising practices of various countries in preventing and prosecuting trafficking and protecting its victims. The UN Toolkit notes that it is recognized as a best practice to have reflection periods for victims of trafficking during which time they can start to recover and make decisions regarding their participation in criminal proceedings against their traffickers and their future. In some countries there is a reflection period followed by the possibility of a temporary resident permit (TRP) being issued, and in others the TRP is issued as part of the reflection period. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently completed a project to establish TRPs for trafficking victims in South Eastern Europe which took place from 2003 to 2007. The IOM along with the King Baudouin Foundation held seminars, trained, and assisted governments and NGOs in the region on the implementation of TRPs. As part of the project the TRP Watchdog Mechanism was created in Bosnia-HerTHE ANSWER WILL SHOCK YOU. zegovina, Croatia, and Serbia where selected NGOs were to collect information regarding Every year people are deceived or forced the implementation of tempointo a life no one would choose – sold rary resident permits for victims into the sex trade, locked up in sweat shops, made to work for little or no pay. of trafficking and identify probThey are victims of human trafficking. lems to be addressed. The project was successful in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Montenegro, and the Republic of Macedonia. Unfortunately there are problems with regards to implementation with the number of TRPs issued being less than the number of victims identified. The problem of implementation though is not unique to this project. The UN Toolkit lists Canada as a country embodyHUMAN TRAFFICKING ing a “promising practice” with IS A SERIOUS CRIME. regards to issuing TRPs to vicwww.justice.gc.ca tims of trafficking. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) introduced a policy to provide
People for sale in Canada?
monday- march 23 - 2009
JP, you really skewered the Dean in your speech at Dean’s Formal! Do you guys have beef like Ja Rule & 50? HAHA! Two Ja Rule & 50 Cent references in the Obiter this month! No, Not at all! In fact, I would say we have an excellent relationship, one in which I felt very comfortable roasting the Dean, so to speak. Truth be told, I have nothing but tones of praise for him, especially with the difficult job that he had this year with the strike. It was a struggle to balance competing interests and Dean Monahan did everything in his power to put Osgoode students first in trying to bring us back to class as soon as possible. The best thing about Dean Monahan in my opinion is that he is the biggest cheerleader of Osgoode. Whether it is insisting on early morning practices for the Faculty Basketball team, performing in Mock Trial or boasting about the accomplishments of Osgoode students, Dean Monahan is always there. He was the point man in bringing the Osgoode Chambers to light and, while construction of the new building has been delayed, there is no doubt in my mind that as early as September, there’ll be this big photo op with him planting a shovel into the ground to signify the start of construction.
J, Can you tell me something about yourself that most people at Osgoode don’t know? Maybe like what’s your favourite TV show or something? I guess I enjoy playing chess, I even started the Chess Club here at Osgoode! As much as I’m big on partying and going out every weekend, I really miss staying in, putting on my headphones and just mixing music all night long! As for my favourite TV show, right now it is hands-down LOST. I watch it religiously and discuss it with my friends and family. I’m also big on Entourage, 24 and How I Met Your Mother right now. I do need to catch up on a lot of favourites that I haven’t had any time to watch this season: Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Heroes and Dexter. If anyone has any recommendations on TV shoes I should get into, please let me know. I absolutely LOVE buying a TV series on DVD and watching episode after episode for days straight. Oh yeah, I’m also big on WWE Raw and I love John Cena, Chris Jericho & Edge! I can’t wait for WRESTLEMANIA!!!! JP, I’m going to miss you! Osgoode is not going to be the same without you! Please keep in touch and come back to visit!
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” – Charles Dickens Awwwwww. I’m really going to miss Osgoode too! I clearly do not have enough space here to properly thank each and every one of you [I’ll save that for a Facebook note/ album – JP’s Top 60 Memories of Osgoode] but I would like to quickly thank all the staff, faculty, administration and of course the students here at Osgoode! Special shout outs to SECTION C – Class of 2009, (We better become Four-Time Dance Competition Champ) everyone on Legal and Lit, Student Caucus and all the committees, especially ORIENTATION [and of course those who supported our events], the staff of the Obiter Dicta, all those involved with Mock Trial & with clubs at the school and most importantly, everyone who in any shape or form, made me laugh or smile during my three years here at Osgoode and overally, made this three of the most enjoyable years of my life. I AM GOING TO MISS YOU ALL and I hope that I was able to help you enjoy the Osgoode Experience a little bit more. I would also like to say that I am sorry to those students who I have not had the opportunity to meet or get to know over my three years here. Additionally, if I have ever said or done anything hurtful or have failed to say or do anything, I am sincerely apologetic for it all! Similarly, I would like to “squash any beef” that anyone might think that I have with them. The only hatin’ I’ll do from here on out is in the “Playa Hater’s Ball” Facebook Group! As for next year, I would REALLY like to say that I will definitely be back to DJ the Halloween or Mock Trial pubs and make a special appearance at Dean’s Formal again for the next two years, but based on my track record with my undergraduate and high school friends, I can’t make that commitment. I promise to do everything in my power to make at least one appearance though. Please try to keep in touch either by calling me, or via email (holla@ya-boy.com), or add me to Facebook (JP Rodrigues), or chat with me on MSN (y2jayp@hotmail.com). I’ll be honest, I’m the “worst cellphone user ever” and I usually have tonnes of MSN windows open (best time to talk to me is from 2-5 AM) and I’m also prone to forgetting to sign out. Facebook may eventually get replaced by Twitter, but you can always HOLLA@YA-BOY.COM! My words of advice to those returning to Osgoode next year and beyond: “Don’t hate. Appreciate, congratulate and participate!” In the words of Nelson Muntz, “Smell ya later!” “Dead & Gone” like Justin & T.I., J.P. Rodrigues 133rd President, Legal and Literary Society
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JP and Sanford: From one L&L generalissimo to another JP rodrigues and Sanford Murray Embarassment and Embarassment-to-be
JP: First of all, congratulations on being elected the 134th President of the Legal and Literary Society for the 2009-2010 year! SM: Thanks a lot! Emphasis on “elected”, I’m sure. JP: We had a strong interview of JT last week to top! (Ed Note: That was the worst piece of crap ever printed in here!) (JP’s Response: ANATHEMA BITCHES!)
an open and inclusive dialogue of such issues that student government at Osgoode Hall can truly connect with its constituents in a meaningful way. Secondly, while formal L&L funding will have to be approved by a majority of next year’s Executive – pending the submission of a valid constitution – I am personally willing to pledge the $90 that I had previously committed to buying Alex’s girlfriend in this year’s Date Auction (she stood me up) to the cause of barring this man from coming within 100 yards of any Osgoodeaffiliated events in the coming year.
JP: Hang on one sec – I’ve received a Facebook SM: My only request of the Editors is that they notification… Heather Spence has put up photos. print all of my responses in coloured ink, regardless of Have you ever played the game SLAPS? the cost. [Nice try, Sanford. Maybe next year. - Ed.] SM: Thanks for the probing line of questions, JP: First question. What are your thoughts and ini- Cronkite. I’m with Charlie Murphy on this one. Anytime one grown man slaps another, the only honourtial ideas for next year? able conclusion is a duel to the death. Someone has SM: My first thoughts as President-Elect is that I’m to go. genuinely excited about the incoming Executive, and the potential that we have – as a group – to affect student life in a positive way. My second thoughts, then, pertain to the commitments made, in my platform, to advance student concerns on numerous fronts. These initiatives include better deals on catering for club events, a proactive role in maintaining the priorities of accessibility and the reduction of environmental impact in the building renovation plan, and the promotion of greater participation by students outside of the Executive in planning school-wide events. JP: What will be the title of your weekly Obiter article? I suggest “Gabbin Wit Da Ginger!” SM: Wow, you know you’ve made it when you get your own weekly Obiter article. Allow me to assure all twelve regular readers that this is an honour that I will truly cherish.[Cherish like everyone ‘cherished’ your pedophile mustache last year? - Ed.] Regarding the name of this column, I’m not nearly “street” enough to pull off your suggestion. Here, then, are a few ideas I’ve been kicking around: 1. Persuasive President 2. Fair & Fowl (A weekly chronicle of the habits – mating, feeding, child-rearing – of York University’s thriving community of Canadian Geese. Just an idea.) 3. The Federalist Papers (A weekly chronicle of the reasons that Osgoode Hall might consider an armed uprising for its independence from York University. Again, just an idea.) 4. BSRM WTF?!
JP: … SM: Right, I have a final question for the outgoing President. If you could go back and do it all again, is there anything you’d do differently? JP: I would have selected a better second year rep to be on my slate. ZING! In all seriousness, I would have tried to create more Legal and Lit committees to get more student involvement in Legal and Lit. The more people involved, the less work the Exec has to do. Plus, it would have increased the amount of events, initiatives and activities that Legal and Lit could organize. I do agree with a lot of the suggestions and ideas that you mentioned in your platform and am confident that you and your Executive will do a fantastic job next year! On that note, I would like to invite everyone at Osgoode to come to the Inauguration of Blake Sanford Riley Murray and the 134th Executive, April 1st at 12:30 in Room 206. Your 2009-2010 Legal and Literary Society! President: Blake Sanford Riley Murray Vice President - Internal: Dan Hohnstein Vice President - External: Emma Kapetanovic Treasurer: John Hammond Secretary: Anna Gersh Social Convenor: Emma Duggan Third Year Rep: Candi Gogar Second Year Rep: Adrian Reyes
JP: What are your thoughts on the “No-Proulx Club”? How much funding should this club expect to get in 2009-2010? SM: First of all, I think that a fledgling Facebook group of ten [There are now 30. - Ed.] members – created out of the thinly-veiled contempt toward this year’s treasurer held by all those forced to spend time with him – is a topic with broad reaching ramifications for the student body-at-large. It is only through
monday - march 23 - 2009
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Vanessa’s Top Five most memorable cases that she studied at law school Vanessa Amyot Staff Writer Over the course of my three years at law school, I have read hundreds of legal cases. I have already forgotten most of them. But I am confident that, for various reasons, some will live on in my memory for years to come. The following is my list of the top five most unforgettable cases I have studied during my time at Osgoode. 1) R. v. Golden – I will never, as long as I live, forget the name of this case or its facts. Why? Because it is pure gold. The case involved a drug search. But it was not, by any means, your run-of-the-mill search. Oh, no. In this case, the police, who suspected that Mr. Golden was hiding drugs on, or rather in his person, decided to conduct a search of his nether regions in the back of a Subway restaurant. In conducting the search, they opted to use the plastic gloves reserved for cleaning the restaurant’s public restrooms. They eventually recovered the drugs, but at a steep price; the suspect lost control of his bowels mid-search. Needless to say, the search was found to be unconstitutional. The most remarkable part of studying this case was that Professor Stribopoulos managed to teach it without so much as cracking a smile; he was all business that day. But all humour was not lost – part way through his discussion of the facts, a member of the adjoining class came in to report that his microphone was transmitting his lecture into the next room.
2) Schwartz v. Hotel Corporation of America Ltd. – In this tort case, the plaintiff sued for loss of services as a result of injuries sustained from flaming cherries. The plaintiff and his dinner companions had ordered ‘cherries jubilee’ for dessert. This particular dish is apparently prepared by setting alight a bowl of cherries soaked in liqueur. While the dish was being prepared next to the plaintiff ’s table, there was a sudden explosion, and flaming liquor splashed onto his face and back. As a result of his burns, the plaintiff was unable to work and sought damages from the restaurant. I have never tasted cherries jubilee, but this case will certainly remind me to think twice before consuming foods that must be ignited. 3) Goodfriend v. Cox – This case is a classic for so many reasons. The two couples involved, the Goodfriends and the Coxes were, shall we say, very good friends. They were, in fact, swingers. In teaching our trusts class about this case, Professor Haigh was careful to point out the irony of this situation, as well as the fact that “Cox” was spelled “C-O-X.” Mr. Goodfriend transferred title to the couple’s property into his wife’s name because she was afraid they would be sued by the Coxes
Rubber Gloves and R. v. Golden: not just for drinking water anymore! for enticement because of the swinging arrangement. When the Goodfriends’ relationship broke down, Mr. Goodfriend claimed a resulting trust in half of the property. Sometimes, when I read the facts of cases like these, I conclude that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. This is a case in point. 4) R. v. Handy - This case is memorable not so much for its facts (which are actually quite disturbing) as for the circumstances in which it was taught. It involved a sexual assault in which the complainant admitted to having consented to sex with the accused, but claimed that when she later withdrew her consent, the accused refused to stop. In the midst of their encounter, the accused had attempted to engage in more extreme sexual acts to which the complainant had not consented. In Professor Pilkington’s words, he had “upped the ante.” This polite euphemism, expressed with a devilish twitch of the eyebrows, made for one of the most unforgettable moments in my legal career to date.
Could we be looking for you? fmc-law.com/students
5) Re Davis – In this case, a will was contested on the grounds that the testatrix had undergone a radical change in personality prior to her death. She had apparently developed an uncontrollable urge to remove all her clothes in the presence of men. I can’t help but think that she would have gotten along well with the Goodfriends… FMC_OrbiterDicta_RecruitAd4_Aug08.indd mondaymarch 23 - 2009
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Obama and the World:
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A Discussion with Allan Gotlieb, former Canadian Ambassador to the United States
“[T]o all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.”
his travels to Turkey, a meaningful choice given his dedication to building stronger relationships with the Islamic world. With so many exciting international developments on the horizon, the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) and the International Legal Partnership (ILP) invite all Osgoode students to ‘Obama and the World’, a discussion led by Allan Gotlieb on President Obama and what his administration’s foreign policy means for global politics. Mr. Gotlieb is well placed to provide insight and commentary on this issue, as he has written widely on international law and diplomacy. He is considered one of Canada’s legendary diplomats and was ambassador to the United States during a high point in U.S.-Canada relations, the Reagan and Mulroney eras. Mr. Gotlieb holds an M.A. from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and a law degree from Harvard. A prominent member of Canada’s business community, he serves on numerous boards and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. He now lives in Toronto where he is a senior adviser in the law firm Bennett Jones. ‘Obama and the World’ will take place Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 6:30 pm (reception to follow), at Bistro 990 Restaurant, 990 Bay Street (on Bay St, just north of Wellesley St). As Space is limited at this venue, we ask interested parties to please RSVP by Wednesday, March 25 to marlonhylton@osgoode.yorku.ca.
These words, with which most of us are probably familiar, were spoken on the night of Barack Obama’s election as President of the United States of America. He made it clear that the unilateral approach to foreign policy advanced by the George W. Bush administration for eight years was over. In his victory speech, President Obama further stated that “the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century” and has remained committed to his position that multilateral action is the only strategy with which to address the many globally significant challenges we face. Already President Obama has sealed the fate of Guantanamo Bay, ordering its closure, along with all other overseas CIA detention centres, by the end of 2009. As we reach the 6th anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq, he has introduced a ‘roadmap’ to pulling out of the region over the next 2 years, controversially re-allocating some of the soldiers to Afghanistan. The month of April will see President Obama meeting with foreign leaders at the G20 Summit in London on the Global Economy and the 60th Anniversary of NATO in Strasbourg and BLSA and ILP would like to thank the support of Kehl. During this trip he is also planning on meeting Torys LLP and Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP in with the leaders of the European Union and extending bringing you this event
Excellence is the foundation of our culture, defining how we do business every day. Our students are future partners of the firm. Our goal is to hire exceptional people who share our commitment to excellence. dwpv.com the OBITERdicta
monday - march 23 - 2009
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Get your money Reasons for you to file a tax return
Zahra Qureshi Contributer
Sources: - http://www.taxtips.ca/personaltax/whyfiler eturn.htm - cra-arc.gc.ca
monday- march 23 - 2009
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It is tax season again. For the accountants reading this article, this probably sounds like extra work. But for many people, this is a chance to get some extra cash. If you are employed and have to pay taxes, then it is mandatory for you to complete a tax return. So, is that money out of your pocket? The answer is no. It is also not free money but, rather, your chance to get back all the taxes that were cut from workplace earnings. A closer look at your paycheck or paystub will provide detailed information. You will note that a portion of your income went to Employment Income, cuts for the Canada Pension Plan, and income taxes. While you cannot get it all back, it certainly can bring back some of it. Even if you do not have any taxable income, it is recommended that you file a tax return. You are at least eligible to claim the basic $100 amount and receive cheques for GST/HST credits beyond the age of 19. Tax credits can be claimed for many expenses incurred. For students, these credits include rent (even residence), public transit, tuition, textbooks, and charitable donations. Many of these credits, if unused in the current year, can be carried forward for a number of years until it is used up against taxable income that you earned. So, now that it is clear that filing a tax return is in your best interest, how do you get it done? For students, the best option is to approach the YUSC Tax Clinic. It is a group of volunteers trained to complete simple paper tax returns for federal and Ontario taxes, especially focused on student needs. The Tax Clinic will be held for two weeks from April 14 to April 23, 2009 every weekday from 10:00am to 5:00pm in the York Student Centre, third floor. The volunteers will complete your tax returns for free and provide further assistance for mailing the package and what to expect afterwards. If you are completing your own return and have questions, you are also welcome to use the services. A CRA representative will be onsite to better ensure the quality of the service provided by the clinic. Other options are to purchase tax software or hire a professional. However, these methods may not be worth your while compared to the return you get. Preparing ahead of time will ease this process. All the necessary tax forms that must be completed will be available at the clinic. You must bring your SIN card or at least have the number on hand. For workplace income, you must bring in the T4 Statement of Remuneration Paid form. This should have been mailed by all employers before February 28, 2009. For school-related expenses, you must print off a T2202A form called Tuition, Education and Textbooks Amounts Certificate from the York website. Also, you should have received a T4A slip for any scholarships or other benefits that you claimed during the year. To maximize the benefits you can claim, other details you should bring along are records for any medical expenses (not covered by insurance), public transit passes purchased, donation receipts, and rent expense. Bringing in all these details will ensure that your tax return can be completed as fast and smoothly as possible to maximize your return. The last thing to bring is patience: completing a tax return can take 30-60 minutes and involves lots of numbers.
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08-HRB-041-BW-BE-3.indd 1
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New Faces on Student Caucus
Shane D’Souza Student Caucus Chair
Dear Friends (Editor’s Note: HAHAHAHA!!!),
page 15
the First Year Survey conducted last year. As a result of our efforts, the workload for ELGC was substantially reduced, plenary sessions were eliminated and reforms are underway for better integration of both aspects of the Legal Process course.
Yes, More Surveys Student Caucus (“SC”) would like to thank you for In a short while, SC will be administering a survey to solicit feedback of your Osgoode experience this year, your support and feedback this past year and extend which includes collecting your views on the first and upper year curriculum as well as soliciting your evaluacongratulations to your incoming representatives: tion of student government over the past year and looking forward. Chair - Shaneka Shaw Vice-Chair – Sarah Whitmore Communications Director – Marlene Costa Your Second Year Representatives are: - Marlene Costa - Daniel Del Gobbo - Brent Kettles - Kevin Liang - Marc Rodrigue And, your Third Year Representatives are: - Robert Kleinman - Ori Rubin - Shaneka Shaw - Jesse Sherrett - Sarah Whitmore Lastly, your Legal and Lit Representatives on Student Caucus are: - Sanford Murray, Legal and Lit President - Daniel Hohnstein, VP Internal Over the summer our website will be updated with profiles of these representatives. (http://www.legalandlit.ca/studentcaucus/). A Look Back SC represents your views on academic policy matters at Osgoode Hall. Most of the work we do is behind the scenes on Faculty Council Committees and requires confidentiality. The following three initiatives are examples of SC serving your needs and protecting your interests: [1] Advocacy during Labour Disruption: This was a difficult year because of the labour disruption and all members of SC worked hard to represent your views with faculty and the administration. In a highly politicized environment, SC strived for political neutrality and advocated for your best interests. This required balancing many competing interests and making tough decisions in a timely manner. The Remediation Plan and subsequent effort to minimize negative effects on students (Credit/ No Credit option and a generous interpretation of the grading profile) was the result of strong advocacy and close collaboration with Osgoode’s administration and faculty. [2] LL.B to JD Designation Change: SC began the academic year by pushing for the migration of Osgoode Hall’s designation from a LL.B to a JD degree. To this effect, we submitted a memorandum to the Academic Policy Committee which led to the eventual motion being passed in Faculty Council. As a result, the Class of 2009 will graduate with a JD degree. [3] First Year Curriculum: SC met with the administration last summer to discuss possible reform to the new First Year Curriculum relying on the results of
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Finally, we wanted to thank all the student members of Faculty Council Committees. These committees oversee strategic, academic, and student life matters at Osgoode. Your representatives on 2008-09 Faculty Council Committees were: Faculty Committee Student Committee Member
Academic Policy
Ora Shpigelman Daniel Simard Pawel Mielcarek Scott Cooper
Academic Standing
Ora Shpigelman
Admissions
Sarah Whitmore Sebastien Kwidzinski Roger Love
Career Services Forum
Jonathan Tong Terry Romaniuk Fiona Giffen
Clinical Education
Tracy Brown Michael Dytyniak Melody Mirzaagha
Equality
Shaneka Shaw Michael Dytyniak E. Rebecca Walker
Faculty Recruitment
Shane D’Souza Jennifer Micallef James Gotowiec
Information Technology
Richard Yehia Robert Shore Ryan Prescott
Library
Todd Melchior
Nominating
Shane D’Souza Brent Kettles
Osgoode Public Interest Requirement
Lisa Fineberg
Osgoode Community Enhancement Forum
J.P. Rodrigues Ziad Raslan
Priorities and Finance
Shane D’Souza Dan Hohnstein
Research and Seminar
David Elmaleh
Standing Committee on Teaching and Learning
Dan Hohnstein Marc Rodrigue Diana Younes
Student Awards
Sarah Whitmore
Student Finance (Bursary)
James Cheng Jacqueline Allen
Tenure and Promotions Adjudicating
Vera Manu
Working Group on Curriculum Reform
Shaneka Shaw Vera Manu Virginia Torrie
monday - march 23 - 2009
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