preLaw Magazine - Winter 2008 - (Page 23) restore integrity to the academic mission as a disinterested pursuit of knowledge.” Pointing to the ideological agenda of the bill’s drafters and supporters, a number of organizations have come out in strong opposition, expressing pointed criticism of both its aims and its content. The critics come from both the political left and right. Brauch said students from all political and legal perspectives are welcomed and affirmed at Regent. Every year, the school is ranked in The Princeton Review’s top 10 for student quality of life. “This shows that our students and professors from all backgrounds and views value — and are valued in — the learning environment,” he said. Latham said their organizing principle is that successful law students become successful attorneys because of, not in spite of, their access to a broad range of viewpoints. That is evident, he said, in Alabama’s alumni that includes Republican Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions as well as Morris Dees and Joe Levin, founders of the Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the most progressive advocacy centers in the nation. Broderick said those who choose to attend UDC will be surrounded by students who chose the law school because they didn’t want to leave the work they were involved in — their passion. Moderate students tend to change their perspective after engaging in the curriculum, Soto-Vigil said. As for inhibiting professional experiences, he said UDC has encouraged the opportunities he’s looking for. “The first year students have a lot of learning to do,” Soto-Vigil said. “They ask ‘Why aren’t corporate law firms looking here? For those students this isn’t the institution.” Where Harvard professors donate their money With the upcoming political season, professors and others are contributing to their candidates. Jeffrey Brauch, dean of Regent University, said he is confident that every current candidate for the presidency has supporters at his school — conservative and liberal. Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) received more than half of the political contributions made by Harvard professors and staff in the first quarter of 2007, according to federal disclosure data released in April. Obama raised $78,000, compared to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who took in less than half of Obama’s Harvard total — raising over $33,000 from University affiliates. The other major recipient was former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican. Harvard employees donated over $150,000 to 2008 presidential candidates in the first quarter of 2007, according to federal election data available on the Web site of the New York Times. Don’t just choose a lender. Choose a leader. Access Group has specialized in legal education financing for 25 years! • Federal Stafford Loans – still with no origination fees! • Graduate PLUS Loans to help you meet the full cost of your education • Law Access® Loans — still with no fees! • Bar Examination Loans — and new, higher limits! • Borrower education tools to help you borrow wisely and repay successfully. SM Make the right choice. Visit AccessGroup.Org or call 800-282-1550 ©2007 Access Group, Inc. Terms and fees are subject to change. Winter 2008 23 http://AccessGroup.Org http://AccessGroup.Org
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