The purpose of this event is to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our writers and editors in publishing our Fall 2023 issue. This event will feature three key itinerary items:
Keynote Addresses, where you will hear from members of the BU Law community.
A Research-Exchange Session, where three PLR writers will discuss their research on their current article to be published in our Fall 2023 semester edition.
Networking and Dessert Reception, where you can network with pre-law and law students.
NOTE:
The dress code for the event is business professional. Everyone is required to register for the event, so please click on our Google Form to sign up.
Please email us at plr@bu.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Pre-Law Review Author Presenters
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Sports-washing’: The LIV Golf–PGA Tour Partnership in Juxtaposition with Antitrust Law
Kyleigh Krames
This article summarizes the controversy behind Saudi Arabia’s LIV Golf and the United States’ PGA Tour partnership and the violation of Antitrust Laws the merger represents. For context, the article also delves into the motivations behind Saudi’s investments in sports over the last several years and the controversy behind their showy spending. Critics are accusing the Kingdom’s government of ‘sportwashing’: investing in a beloved commodity such as sports to divest interests away from a less popular human rights record. The controversy behind the golf merger, however, stems more from a legal note, as the Antitrust Division is still investigating the case. Conclusively, the ongoing federal investigation into the merger and its alignment with Antitrust Law will likely not halt the lavish investment in sports the Kingdom has undertaken. It remains to be seen whether the merger will go through despite its rocky legal status– and how all parties will react to whatever decision is reached.
Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez, the Ongoing Struggles of Black Women Seeking Justice
Nia Mclean
On December 23, 2022, Tory Lanez (Daystar Peterson), was convicted of assault with a firearm, illegal firearm possession, and negligent discharge of a gun. This law review delves into the legal proceedings, with a particular focus on witness testimonies.
Kelsey Harris, a key witness, faced scrutiny as the defense aimed to shift blame onto her. Harris, a former friend of Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete), was granted "use immunity" but refrained from answering vital questions.
Despite compelling evidence, Megan Pete's victimhood has been questioned, echoing broader societal issues. This article explores the troubling perception that Black girls need less protection, reflecting on the cases of Cyntoia Brown and Alexis Martin.
Megan Pete's ordeal sheds light on the complexities of seeking justice while protecting abusers, with even the Hip Hop community turning against her. This Law Review highlights the urgent need for a more equitable and supportive society for Black women seeking justice and protection against abuse.
Diversity or Discrimination: Legal Complications of College Admissions Policies
Alexandra Angelini
Because of educational barriers that persisted due to racial segregation in the 1960s, universities established affirmative action admissions policies. Though universities were attempting to attract a more diverse student body, some white students argued that the policies were discriminatory towards them. Though this argument arose in the 1970s, its sentiment has traveled through various court cases. The Supreme Court established in Gratz v. Bollinger that affirmative action policies could not use racial quotas to cultivate a certain population of minorities. While this decision aimed to protect non-minorities from being impaired by the policies, Asian American students felt they were being discriminated against in Harvard University’s admissions policies. Their grievances culminated in a lawsuit against Harvard, in which the Supreme Court determined that Harvard’s policies were unconstitutional. While many universities have adapted their admissions policies to comply with this decision, many wonder why the discussion of preferential treatment stops at race.
Keynote Speakers
Geraldine Muir
Associate Dean for Academic Engagement, Boston University School of Law, Student Affairs
Associate Dean Geraldine “Gerry” Muir oversees the Student Affairs and Registrar’s Offices at Boston University School of Law. Prior to joining the University administration, Dean Muir served as a Higher Education Associate at Dow Lohnes PLLC and Cooley LLP in Washington, DC, advising institutional clients on matters of federal financial aid compliance, accreditation standards and state licensure. She started her career as an advocate for academically-gifted students of color through A Better Chance Foundation; transitioned into higher education administration; went into practice for several years; and, then married all of these experiences together for her work at BU Law.
As a higher education administrator Dean Muir has served in residence life, student conduct, student activities, multicultural affairs, and orientation positions, and attained a MS degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University, where she studied Television, Radio, Film Production and Sociology, and earned her Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University. Dean Muir has been recognized for outstanding service to her communities through the Dean’s Certificate from Georgetown University; the King, Heschel and Hamer Spirituality and Social Justice Award from Drew University; the National Leader of Leaders Award from Campus Outreach Opportunity League ; The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Excellence from Canisius College; and, the District of Columbia Courts’ Capital Pro Bono Honor Role. In April 2017, Boston University’s Black Law Student Association awarded Dean Muir the Student Choice Award for outstanding dedication to BU Law’s students.
Dean Muir is an adjunct faculty member for the BU School of Education’s Educational Leadership & Policies Studies program, teaching AP 755: Legal Issues in Higher Education via classroom and distance education. She continues to advocate for students and focuses her work on addressing issues related to legal education.
Brianna Jordan
Editor-in-Chief, Boston University Journal of Science & Technology Law
Brianna Jordan is a current third year law student at BU Law. An Illinois native, Brianna graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2021 with degrees in Supply Chain Management and Marketing, and a minor in Criminology, Law, and Society. During law school, Brianna has engaged with many student organizations and groups through leadership roles, including: 2L editor and Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Science and Technology Law; Secretary for the Women of Color Collaborative; and Lawyering Fellow for Professor Laura D'Amato. She has also taken advantage of experiential opportunities, including: interning for Judge Thompson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, engaging in antiracist legal research as a Research Assistant for Professor Jasmine Gonzales Rose, and participating in the Individual Rights Litigation Clinic, where she is currently working on a case in the petition for a writ of certiorari stage at the Supreme Court of the United States. Outside of school, Brianna loves to bake, sing, travel, and attend as many concerts as her budget allows! Brianna completed the summer associate program at Goodwin Procter in the Boston office in 2021, 2022 and 2023 (as an SEO Law Fellow, 1L Diversity Fellow, and 2L Diversity Fellow respectively), and will return to Goodwin's Boston office upon graduation and passing the bar exam.