The Texas A&M University School of Law Student Chapter of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) received “Rising Chapter of the Year” honors at the 2014 ACS National Convention in Washington, D.C., June 19. The student organization earned this award primarily for establishing a presence on campus focused on ACS priorities.
“I’m so grateful to be part of this progressive, passionate student organization,” said 2L Travis Gasper, incoming president for the 2014-2015 academic year. “Our board is amazing, and the members are working hard this summer in the Lone Star State and beyond.”
The chapter was previously lauded by their national organization as Student Chapter of the Week for April 14, 2014.
ACS is one of the most active organizations on campus, hosting multiple events throughout the year, bringing national and international experts to campus to tackle timely, challenging issues.
As faculty adviser, associate professor of law Sahar Aziz, noted “Not only does their service contribute to educating our students and community at large, but it exhibits our law school’s commitment to public service and social justice.”
Gasper commented on the Chapter of the Week award: “We are very honored to receive this national recognition from the American Constitution Society. Our student chapter continues to grow and deliver quality, thought-provoking events that further the dialogue inside and outside of school. We look forward to continuing to be a voice for progressive Aggies this fall.”
The national ACS organization said of the Texas A&M Law School chapter: “Ambitious student leaders have organized over a dozen events attracting hundreds of students, faculty and community leaders. The chapter hosts monthly film screenings in partnership with like-minded student organizations like OUTLaw, BLSA, International Law Society, HLSA and Immigration Law Initiative.”
Events ACS hosted during the 2013-2014 academic year include:
- “The Stumbling Democracy in the Middle East: Challenges and Prospects” with Dr. Aseel Alawadhi, one of the first women to serve on the National Assembly of Kuwait, emphasized that democracy is not “one size fits all.” Read more.
- “Government Spying and the Threat to Democracy” with Shahid Buttar, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee, discussed the legal and policy implications of NSA and CIA domestic surveillance.
- “Unmanned: America’s Drone Wars” film screening.
- “Mississippi Innocence” film screening co-hosted with the Black Law Students Association (BLSA).
- “Clearing the Air on Marijuana Law Reform: Is Texas marijuana law reform necessary?” panel discussion with legal experts and advocates.
- “Voting Rights in Texas: A Panel Discussion on Redistricting and Voter ID” with Michael Li, election law attorney and author of TxRedistricting.org, Professor Franita Tolson of Florida State University College of Law, and David Schenck, former Texas Deputy Attorney General, representing diverse views discussed Texas as ground zero in the battle over voting rights.
- “Bridegroom” film screening co-hosted with OUTLaw.
The Texas A&M Law ACS chapter also embodies the Aggie core value of service. They organized a text-to-donate campaign to support relief efforts for the Philippine tsunami and held a clothing drive for Dress for Success.
The chapter owes much of its success to the driving leadership of its 2013-2014 executive board members:
Colin Kalmbacher, President
Chelsea Mikulencak, Vice-President
Simone White, Secretary
Travis Gasper, Treasurer
Alyssa Ortiz, Membership Chair
Yasmine Salem, Programming Chair
Claudia Rodriguez, Social Media Chair
Brent Doré, Historian
Jesus Marquez, Liaison to Student Chapters
Brian Bailey, Career Development Chair
Shelby Pryor, 1L Class Representative
Janelle Portugal, 2L Class Representative
Phillip Hall, 3L Class Representative
Mitch Monthie, At-Large Representative
Executive board members for the 2014-2015 academic year are:
Travis Gasper, President
Chelsea Mikulencak, Vice-President
Simone White, Secretary
Sunny Cox, Treasurer
Alyssa Ortiz, Membership Chair
Yasmine Salem, Programming Chair
Claudia Rodriguez, Social Media Chair
Cassie Rosales, Historian
Jesus Marquez, Liaison to Student Chapters
Brian Bailey, Career Development Chair
Shelby Pryor, 2L Class Representative
Janelle Portugal, 3L Class Representative
Mitch Monthie, At-Large Representative
Brent Doré, At-Large Representative
About the ACS National Convention
Per ACS, the ACS National Convention is the premier legal event of the year, bringing together more than 1,000 of the nation's leading progressive lawyers, judges, law students, policymakers, scholars and activists to discuss critical legal and public policy issues. This year’s convention featured a conversation between U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and long-time civil rights attorney and leader Theodore M. Shaw.
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS), founded in 2001, is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. It is a rapidly growing network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other concerned individuals.