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UVA BLSA received two awards at the 2013 Regional Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association Convention on February 16th, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
UVA won the cash prize for the Pre-Law Division with the most members after chartering our Pre-Law Division ("U-BLSA") this year. U-BLSA's membership currently stands at 25 members and counting which is exemplary within our region. A special thanks to Admissions and Recruitment Chair, Amanda Oakes ('14), for all of her work with the undergraduate chapter. UVA also received the award for "Best Implementation of National Initiative" for our Sierra Leone International Service Trip. UVA BLSA's Service Trip to Sierra Leone was praised within the region and we are excited to have had the opportunity to send our members across the globe to represent our chapter and our school. Another special thanks to our passionate and persistent Community Service Chair, Andrea Canfield ('14). And finally, a big thank you to all of the 2012-2013 Policy Council for everything we have accomplished this year and for the privilege of serving as your President. Best of luck making next year bigger and better! Amanda Turner ('14) 2012-2013 BLSA President
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Proxy voting for DUES PAYING members is allowed if you are unable to attend the election. Please fill out the proxy form below if you would like to designate someone to vote on your behalf. This form must be completed by 5pm on March 5, 2013 in order for someone to vote on your behalf. Every year, on the third Monday of January, the United States celebrates the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The federal holiday created in his honor attempts to acknowledge his nonviolent participation in events like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the March on Washington and the Birmingham Campaign. In contrast to the violent events of the 1950s and 60s, Dr. King expressed his faith in society by peacefully protesting racial inequality and injustice. Although his thirteen-year civil rights career led to the desegregation of the South, Dr. King’s work has done much more for society in general. Most acknowledge that, in the absence of Dr. King’s efforts, Thurgood Marshall may not have been the first African American Supreme Court Justice and this country may not have had the opportunity to witness Clarence Thomas be the second. Indeed, without Dr. King Colin Powell may not have been Secretary of State and Barack Obama may not have been elected President (twice!). Despite these historic triumphs, what’s most inspiring about Dr. King’s legacy is the fact that it permeated all cultures and all races. Today, campaigns for gay rights and equal pay for women gain headway in part because of Dr. King. Even newly formed movements, like Occupy Wall Street, employ Dr. King’s tactics by conveying the importance of a cause through a series of essays. Clearly, Dr. King is worthy of a day of remembrance not simply because of his Nobel Peace Prize or his achievements as an activist but because of the impact his beliefs still have on America. Although it is guaranteed that we will honor Martin Luther King Jr. on every third Monday of January, it is imperative we learn from Martin Luther King Jr. every other day in between. With issues like those in Fisher v. Texas, Moncrieffe v. Holder and Hollingsworth v. Perry, it seems Dr. King’s dream is still a reality in progress.
 UVA BLSA will cover the FULL COST of THREE (3) members trips to the NBLSA Convention held in Atlanta, GA on March 6-10, 2013. Please see the convention schedule HERE for more details. The BLSA members receiving a free trip will serve as UVA BLSA delegates and be selected by random drawing from a hat, which will be held on Friday January 25, 2013 at noon in the BLSA Office. All are welcome to attend the drawing, however attendance is not required in order to win the free trip to the NBLSA Convention. The last day to enter the Raffle is Thursday January 24, 2013.
Once selected you must claim your trip within one (1) day. Once you claim your trip to the NBLSA convention attendance is REQUIRED. Three (3) members will be selected and three (3) additional names will be drawn on January 25, 2013 and placed on a wait list in the order drawn. If any of the original three selected members turn down the trip they will be replaced by the wait listed members in the order that the wait listed members are drawn. Wait listed members will have ONE (1) day to accept the trip or else they will forfeit their trip to the next wait listed member. *Should all the wait-listed members decline their trip, or not enough people enter the raffle the Vice President will select a BLSA member to attend the convention. By submitting your name and signing this application you agree to attend every day of the NBLSA convention and fulfill your delegate duties. By signing this application you agree that should you cancel your trip for any reason after notifying UVA BLSA you will attend, you will be REQUIRED to pay: (1) the full price of the NBLSA registration fee ($150); (2) the cost of your lodging ($250); and (3) the cost of your flight and travel expenses ($400) totaling $800. For this year's International Service Trip the Black Law Students Association is partnering with TiMap for Justice. The trip will be taking place in Sierra Leone from March 11 - March 17, 2013. Aside from providing participants an opportunity to meet members of the BLSA family, this trip is a great way to gain pro bono hours and participate in a legally relevant human rights project. The duties of the participants will include providing assistance to lawyers and paralegals in the area. The trip will be completely funded for everyone selected to participate. Details of the trip and the selection process are located in the application below. To be selected for the trip candidates must send a completed application to the Community Service Chair by January 25, 2013. Please note that applicants can participate in both the NBLSA Convention and the International Service Trip. If you have any questions contact Andrea Canfield, the Community Service Chair, at service@uvablsa.org. UVA BLSA and SBA invite you to participate in our Winter Coat Drive which aims to enhance the quality of life for youth and the disadvantaged within the Greater Central Virginia community.
We are asking anyone who can to donate a coat or two. Old and new coats/shoes of various sizes will be accepted. There will be a box in Scott Commons from Friday, November 15th until Friday, December 14th. All coats will be given to First Baptist Church on Main Street. Donations can also be left in the BLSA office (Slaughter 192A). The coats will be handed out to those in need at First Baptist Church on December 15, 2012 from 2-4 PM. Last year, the Church collected 700 coats and was able to help out many families just in time for Christmas. This year we have a new goal to collect 1,000 coats and 250 pairs of shoes. Let's make the holidays an enjoyable time for everyone in our community! Najla Long Najla Long is a 3L from Cincinnati, Ohio who served as UVA BLSA's Social Chair in 2011-2012. Najla embodies UVA Law's spirit of collegiality: she wants to see her classmates thrive and if she can think of some way to help others she does, without hesitation. Najla invests her time in our chapter by looking over members' resumes and cover letters, giving academic advice, speaking on panels, participating in community service, and offering her home for BLSA events. She deserves to be highlighted because she has been a resource for others with and without a positional role and her help has been invaluable to our chapter.
Najla spent her summer working for Skadden in New York and plans to work there after graduation. UVA BLSA will cover the FULL COST of THREE (3) members trips to the MABLSA Convention held in Pittsburgh, PA on February 13-17, 2012. Please read the convention guide below for more details. The BLSA members receiving a free trip will serve as UVA BLSA delegates and be selected by random drawing from a hat, which will be held on December 20, 2012 in the BLSA Office. All are welcome to attend the drawing, however attendance is not required in order to win the free trip to the MABLSA Convention. The last day to enter the Raffle is DECEMBER 19, 2012. Once selected you will have THREE (3) days to officially claim your trip. Once you claim your trip to the MABLSA convention attendance is REQUIRED. Three (3) members will be selected and three (3) additional names will be drawn on December 20, 2012 and placed on a wait list in the order drawn. If any of the original three selected members turn down the trip they will be replaced by the wait listed members in the order that the wait listed members are drawn. Wait listed members will have ONE (1) day to accept the trip or else they will forfeit their trip to the next wait listed member. Should all the wait listed members decline their trip, the VIce President will select a BLSA member from the hat to attend the convention. By submitting your name and signing this application you agree to attend every day of the MABLSA convention and fulfill your delegate duties. By signing this application you agree that should you cancel your trip for any reason after notifying UVA BLSA you will attend, you will be REQUIRED to pay: (1) the full price of the late registration fee ($195); (2) the cost of your lodging ($175); and (3) the cost of your travel ($50) totaling $450. If you missed our November GBM, please see the slideshow presentation below for a quick review. This holiday season BLSA has decided to partner with the University of Virginia Hospital to provide books, toys, and art supplies for the children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the hospital. If you have new or gently used children's books, toys, or art supplies (coloring books, crayons) that you would like to donate to this cause, we will have a collection box in Scott Commons from November 13 to November 30, 2012. You are also welcome to leave items with a BLSA member in the BLSA office in Slaughter 192A. If your members would like to donate to this cause monetarily, we are also accepting checks and cash. Please contact our Community Service Chair, Andrea Canfield at anw4zf@virginia.edu to donate.
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