The ACS University of Texas Student Chapter, led by its faculty advisor William Forbath, is continuing its tradition of offering a progressive voice in campus dialogue and hosting relevant, interesting events.
Last fall, ACS at UT hosted Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez in a Q&A session for students, leading up to Attorney General Holder’s inspiring speech on voting rights. The chapter also co-hosted the webinar "Closing the Justice Gap: A Conversation with Eric Holder" with the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law. As part of the ACS Constitutional Curriculum, ACS at UT hosted the “Promoting the General Welfare” national webinar with William Forbath. In addition, the chapter had the pleasure of collaborating with outgoing Dean Lawrence Sager, who spoke on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act to an audience of over 120 students. ACS at UT and the Austin Lawyer Chapter maintained their partnership through a mentorship program and several attorney-student networking events, including a luncheon with Adam Winkler, who presented his new book Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America.
ACS at UT kicked off the spring semester with “Immigration Legislation in America Today,” a discussion with MALDEF legislative attorney Luis Figueroa, followed by a happy hour at Sao Paulo’s. Soon thereafter, it co-sponsored a conference entitled, Barriers and Innovations in Civil Rights Litigation Since 9/11: Practical and Theoretical Perspectives. The conference brought together leading civil rights academics and practitioners discussing the hurdles faced by litigants challenging government action in criminal justice, immigration, national security and other arenas. The keynote speaker was ACLU president, Susan Herman.
ACS at UT looks forward to the rest of the spring semester, which will feature events on national security policy, consumer financial protection, LGBT trailblazers, reproductive rights, and environmental protection, in addition to more social events for both students and local attorneys.