New York Paralegal Blog

This is the fourth and final installment in our series on Affirmative Action. Throughout this series, we've explored various facets of this complex and often misunderstood policy. Today, we're tackling the argument that affirmative action is an unnecessary system focused on quotas rather than merit, a perspective often voiced by figures like Candace Owens. Candace Owens argues that affirmative action hinders the most qualified individuals in college admissions and employment, implying it's an obsolete program in a meritocratic society. In an ideal world, her perspective—that merit alone should dictate opportunity—would be a beautiful truth. We could all agree that "the most qualified" should always rise to the top, and programs designed to correct historical imbalances would indeed be unnecessary. However, we are far from inhabiting that ideal world. The reality on the ground paints a very different picture. Despite decades of civil rights advancements...

In a bold move, New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined forces with 20 other states to support Harvard University in its fight against a sudden and unprecedented federal funding freeze. The coalition warns that this action threatens not just the university, but also jobs, scientific progress, and public health across the nation. What’s Happening? Imagine working on a critical research project—say, finding a cure for ALS or developing new treatments for breast cancer—and suddenly, the funding you rely on is pulled without warning. That's the situation Harvard University is facing. On April 11, the federal government issued a set of demands to Harvard. When the university stood its ground to protect its academic independence, the government responded by freezing over $2 billion in committed research funding. Now, Harvard is taking legal action, and a powerful group of state attorneys general is backing them up. Why Should You Care? "We all benefit when our research i...

By CHRISTINE STUART HARTFORD (CN) - A Wesleyan University student was sexually assaulted at a Beta Theta Pi Fraternity house known as the "Rape Factory," the former student claims in court. Jane Doe, of Maryland, sued the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, its Mu Epsilon Chapter and Wesleyan University, in Federal Court. She also sued the owner, landlord and manager of the Beta House, the Raymond Duy Baird Memorial Association.

University at Buffalo Law School, The Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy Monday, September 12 & Tuesday 13, 2011 Forty years ago, the deadliest prisoner rebellion in U.S. history occurred. Next month, a major conference will bring together prisoner advocates, legislators, policymakers, corrections professionals, activists, and people who were on the front lines of the conflict, on both sides.

Racism Is Alive And Well In New York NEW YORK – New York University, the largest private university in the United States and one of New York City’s ten biggest employers, will pay $210,000 and furnish other relief to settle a race and national origin harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had alleged that NYU violated federal law by subjecting an African-born employee to a hostile work environment that included degrading verbal harassment.

OAKLAND, Calif. - A federal grand jury here has indicted the president of a Pleasanton, Calif., university on 33-criminal counts, charging her with an array of violations, including visa fraud, money laundering and alien harboring, as a result of a two-year investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Tri-Valley University President Susan Xiao-Ping Su, 41, who also served as the school's chief executive officer, is accused of engaging in a two-year scheme to defraud the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by submitting phony documents in support of Tri-Valley University's applications to admit foreign nationals on student visas. The indictment further alleges that after obtaining such approvals, Su fraudulently issued visa-related documents to student aliens in exchange for "tuition and fees." Su was taken into custody Monday morning at her Pleasanton, Calif., home by HSI special agents. She made h...

WOBURN – A New York man has been found guilty today on murder charges in connection with the shooting death of Justin Cosby, 21, of Cambridge, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone informed the public today. Jabrai Jordan Copney, 22, of New York City, New York, was found guilty by a Middlesex Superior Court jury on charges of First Degree Murder and Carrying a Firearm Without a license. Middlesex Superior Court Judge John Lu sentenced the defendant to life in prison with no eligibility for parole on the murder charge and two and one half to three years in prison to run concurrent on the firearm charge. “A manipulative and calculating Jabrai Jordan Copney has been found guilty today of arming himself with a gun that he used to rob and kill Justin Cosby. Copney then executed his plan in a dormitory basement stairway area that was a virtual dead-end with no way out, fatally shooting Justin Cosby when he attempted to struggle and get away. Copney then attempted to cover up his crime...

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced the unsealing today of a one-count indictment charging 10 defendants with conspiracy to commit sports bribery, to operate an illegal sports bookmaking service, and to distribute marijuana. The indictment alleges that the defendants enriched themselves by operating an illegal sports bookmaking business and distributing marijuana, and with their criminal proceeds, conspired to bribe National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college basketball players to alter the outcome of games so that the defendants could profit by betting on the games at Las Vegas, Nevada casinos. A federal grand jury sitting in San Diego handed up the indictment on April 8, 2011. The defendants include a former assistant coach at the University of San Diego (USD), and two former college basketball players, including Brandon Johnson. The indictment alleges that Johnson, while he was playing for USD, took a bribe to influence the result of a game in Fe...