South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 9, April, 1979 Page: 3 of 9
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P«S® 2 ~~ AN,NOTATtONS - April, 1979
Alumni Program Has Positive Beginning
by Gerald S.
Co-Editor
The success of the monthly
South Texas College of Law
alumni luncheons has been so
great lately that members of the
alumni association are hoping
that this may be indicative of the
future strength of the organiza-
tion.
"We're hoping to build toward
a complete network similar to that
of the 'ole boy network' which
exists in the Ivy League law
schools," said Patricia Lykos,
president of the STCL Alumni
Association.
The "ole boy network" Lykos
explained is a system maintained
by graduates of an Ivy League
school in which graduates may
refer cases to other alumni in all
sections of the country.
Lykos, maintaining that active
members of the organization are
more than 500, believes that the
alumni organization will soon be
publishing a directory listing all
the graduates of STCL by name,
location, and specialty.
"The speaker's program has
been a positive beginning in
developing a close knit group,"
Lykos said. "The luncheons have
been very exciting and informa-
tive."
Lykos added that students are
welcomed to attend the lunch-
eons.
Bill Lange, treasurer of the
alumni association, cites some
other goals as the objectives of
the club.
Lange, a member of the Pravel,
Wilson, and Gambrell law firm,
hopes to gather the interests of
the many prestigious attorneys in
the Houston community who are
graduates of STCL.
"There's a lot of talent out
there," Lange points out. "If we
drew all those resources together
it could only help to serve us all.
It's important."
Lange stated that the ideal
organization would be one that
served the alumni association as
well as the school, students,
community, and the individual
attorney.
Lykos stated that she hopes
more of the successful STCL
graduates will become more
active in alumni affairs.
"I want to make it known to the
Spurgeon Bell Competition
"I got into the competition
because it seemed to me a
low-risk, easy one credit," Maher
commented. "All you're expected
to do is write a brief and argue
twice. I would recommend the
Advocacy class for that reason
"To tell you the truth, it wasn't
until later that Gene and myself
really got caught up in the
competitive spirit," Maher ex-
plained.
His partner agreed. Grant said
he noticed some students arguing
in the competition merely be-
cause it was part of the Advocacy
class. Grant stressed, however,
that "once you actually begin the
rounds, you ñnd it's hard not to
really compete."
Grant said also that as the week
progressed he found it easier to
concentrate. "I think one of the
fears we all had was that we
would get up there and forget
everything," Grand said. "It
amazes you how well you remem-
ber."
All four, however, commented
how surprised they were at how
physically draining such a com-
petition could be. This was
another aspect of the competition
which drove home the practical
experience each gained through
the program. Maher, in particu-
lar, said this knowlege would
have a bearing on whether he
pursues trial work after gradua-
tion.
Each of the teams' members
suggested strategies as to how to
go into the competition that is one
of nine STCL advocacy programs.
"Spurgeon Bell," as revamped
this year, is the only competition
which is open to students without
prior experience in performing a
legal argument.
Oake suggested that he learned
that it is best to have a contrast in
partners comprising the team.
"Whereas I am more subdued,
Charlie is more enthusiastic,"
Oake said. "This was pointed out
to us early in the rounds and we
tried to use it to our advantage all
the way through."
Price noted it was important to
have practice sessions where one
team member drilled the other as
to questions he might expect from
the judges.
"We knew the law fairly well,"
Price said, "but we didn't know
how we were going to say it. A
practice session we had before
competition started the next day
gave us the opportunity to phrase
the law we had researched."
In putting together their brief,
Oake said his points of error
seemed to be raised first in the
case, therefore it seemed logical
that he should present his half of
the appellee's case first.
Maher also suggested that a
contrast in partners is helpful. He
said it was agreed Grant would
present a more formal appear-
ance by giving his grounds of
error straightforward and forth-
right. Grant added to this by
saying, "It's best to put your best
speaker last. In our case, John
makes a better presence since
he's taller and a more powerful
speaker."
During the oral critiques fol-
lowing each round, the four
participants found their respec-
Continued on page 5
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We guarantee
tomorrow today.
Houston Community just how
many successful graduates STCL
has produced," Lykos stated.
"This will open more doors to our
graduates."
"Students aren't as endeared
to STCL as they should be. Their
attitude is that they worked hard
for their degree and after gradua-
tion, they don't owe the school
anything," Lange speculates.
"It's true that STCL is hard to get
through, but many students
would never have had the chance
to attend law school otherwise."
Lange hopes that soon the
monthly luncheon attendance will
be between 750 and 1000.
"I hope we will soon have the
reservation cut off a week in
advance," Lange said. "It should
be, considering the quality and
calibre of the speakers we've
been having."
Both Lykos and Lange are
working hard toward a strong
alumni association.
"Our hope is to muster all the
influential graduates together, so
when we speak, we will be
heard," Lange said. "We have it
as individuals. It would be
amazing how strong we would be
if all our graduates were united."
May's luncheon will be held at
the Inns of Court, May 17. This
will be the ANNUAL Judiciary
Luncheon. For information,
please contact Mabel Welch at
659-8040.
ANNOTATIONS
Editors David Dies, Gerald S. Bettman
Managing Editor Kembra L. Smith
Editorial Writer Philippe Symonovicz
Staff Writers Skylar Blasingame, Jodi Slansky,
. Elaine Rice, Rudy de la Garza
Cartoonist Lawrence R. Landry
Columnist Seward B. Snell
Contributor Sharon Garner
Annotations is published monthly except June and December by
students of South Texas College of Law, 1303 San Jacinto,
Houston, Texas 77002 (Suite No. 324), 759-9142.
Purpose: The objective of this paper is to inform the students of
South Texas College of Law, and the Houston legal community
on pertinent, timely and provocative legal issues and events. Our
intent is to disseminate timely South Texas news stories, and to
stimulate interest among students and practitioners alike on
issues facing the profession.
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Dies, David & Bettman, Gerald S. South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 7, No. 9, April, 1979, newspaper, April 1979; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth144382/m1/3/: accessed May 14, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting South Texas College of Law.