You know how sometimes you just need to get out of town? Thankfully, that was yesterday. To start things off, the Environmental Law Society had a trip to Turtle Cove research station in Manchac, LA. The first interesting observation from that trip was the highway, I-55, itself. Because the land is so swampy, the entire interstate is elevated for miles. The twin two-lane spans are supported by struts residing in a waterway which runs through the flat and rather wild land. It must have been quite a feat of engineering to get elevate such a roadway, especially given the fact that the land out there was described by our host, a biologist, as “like pudding.”
At the research station we got an overview of the wetland ecology and then were taken on a pontoon boat tour through an old logging canal. While the land is currently largely denuded for miles, we learned that it used to be densely covered with cyprus trees; however, due to the value of of the cyprus, entrepreneurial individuals had basically clear cut large swaths of territory by forging canals and using ropes and barges to haul trees away for processing. While the area most certainly looks differently than it would have a century or two ago, much of its function is the same. Currently a key wetland habitat for fish, reptiles and birds, the area, as currently managed, provides protection against storm surges. Though we never caught sight of a large alligator, we did see a baby one (about three feet long.) The boat trip was exciting and most definitely a change of scenery from urban New Orleans.
As we arrived back at school late in the afternoon, I noticed some friends sitting at a table laden with food in the foyer. I had forgotten that yesterday was the last day of the week-long public interest/human rights film festival. Earlier in the week I had seen one of the films, a documentary on those first elections held in Iraq back in 2005. The documentary was brooding and somewhat incomplete, but provided some great footage from the country that like of which we do not get from our mainstream media. Friday’s film, obviously the capstone of the series, was a short documentary on the Jena 6. You may recall, the Jena 6 incident was a racially charged tale from a small Louisiana town. White students and black students had gotten into a series of fights over a de-facto whites-only congregation spot in the courtyard of the town’s high school. After some white students were severely beat by black students, six of the later were charged with attempted murder. The incident sparked national recognition and prompted tens of thousands to descend upon the sleepy town to protest what many saw as a racially charged miscarriage of justice.
Following the film, a speaker told of his organizing work in bringing a few busloads of concerned, mostly black students, from Texas to participate in the rally. Then, at one point in his talk, he called Michael Bell, one of the Jena 6, putting him on the phone over the room’s sound system for a live q+a. While the audience consisted of mostly law students, there were some other activists present who seemed to take great pleasure in hearing from Mr. Bell firsthand.
While I enjoyed the documentary and the ensuing talk, I did have some reservations. I was concerned with the film’s one sided presentation of incarceration statistics. Though I am aware that a disproportionate percentage of blacks are in prison, I am not convinced that such statistics lead to the conclusion that our justice system is inherently racist. While racism may play a role in sentencing disparities, the film was intellectually dishonest by not even attempting to examine the other factors leading to high incarceration rates within the black community. Furthermore, just because this kid found himself on the defensive of an overly-zealous prosecutor does not make him a hero; in fact, I was inclined to infer that he was a bit of a thug at the time this event happened. However, hearing from him on the the phone was exciting, and he mentioned that he was getting ready to apply for college and wished to move on and not allow the incident to define him. Many of the activists in the room, however, seemed content to have him remain a cause célèbre.
Following the film, I ran into my buddy who was heading over to the Chabad house. Chabad is a worldwide group of Orthodox Jews which attempts to help young Jews connect with their religion. While I am in no way interested in becoming Orthodox (I like my shellfish, pork and modern clothing too much, thank you,) the Chabad house sponsors some fantastic Shabbat dinners and holiday services. Figuring I was a bit overdue, I joined him for a delicious meal (salad, matzoh ball soup, chicken, desert, etc…) At the dinner we met a prospective law student who had been attending the first of three visiting weekends (from which the administration kept me far away.) She was a bright young Jew from Great Neck who was weighing Tulane against a few NYC schools. I also got to speak with her mother who was born in Romania. Foarte interesant, nu? The night continued with drinks at a new bar just a few blocks from my home, (verdict: a little trendy and overpriced, but great young-adult vibe,) and a ceremonial smoking of the hookah with new honey flavored tobacco.
Given the major ups and down of life as a law student, a day like yesterday comes as a great relief, reminding me that there is a larger universe beyond the reading room and that as I go about my daily activities, so too does the world. Welcome back.