“Student Family Activity Day” means fun in the sun
In early October 2011, a group of law students brought forward a simple request to the UH Law
Administration. They wanted a special day held outdoors for Law Students to relax and have fun with
their classmates, friends and family. The Law Administration agreed. A day to foster good-will amongst
the student body, establish strong relations with future graduates and a day for getting to know those
that have made the law school experience enjoyable, but especially to show appreciation to students for
their endeavors through law school.
The “Law Student Committee for Less Stress and More Fun” was established. Committee members
include student leaders for various organizations:
Jim Silliman - President, Student Bar Association;
Jeffrey Adams - President, ACLU Chapter at UH Law Center;
Jade Ortego - President, Law Students for Reproductive Justice;
Tamecia Harris - President, Black Law Students Association;
Pegah Rahgozar - President, Corporate and Tax Law Society;
Garrett Gibson - President, Federalist Society;
Samantha Soliz - Student Rep, American Bar Association;
Jarret Dzuik - President, Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity & Editor in Chief, Houston Journal of Health Law &
Policy Journal.
There were so many people involved in the planning/set up and so many people to thank. First and
foremost thanks go to, Dean Nimmer and the Law Administration who gave their approval and support
for this event. Also, among those to thank are the Law Student Committee for Less Stress, the
Communications and Marketing Department staff which facilitated U-tube commercial videos and
marketing materials, 22 vendors who donated more than $3,000 in student raffle prizes, UH Law Center
Facilities staff for the many hours given to set up and clean up, numerous department staff members
and the Health Law Organization which volunteered to work at activity wristband stations, Dean
Tennessee and her family members, and even the vendors who went beyond the call of duty and gave a
lending hand for set up at 7 a.m. the day of the event.
Also, special thanks to the numerous law student organization officers/members and law department
staff who conducted the different fun activities at the event:
Hispanic Law Student Association -- Hula Hoop Contests
ACLU Chapter at UH Law Center -- Tug of War
Intellectual Property Student Organization – “Race to the Patent Office”
Association of Women in Law -- Cup Cake Decorating
Student Bar Association -- Volleyball Competitions
Association of International Petroleum Negotiators – “Pin the Well on the World Map” & “Name your
own Oil Company”
Career Development Office and Public Interest Law Organization – Kids Corner Activities & Games
Corporate and Tax Law Society -- Sack Races/Egg Spoon Races
Asian Law Students Association -- Ring Toss
Christian Legal Society -- Ladder Golf
Law Students Assistance Program -- Manage your Health and Stress & Puppies to Pet
International Law Society -- Giant Jenga
Black Law Student Organization --Inflatable Twister Game
Advocates -- Trivia Game: “Are you smarter than a Law Student?”
The student organization activities, student raffle prizes, numerous giant inflatable games for adults and
children, live band and DJ, tasty food and beverages, face painter, balloonist, air brush tattoo artist and
a family/friends photo in the Big Red Chair, truly made this event for all ages.
History does repeat itself as we have found out this week at the Law Center. It has been more than
twelve years since the UH Law Center has held this type of event. Also, it was a rare occurrence that a
panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals brought its docket to the Law Center for the first time in 12
years.
There is a good chance the UH Law Center Student Family Activity Day will become an annual event and
I hope all who were not able to attend this year will join us next year.
My goal as organizer was to insure that students, faculty and staff remember March 3, 2012, as a day at
the Law Center where everyone had “Less Stress and More Fun,” a day for students and their families to
find out Law School can be fun!
Vicky Crain
University of Houston Law Center- Office of Student Services
Student Affairs Coordinator