Marshall-Brennan Program provides community outreach
CAMDEN — Even after nearly 220 years since the constitution was ratified, the Bill of Rights remains a vital symbol of American culture and freedom.Students at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden are helping the city’s high school students gain a broader understanding of those freedoms through the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Fellowship Program.
Named for Thurgood Marshall and William J. Brennan Jr., two U.S. Supreme Court justices who championed individual rights, the program aims to make the U.S. Constitution come alive for Camden youth.
“Many people don’t understand the constitution or the basic principles behind it,” says Paula Sen, a second-year law student and Philadelphia resident. “To be able to show students how the constitution applies to them hopefully gets them interested in law and in being a contributing member of society.”
The Marshall-Brennan fellows spent the fall semester studying constitutional law with a focus on cases and concepts concerning young people and schools. In the spring, after intensive preparation, they’ll teach constitutional law courses at high schools throughout Camden while serving as mentors and positive role models to the high school students.
“The law school has had a longstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in this community,” says Jill Friedman, director of pro bono and public interest programs at the Rutgers School of Law–Camden and co-director of the Marshall-Brennan Project. “This is one of several powerful partnerships among the law school, the school district and other local entities that are collaborating to create a different future for Camden’s youth.”
Friedman continues, “My law students learn important substantive legal material and skills, and on a personal level, they typically describe the fellowship as among their most meaningful experiences. Our high school students learn that though they often have had difficult experiences with the law, they also have rights and protections. It’s really empowering for them to understand that the law can be a positive force.”
The Rutgers–Camden law students will lead classes about four days per week, interact with high school teachers, design lesson plans, and evaluate the high school students.
“Our job is to go to high schools and do our best to open up the world to these students and expose them to it,” says Andrew Dodemaide, a second-year law student from Haddonfield.
Cherry Hill resident Shealtiel Weinberg, also in his second year of law school, explains that increased familiarity with the law can be a source of positive change for the students.
“You initially see students have a hard time wrapping their head around the fact that they have rights and the law is behind them and protects them,” Weinberg says. “It’s really exciting to be there and watch them go through that process of feeling like they have more ownership of what happens to them and an understanding of how the law operates.”
Fellows are chosen through a competitive process during the spring semester of each year. A faculty selection committee chooses applicants based on their academic preparation, motivation, maturity, commitment to social change, and intellectual interest in constitutional issues.
The Marshall-Brennan program is supported by funding from a scholarship foundation named for Michael Young, an outstanding Rutgers–Camden law student who died shortly before his graduation in 2004.
“Service was very important to Michael, and he genuinely spoke up for those less fortunate,” says Barbara Maylath, assistant dean of development at Rutgers School of Law–Camden.
The family pledged $25,000, payable over the next five years, to support Rutgers–Camden teaching assistants in the program.
Beginning in January, 15 Rutgers–Camden law students will teach constitutional law at Camden High School, the Camden Center for Youth Development, Christus Lutheran Academy, LEAP Academy University High School, MetEast High School, and Woodrow Wilson High School.
“Teaching constitutional rights is something that’s sort of breezed over in common social studies classes,” says Alysa Castro, a second-year law student from Philadelphia. “This program gives the students a better appreciation for them.”
Stefan Erwin, a second-year law student from Camden, says, “It’s a great way to give back to the community.”
-30-
Media Contact: Ed Moorhouse
(856) 225-6759
E-mail: ejmoor@camden.rutgers.edu