R&B Artist 'Comes Through and Chills' in San Diego
-- Vincent Chiaverini
The artist simply known as Miguel is a contemporary and alternative R&B artist who has been on everyone’s playlist. His new Ascention Tour is selling out music venues all over North America, and even made a stop in sunny San Diego. Whether you need some new study tunes, or you’re trying let loose like a weekend warrior, Miguel is the musical talent you have been missing out on.
On Sept. 17, the Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego was host to one of the 26 shows lined up on Miguel’s new Ascension tour. The singer showcased his War & Leisure album that debuted less than a year ago. Some of his top hits featured included: “Come Through and Chill,” “Pineapple Skies,” “Banana Clip,” and my personal favorite “How Many Drinks.”
What draws me to Miguel is that he is a triple threat: amazing singer, dancer, and lyricist, which can be felt through his music. The most appealing aspect while listening to the R&B singer is that his music can either have you dancing, or focusing on the passion behind the words. The show itself had multiple “wow” moments that involved brilliant dancers accompanied with a euphoric production value — typically something you would expect at some larger music festivals.
I know what some of the readers are thinking–A CONCERT ON A MONDAY NIGHT DURING LAW SCHOOL!? The answer is Yes. It is important to get all your work done, and don’t get me wrong, I do spend most (if not all of my time) working in the library. With that being said, don’t forget to spend some time enjoying your life. A little advice that every law school student should receive is: don’t get burnt out, and feeding your soul is important. Whether that be going to a concert, reading a good book, or just having the right study tunes, your effort to relax will make all the difference.
Miguel’s album War & Leisure is streaming now on Spotify.
Current State of Immigration Law: IMLS Panel -- Varun Sabharwal
The Immigration Law Society held a panel Sept. 20, discussing the current state of immigration law. Panelists included Christopher Reeber, Cal Western alum and former attorney for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Dr. Enrique Morones, founder and director of San Diego immigration nonprofit Border Angels; and Prof. Pooja Dadhania, a Cal Western professor who specializes in asylum law.
One of the first questions for the panelists was why they had chosen to go into Immigration law. The answers ranged from a desire to work with a very mistreated section of society, to a means of ensuring that constitutional protections applied even to non-citizens. The focus then shifted to the work of Border Angels, a grassroots organization that seeks to prevent mass deaths of undocumented immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The panelists discussed the deplorable conditions that migrants face while attempting to cross the border and the insensitive treatment they receive from the U.S. Border Patrol and immigration courts.
Reeber, a former attorney for the DHS, said that during the Trump administration, the actions of some Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have become even more hostile towards undocumented migrants. Prof. Dadhania, who has worked with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, noted how refugees and asylum seekers are treated by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials, whose interrogation techniques of asylum seekers have changed from sensitive and aware to adversarial and intrusive. She stressed how some women fleeing conflict zones are subjected to intrusive questioning about the conditions that forced them to flee, and they often are subjected to conditions akin to public trials.
Additionally, all three panelists highlighted the changes in the immigration court system, given the Department of Justice’s free rein to undertake any means necessary to reduce the number of migrants, refugees, and undocumented immigrants making their way into the country. Reeber (who also hastened to add that he wasn’t a Trump supporter) said that the DHS has become less cooperative and less helpful, even when providing legal aid to the people being processed through the system.
The panelists ultimately emphasized that the stakes have gotten higher for immigrants, and the risks near life-threatening. While stressing that there are some constitutional protections available to even non-citizens while inside the U.S., the panelists remarked that sometimes people fall through the system and become targets for harassment and abuse. For some, it’s a question of life and death. Perhaps, in times like this, it may be the paramount duty of law students to volunteer and assist those who need our help the most.