Columns:: Digest

since 12/15/98

Columns::December 1, 2003

Digest

IHDD receives two-year training grant
Members of Georgia’s judicial system will soon have help in identifying disability-related issues in the courtroom through a new U.S. Department of Justice training grant awarded to UGA’s Institute on Human Development and Disability. The two-year, $250,744 grant will run through September 2005.
The training provided by the grant will help judges make decisions in cases involving violence and sexual assault against children and adults with disabilities, according to Jenny Manders, project coordinator at IHDD.
Curriculum and training for Georgia judges in probate, magistrate, juvenile, state and superior courts will be included through on-going orientation and recertification courses provided by the Institute for Continuing Judicial Education at UGA’s School of Law. The ICJE and the Georgia State ADA Coordinator’s Office are primary partners in the project with IHDD.
In addition, the grant provides for national dissemination of the curriculum on CD-ROM and posting on the ICJE Web site once training participants and a panel of judges representing each of the five classes of courts have evaluated the initial training.
“The curriculum will provide information on the ADA and assist judges to make decisions free of possible misconceptions or social stereotypes regarding individuals with disabilities,” says Manders.
Training will be included as a three-hour track in each ICJE training conference. An estimated 300 judges will participate.

Committee studies football fan behavior
The Athletic Association has formed a committee to review and discuss issues and policies related to fan behavior and sportsmanship at home football games. The Fan Behavior Committee is looking at these areas and how they relate to home football games at UGA. University administrators and Athens-Clarke County officials have joined the Athletic Association in identifying what constitutes proper fan behavior and how to disseminate this philosophy in order to achieve it.
“Our committee closely monitored the last two home games with Auburn and Kentucky and met immediately afterward to see how we can make the game experience better for everyone,” says Vince Dooley, director of athletics. “We want to promote the game experience and fan behavior. Everyone has a stake in this.”
The committee plans to create a sportsmanship philosophy that fans will be encouraged to follow. Instances of poor behavior exist not only between fans of opposing teams but also between fans of the same team. The committee also will identify ways to let fans continue their traditions associated with UGA home football games without infringing on the rights of others attending the game. Fans will be asked to respect the campus, community and other fans attending the game.

Law team wins moot court challenge
The UGA School of Law’s dominance over the University of Florida continues in the courtroom. For the past 23 years on the eve of the annual Georgia-Florida football clash, law students from each school have met to argue a fictitious appellate case in front of a distinguished panel of state and federal judges. Late last month, UGA law students triumphed over Florida for the fifth straight year in the Hulsey-Kimbrell Moot Court Competition and now lead the series 17-4-2. The winning team from UGA included third-year students Trinity M. Hundredmark and Jeffrey P. Shiver. Third-year student Jason M. Tate coached the pair.
“There is a lot of pressure each year on this team to win due to our strong history of competing against Florida. No team wants to be the one to break the current streak,” says Kellie R. Casey, director of advocacy at the law school.

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