Carolyn Classen

Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, a life long Democrat, was born & raised in the State of Hawaii, was a Legislative Aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on Capitol Hill, and practiced law for a while. In Tucson she worked as a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and later was the Interim Executive Director of the now defunct Domestic Violence Commission. In 2008 she became a “My Tucson” guest columnist for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, then continued blogging for Tucsoncitizen.com for over four and a half years. Her blogsite was entitled “Carolyn’s Community” about community events and some political news, until Gannett Publishing shut down the site on January 31, 2014. She started with Blog for Arizona on Feb. 11, 2014. Part time she sat as a Hearing Officer in Pima County Consolidated Justice Courts Small Claims Division since April, 2005 for 15 years. She is married to University of Arizona Distinguished Professor Albrecht Classen, a native of Germany. They have one son, who lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and daughter. She is also the Editor of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition website, www.southernazjapan.org (since Jan. 2013).

University of AZ to offer Bachelor’s degree in law

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Since there’s a bunch of lawyers blogging online here at Blog for Arizona (and a bunch of lawyers reading us online), I thought I’d better announce the news that the University of AZ will be offering the nation’s first B.A. in Law.   Read about it more in UA News:

http://uanews.org/story/university-of-arizona-to-offer-nation-s-first-bachelor-of-arts-in-law

The new degree – the product of a partnership between the College of Law and the School of Government and Public Policy in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – is very different from existing legal studies or paralegal programs. Those programs focus on obtaining legal skills for supporting lawyers. This new degree, however, will offer a rigorous foundational education in critical thinking, analysis and complex problem resolution, as well as a deep understanding of law and the inner workings of the legal system.

After completing core courses at the UA School of Government and Public Policy, students in the interdisciplinary program will be required to take core law courses. These courses will provide an understanding of subjects such as property, contracts and torts, constitutional law, administrative law, and civil and criminal procedure. They will be taught by full-time faculty at the law school and designed to train students to “think like a lawyer.”

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Exciting photo gallery of 2014 Jell-O Wrestling extravaganza

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If you missed the 2014 Jell-O Wrestling benefit and extravaganza for Southern AZ Aids Foundation (SAAF) on Saturday May 3, here’s a photo gallery of some of the matches, courtesy of T-Media Promotion (except for two photos as noted courtesy of the contestants). My previous post on the day after the event is here. Over $56,000 was raised at this popular event, now in it’s 27th year.

DIVA Mistress of Ceremonies Lucinda Holliday welcoming the corwd
DIVA Mistress of Ceremonies Lucinda Holliday welcoming the crowd at the Slaughterhouse
SAAF Executive Director Wendell Hicks welcoming everyone, and thanking them for supporting the work of SAAF
SAAF Executive Director Wendell Hicks welcoming everyone, and thanking them for supporting the work of SAAF

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Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers at 2nd Saturday Downtown

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Odaiko Sonora performers at Arizona Matsuri 2014 in Phoenix
Odaiko Sonora performers at Arizona Matsuri 2014 in Phoenix

For 12 years Odaiko Sonora has been performing their lively taiko Japanese drumming in Arizona (and elsewhere). I personally know founders Karen Falkenstrom (half Korean) and Rome Hamner (lived in Japan as a teacher for a year), and they have created a wonderful troupe of enthusiastic and talented drummers.

If you haven’t heard them before, this is your big chance to hear them for free  at 2nd Saturdays Downtown on May 10, on the popular Scott Avenue Stage (between Congress St. and Broadway Blvd.) at 6:30 p.m. It will be over an hour’s show till 7:45 p.m. so stop by, pick up some delicious food from the ubiquitous food trucks and enjoy some Japanese music/culture.

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Pie Party parties on with Food Conspiracy Co-op

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Press release from new Pie Party organizers:

PIE-PARTY2

Ian Fritz and Turtle Southern, co-founders of the Pie Party, have passed the torch on to the Food Conspiracy Co-op along with pie party devotees’ email addresses.

This year’s Pie Party will be held on Saturday, May 10, from 3-6 p.m. at Mercado San Agustin.

Though previous Pie Parties have taken the form pie contest, this year’s event will be a pie potluck. Anyone can submit a pie to the Pie Party. Just drop off your pie (or pies) at the Mercado between 1-2 p.m.   Bakers’ entry forms will be entered into a raffle and two winners will receive a $50 gift card to the Food Conspiracy Co-op.

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