Previous International Week
2nd Annual International Week
October 27 - November 2, 2002
View the 2002 International Week calendar
Food Fiesta Brings International Cuisine, Grand Finale to International Week
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More than 90 students, faculty and administrators contributed cuisine from their home countries to this year’s International Food Fiesta on Saturday night. The event has become an
annual favorite at the Law School, bringing the community together to share dishes and traditions from around the world. It was organized by the Offices of Student Affairs and International
Studies, along with student leaders from the Asian Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, Duke Bar Association, Golf Club, Hispanic Law Students Association, International
Law Society, Jewish Law Students Association, Parents Attending Law School, Public Interest Law Foundation, and Women’s Law Student Association.
This year’s grand prize — roundtrip airfare on USAirways to anywhere in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean — went to 2L Jun Liu, 3L Fang Xue and 3L Jing Zhang for
their Chinese Hot Pot.
Other awards included:
- Best Overall 1st Runner Up: Beef Curry — 1L Abizer Zanzi.
- Best Overall 2nd Runner Up: Austrian Spaetzle — LLM Max Pasquali and LLM Marco Violic.
- Best Spicy: Beef Curry — 1L Abizer Zanzi.
- Most Unusual: Pearl Drop Tea — SJD Charlotte Hu, LLM Wendy Ho and 2L Yi-Lin Chen.
- Best Vegetarian: Pasticcio — LLM David Moscato.
- Best American: Cornbread and Sweet Potato Casserole — 1L Chris Farmer.
- Best Presentation: Frozen Chocolate Crepes — Jill Miller, assistant dean for student affairs.
- Best Presentation 1st Runner Up: Crepes Suzettes — 3L John Bolin.
- Best Dessert: Tres Leches — 2L Federico Lander and visiting scholar Clara Granier.
- Most Kid-Friendly Dish: Bratwurst & Kraut — 2L Michael Meyer.
- Greenest Dish: Austrian Potato Salad — LLM Isabella Hoedl.
The Asian Law Students Association also was awarded a $250 grant from Student Affairs for the most fiesta entries and participants in International Week.
International Film Night Proves a Major Draw
Friday, November 1
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The Fourth-Floor Loggia was abuzz Nov. 1 with the sound of popcorn popping and moviegoers discussing which of four films to see at the second annual International Film Festival. Each film came from a different country and represented a different genre. Representatives of each of the countries were on hand to provide information and entice participants to see their country’s movie - after all, some national cinematic pride was at stake.
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The four movies were selected from a list suggested by Duke Law LLM students. They had been asked to submit the titles of their favorite films and provide a brief commentary on why those movies should be viewed at the event. More than 20 titles were submitted, and the choices were narrowed down to: Iedereen Beroemd! (Everybody Famous) from Belgium; Nikogarsnja Zemlja (No Man’s Land) from Bosnia; Angst Essen Seele Auf (Fear Eats the Soul) from Germany; and Once Were Warriors from New Zealand. The films, played in four different rooms, showed at 8 p.m.
International Film Night offered Duke Law students a chance to see pictures from around the world that they otherwise might never have encountered. And for those of you who missed the event, never fear. The International Law Society plans to organize a monthly film night. More details on that to come.
LLM Students Describe Their Home Countries, Lead Discussions
Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1
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Students from Israel and Germany took the opportunity Thursday to present information on the fascinating people, places and histories of their home countries in a showcase that took place in the Blue Lounge.
First, LLMs Stephan Bauer and Bernhard Krebs showed pictures of Germany and explained the political system and tourist attractions of their home country. This included pictures of the capital, Berlin, large cities including Hamburg and Munich, and castles such as Sansouci and Neuschwanstein. This was followed by a brief overview of the reunification of the country.
Subsequently, LLM Zohar Liss showed a video presenting the day-to-day life in Israel, as well as observations of the country's history and political system. The presentation was followed by a dynamic Q&A session focusing on political issues and the future of the peace process.
On Friday, LLMs Diego Ortega and Alfred Kossuth described the Peruvian coast, jungle and highlands, including a talk about the ancient Incan fortress city of Machu Picchu. They were followed by an explanation of Taiwanese society by Wendy Ho. Finally, Brazilian LLMs Flavia Lima and Erica Alexandre showed a video about the Brazilian Carnaval – the largest party in the world!
Duke Law Highlights Cultures, Fashions from Around the World
Wednesday, October 30
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Duke Law hosted its first International Cultural Presentation and Fashion Show on Oct. 30, bringing students and faculty an opportunity to view music, drama, dance and other cultural practices from around the globe, ranging from a Japanese tea ceremony to German waltzing to American a cappella music.
Public Hearing — Duke Law’s recently revived a cappella group — made its group debut with its rendition of “Longest Time,” which had lyrics appropriately adapted to life as a Duke Law student. Representing Germany, LLMs Oliver von Schweinitz and Stephan Bauer presented a Loriot Theater performance that delighted the audience with authentic German humor.
3L Farrah Chu performed a moving rendition of a Chinese pop song about the Titanic, and 2L Jason Sass proved that he had the “beat” with his captivating Japanese Taiko drumming solo. Taiwanese LLMs Wendy Ho and Charlotte Hu presented a Chinese Calligraphy lesson, which explained the art and subtlety of Chinese characters.
A Japanese Tea Ceremony and soulful vocal performances from students representing Taiwan, Mexico and the Philippines rounded out the lineup of the Cultural Presentation. Afterward, members of the Duke Law community modeled ethnic apparel in the International Fashion Show. Representing Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, Japan, Taiwan and China, nineteen people strolled the “catwalk” of Room 3043 and strutted saris, a barong, an Arab robe, Chinese “qipaos” and “mian aos,” and a host of other attire.
As well as bringing fun and fellowship to the School, the International Cultural Presentation and Fashion Show provided a venue for Duke Law to celebrate the diversity of its community. It offered a chance to share culture and to showcase talents in music and acting that otherwise could have remained hidden in the rigors of academic life.
Sponsors of the event included Office of International Studies, International Law Society, Asian Law Students Association, Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Students Association, and the Jewish Law Students Association.
Event Focuses on International Careers
Wednesday, October 30
Students gathered early Wednesday for “Coffee Talk,” a weekly information session sponsored by the Duke Law School Office of Career Services. Because it was International Week at the Law School, OCS invited Professor Joost Pauwelyn to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of an international legal career.
Pauwelyn, a relatively new member of the Duke Law community, has experience in both private and public international law. In addition to working for a large private law firm in Belgium, he also served as a Legal Affairs Officer for the World Trade Organization. In the latter capacity he specialized in international trade litigation, working for both the Legal Affairs Division and the Appellate Body Secretariat.
While at times referring to life at the WTO as “living in a golden cage,” Pauwelyn spoke highly of the interesting and challenging international work that is immediately available to new attorneys. By contrast, he mentioned that the work handled by young associates at private international law firms usually is more domestic and diluted in nature. Pauwelyn also discussed several other unique benefits available to attorneys at the WTO and United Nations but was quick to point out that salaries from these organizations are “not tremendous.”
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Addresses Duke Law Students, Faculty
Wednesday, October 30
James Joseph, Former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and current professor at Duke University’s Sanford Institute of Public Policy spoke at the Law School on Wednesday as part of International Week. Ambassador Joseph’s talk was titled “The Lure of the Empire: The Role of the U.S. in the World.”
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Ambassador Joseph, who held that post from 1996-99, focused on four general observations in his speech: lingering deficits in democracy across the globe; the changing nature of power in the United States and abroad; the increasing influence of civil society; and the challenge of globalization in many nations.
“The idea of democracy has been romanticized as a political system in which the people have the power, but in many countries it has come to mean that the people have the vote, which is not the same as having the power,” Ambassador Joseph said. One reason for this is that international forces make it difficult to deliver on the expectation that the turn to democracy always will lead to a more equitable society, he said.
Another reason for this shortcoming is that democracy has not had an impressive record in alleviating poverty. In contrast, some countries with authoritarian regimes have virtually eliminated poverty. “Democracies do not de facto eliminate poverty,” Ambassador Joseph said. “Economic strategies do. [S]upport for democracy must include support to empower the poor to be active in their own development.”
Ambassador Joseph then described the changing nature of global power, raising the ideas of “hard power” and “soft power.” Hard power is economic might or military strength used to obtain results, he said. He described soft power as “the ability to attract and influence through the flow of information, the appeal of social, cultural and moral messages and the examples set by acts of generosity.”
Ambassador Joseph spoke of the strength of soft power shown by legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela, stating that Mandela’s “moral standing and political stature in the world went far beyond that suggested by the size of the military or the GDP of South Africa.” Mandela’s life should teach observers that diplomacy “increasingly depends on a moral ecology that cannot be found in military or economic power,” he said.
The increasing influence of civil society is important as a challenge to the dominance of any government, Ambassador Joseph said. It is critical that we hold the state responsible for playing a lead role in the exercise of soft power, but this responsibility must be shared with other sectors of society, both private and social. “It is only through partnership between all three sectors that we are able to generate sufficient resources to tackle significant problems,” he said.
Another challenge to the long-term success of any nation is globalization, Ambassador Joseph said. Many countries fear globalization because they view it as Americanization. Opposition to globalization springs from two sources, he said: the economic and political pitfalls for developing economies; and problems related to expectations that aren’t met. Economic and political problems often arise from financial volatility, leading to recessions in some countries and inequality within and among countries. A “crisis of expectation” also occurs when emerging democracies learn that their economies are affected by external forces beyond their control. Ambassador Joseph advocated embracing globalization’s advantages while also helping to ease the anxiety it generates. This will allow more of the world’s population to benefit from globalization. According to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, he quoted, “the poor are not poor because of too much globalization, but because of too little. Because they are not part of it, because they are excluded.”
In conclusion, Ambassador Joseph stated that the lure of empire is powerful and “that the price of maintaining an empire is high and difficult to defend.” Our world should allow me “to be me without making it difficult for you to be you,” he said, quoting author, philosopher, theologian, and educator Howard Thurman.
This is difficult in a world in which 20 percent of the global population receives more than 80 percent of the income, he said. It also is difficult given the context that 2.8 billion people live on less than two dollars per day. Citing James Wolfeson, president of the World Bank, Ambassador Joseph said “it is time to change our way of thinking . . . to realize that the fight against poverty, racism and marginalization is the fight for global peace and security; time to realize that we have a historic opportunity that we dare not allow to pass us by.”
LLM Students Describe Legal Systems from Around the World
Tuesday, October 29
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Tuesday’s Practicing Law Around the World panel allowed the Duke Law community to hear first-hand perspectives about the practice of law in South Africa, Croatia, Portugal, Indonesia and Israel. The panel was moderated by Russian LLM Olga Vinokourova, who introduced the LLM panelists.
Goncalo Godinho of Portugal explained the differences between the Portuguese and American systems of legal education. He also stressed the importance of study abroad and international education and how much he is benefiting from his Duke Law experience. Thandeka Dube of South Africa, who comes to Duke from the Constitutional Court of South Africa, spoke about the legal implications of land redistribution in South Africa.
Tarja Krehic, from Croatia, described the impact of international economic relations on the Croatian legal system. She also educated the audience about the framework of the Croatian political and economic system. Arfidea Saraswati of Indonesia explained the impact of the South East Asian economic crisis on Indonesian legal reform. She described the significance of the Indonesian government becoming more open to foreign and local investors as well as the current importance of anti-trust law in Indonesia.
Finally, with help from a computerized video presentation, Eran Sarig, from Israel, explained the Israeli parliament — called the Knesset — and the Israeli electoral system.
Croissants and the Kickoff
Tuesday, October 29
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| Dean Katharine T. Bartlett officially opens International Week at the Croissants et Cafe avec les Deans event Tuesday morning on the 3rd Floor Loggia. Judy Horowitz, associate dean for international studies, looks on. |
Dean Katharine T. Bartlett and Associate Dean for International Studies Judy Horowitz officially kicked off International Week on Tuesday by speaking about the importance of international students and programs at Duke Law.
At the “Croissants et Cafe avec les Deans” event, Dean Bartlett stressed the fact that virtually every facet of Duke Law School includes an international dimension. Our students and scholars from around the world, who are well integrated into the life of the School, add a significant component to the education of the Duke Law community. Our JD/LLM program and recent international faculty hires further internationalize the School.
Dean Horowitz pointed out that Duke Law has welcomed its largest LLM class ever this year, which includes 70 students from 32 countries. She encouraged students to participate in the International Week events and get to know our students from around the globe.
Students View Kissinger Film, Discuss Legacy
Monday, October 28
Professor Michael Byers hosted a showing of “The Trials of Henry Kissinger” Monday night, a film inspired by the book written by Christopher Hitchens that accuses Henry Kissinger of crimes against humanity and of violating international and U.S. laws.
The film drew on both Kissinger supporters and critics, all of whom proclaimed him a diplomatic genius. It traced the steps of Kissinger’s upbringing and his rise to power, including his role in peace talks between President Johnson and the North Vietnamese, and then helping Richard Nixon win his election and securing himself a position as national security advisor. The film asserted that Kissinger was involved in the attack on Cambodia during the Vietnam War, the supplying of arms for Indonesia’s invasion and genocide in East Timor, and the overthrow of President Allende in Chile, helping establish the Pinochet regime.
Professor Byers and the students engaged in a vibrant discussion about the ramifications of the Pinochet case and on Kissinger’s state immunity from the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, the students discussed the possibility of Kissinger being tried by the U.S. for actions involving the secret bombings of Cambodia and the legal questions that would be involved.
International Week Takes Off
Sunday, October 27
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Off the court, players were treated to international music and 2L Heidi Marcelo’s homemade meatball sandwiches as well as chips, cookies and beverages. On-the-court honorable mention goes to visiting scholar Ole Hansen from Denmark who wowed fans with his demonstrative spikes.
The International Sports Sunday Games for Kids event was successful as well. Activities included coloring pumpkins and monsters and games such as throwing and kicking a giant green ball. Participants also were able to take home pumpkins for their own decorating.
An apple-bobbing contest proved a highlight of the day. Following the lead of young Abbie Christensen (daughter of 1L Matt Christensen), Wylie and Eric Clements (children of 1L Noah Clements) quickly caught on and snagged their own apples. Ultimately, the championship came down to a close race between Assistant Dean Jill Miller and Matt Christensen, who won by a single second.
The event was sponsored by the Duke Bar Association, Business Law Society, International Law Society and Parents Attending Law School.
Where in the World Have You Been?
All Week
Duke Law students, faculty and administrators took time during International Week to enlighten the community with information about where they have traveled, lived, worked and studied abroad by placing a pin on the location on the map and sharing special memories and advice of favorite places around the world.
