Law students receive national recognition

Five students from the University of Oklahoma College of Law attended the 40th Annual Convention of the National Black Law Student Association March 26-30 in Detroit, Mich. The OU chapter received the award for the Most Creative BLSA Program based on its presentation of the play "I'll Do It!" written by Associate Professor Cheryl Brown Wattley.

The play, written about Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher's three-year battle to gain admission to law school, was presented in January at the Sooner Theatre in downtown Norman.

Wattley used historical documents and court records to tell the story of the first African American law student at OU. The performance marked the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision which led to the integration of the College of Law.

Additionally, Michelle Millben, president of the OU chapter of BLSA, received the Oliver Hill Social Action Award. Named for civil rights attorney Oliver Hill who was recognized repeatedly for his efforts in battling discrimination during his almost 60 years of practicing law, the award was presented to Millben for her "exceptional commitment to battling social inequalities."

Millben was also elected National Attorney General after being nominated from the floor during the election.

"She ultimately competed against two other people for the position, gave a passionate and riveting candidate's speech, answered questions from the floor and won the election," said Mark Myles, OU chapter historian.

Myles himself received recognition from the national organization when they selected a photograph he had submitted and featured it on the cover of the first edition of its magazine, NBLSA Legal Pad.

The photograph was a cropped image of the portrait of Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher painted by Mitsuno Reedy which hangs in the Oklahoma State Capitol Building and Coats Hall, home of the OU College of Law.

Museum program encourages families to get out and play

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is offering an evening program that will help families get outside and have fun together. Registration is open now for "Family Night Out: Nature Game Night," scheduled 6-8:30 p.m. Friday.

The program will start outside with some outdoor games that even parents can play. Then everyone will come inside, enjoy a kid-friendly dinner and work together with museum educators who will help them design and make a family game to take home and play outside in their own backyard or park.??

"Family Night Out is a great way for kids and parents or grandparents to have fun together," said Laura Vaughn, museum education officer. "The goal of the program is to promote fun family interaction, get a little messy, learn something about the natural world, and do it all for less than dinner and a movie."

The cost for the Family Night Out is $10 per person, which includes dinner and a take-home project. Children ages 4 and under are free. Activities are geared for elementary school-age children, but younger and older siblings are welcome.