How the Constitution Fails to Protect the Environment

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Professor Katrina Fisher Kuh and Professor James May examine how the Constitution falls short in protecting the environment in an article for Counter Punch.

“Despite the obvious fact that life or liberty cannot exist without functioning ecosystems, courts in the United States do not recognize any federal constitutional environmental rights, even to the extent that an environmental right might be deemed appurtenant to explicitly enshrined constitutional rights,” they write.

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Madison Lane '25: A Natural Advocate

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

A 2L with a passion for becoming a criminal prosecutor, this semester, you can often find Haub Law student Madison Lane in New York City.

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University student, Madison Lane
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Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University student, Madison Lane

A 2L with a passion for becoming a criminal prosecutor, this semester, you can often find Haub Law student Madison Lane in New York City. “I am externing at the New York County District Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, conveniently located near Pace’s undergraduate campus, 1 Pace Plaza. Often, I spend time studying at 1 Pace Plaza before heading to my externship, where I have gained invaluable experience in the field.” Through Haub Law's Prosecution Externship course, Madison is receiving course credit for this experience. Although she has a passion for criminal law, Madison would like to explore the other side of the legal spectrum and will intern this summer with a private civil litigation firm in White Plains, an opportunity she obtained through the on-campus interview process offered at Haub Law.

Madison has always been confident that she would like to pursue a career as a lawyer. She embarked on her law school journey two weeks following her undergraduate graduation and started as a January admit student at Haub Law in 2023. “I continued full steam ahead and took courses over the summer to become a 2L in the fall. So far, I have loved the close-knit environment that Haub Law fosters. I have had the opportunity to become close with professors and other faculty members. There are endless opportunities and resources to take advantage of both on and off campus.”

Alongside her studies, Madison is actively involved in Haub Law’s Advocacy Program and participates in several mock trial competitions, which occupy a significant portion of her time. “It is a big commitment and very demanding, but I would not trade it for anything else. I have had the opportunity to compete in the Tournament of Champions (Fall 2023), an invite-only mock trial competition hosted by the University of Houston. I also competed as a witness for the National Trial League Competition this semester (Spring 2024). The team won the regular season and the championship title for the first time since the school joined the competition in 2020, making the advocates national champions. I also competed in the American Association for Justice student advocacy trial competition this semester (Spring 2024). I advocated for both sides of the case, plaintiff and defense, as just a 2L, and advanced to the regional finals. This program has been a fantastic opportunity to improve litigation skills before entering the workforce.”

Not one to slow down, Madison is also a Junior Associate for Pace International Law Review and is writing a note on the clash between international cultural traditions and the enforcement of universal human rights. She is also a representative for the law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, at Haub Law and was this organization's Vice President and Treasurer while she was an undergraduate student.

Mentorship has been a critical aspect of Madison’s experience at Haub Law, and she is paying it forward through her participation in Haub Law’s peer mentor program and as a Dean Scholar. A Dean Scholar is an upper-level student who conducts weekly review sessions with 1L students to supplement their regular class instruction. “My experience as a 1L student with Dean Scholars was memorable. Being in contact with another student who had been in the same shoes just a semester before was comforting and reassuring. I knew they intended to help me best understand the material, and all of them had worked hard to do so. I think Dean Scholars are unique to Haub Law and have significantly influenced my success in courses and what I have accomplished here at Haub so far. I am so happy to help provide that same reassurance now as a Dean Scholar for Criminal Law.”

Rounding out Madison’s experience at Haub Law so far has been her participation in a Civil Rights Field Study. “One of the most memorable experiences I have had at Haub Law is the recent opportunity to participate in a Civil Rights Field Study and travel to Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, to learn more about the civil rights movement. I applied to participate in this course, was selected, and, thanks to a generous anonymous donor, attended at no cost of my own. I was able to walk in the footsteps of those who fought for justice and equality and visit historical sites and landmarks that shed light on the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement. The trip broadened my perspective, challenged my preconceptions, and inspired me to advocate for change.”

Although it is hard to believe Madison has any free time, she also enjoys crocheting and spending quality moments with her friends. “I also enjoy crime-related shows on Netflix, which should be no surprise!” As for advice for incoming law students, she would encourage them to come in knowing that the path forward will be challenging and competitive, but always make sure to stop and reflect on what works best for them and be proud of all they are accomplishing.

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Hope in a Barrel

College of Health Professions
Environmental

Nisha Troupe, Anjienna Lowtan, and Danielle Hanson, students in Pace’s College of Health Professions, have won $15,000 in the Project Planet USA competition for their rainwater filtration system, aiming to tackle global water scarcity sustainably through innovation and partnerships.

Nisha Troupe, Anjienna Lowtan, and Danielle Hanson standing in front of One Pace Plaza
Nisha Troupe, Anjienna Lowtan, and Danielle Hanson standing in front of One Pace Plaza
Alyssa Cressotti

Nisha Troupe, Anjienna Lowtan, and Danielle Hanson, students in Pace’s College of Health Professions, are on a mission to revolutionize clean water accessibility. Their recent win in the Project Planet USA competition—hosted by The Front Yard at Pace and the Lubin School of Business—has earned them a substantial $15,000 grant, symbolizing more than just a success for their innovative project.

"It all started with our Health Science program," says Nisha. "We delved into global health discrepancies, and one glaring issue stood out: access to clean water."

Their winning concept? A barrel filtration system designed to harness rainwater, purify it, and provide communities with a sustainable source of clean water.

"We're not just providing water; we're paving the way for sustainable solutions," Danielle says. "By harnessing technology and fostering community engagement, we're rewriting the narrative of water scarcity."

"We realized that by tapping into rainwater, we could alleviate the strain on traditional water sources," Anjienna explains. "This means reducing energy-intensive processes like pumping and treating water, ultimately curbing carbon emissions."

The trio envisioned their project not just as a solution but as a catalyst for change, with specific outcomes aimed at amplifying its impact. Scaling up implementation, refining filtration technology, forging partnerships—these were just a few steps towards their overarching goal: ensuring clean water for all, regardless of geographical or socioeconomic barriers.

But their journey doesn’t end with the grant money. With professional mentoring, public relations, and network connections at their disposal, Nisha, Anjienna, and Danielle are poised to elevate their project to new heights.

"Through mentorship, we aim to fine-tune our approach and tackle obstacles head-on," Danielle affirms. "Public relations will help us spread awareness and rally support, while network connections open doors to invaluable resources and partnerships."

Their long-term vision goes beyond the grant period, to a future wherein water scarcity was a thing of the past and where communities can thrive in harmony with nature.

"We're not just providing water; we're paving the way for sustainable solutions," Danielle says. "By harnessing technology and fostering community engagement, we're rewriting the narrative of water scarcity."

And so, armed with determination, innovation, and unwavering dedication, Nisha, Anjienna, and Danielle will change the world, one drop of water at a time.

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More from Pace

Students

Seidenberg grad student Shubham Harishchandra Madhavi is making waves in the fight against climate change. His recent victory in the Project Planet USA contest, securing a $15,000 grant, has propelled his innovative concept into the spotlight.

Students

Alicia Bennett '24, a double major at Pace, is this year's NYC Campus Community Service Award recipient, in part for her dedication to helping people who are incarcerated. Find out how her passion for service shaped her journey at Pace.

Students

Dyson economics student and Fed Challenge team co-captain Liam Chentoufi ’25, pictured alongside the team and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, is harnessing the power of AI to help better predict Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions through an exploratory research study leveraging machine learning.

Seidenberg Students Display Innovation at Pace’s Research Events

Seidenberg School of CSIS

Over the course of last week, the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems’ students presented their student research across two separate events at Pace University.

Pace Seidenberg students presenting their research to faculty, staff, and other students and Seidenberg's Design Factory space.
Pace Seidenberg students presenting their research to faculty, staff, and other students and Seidenberg's Design Factory space.
Sven Latinovic

Over the course of last week, the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems’ students presented their student research across two separate events at Pace University.

The first of those events, the Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Days, spotlighted the work of undergraduate students from across all of Pace’s schools and colleges who engaged in faculty-mentored research and creative inquiry during the academic year. The students showcased their scholarly or artistic work, and all of their work was created as part of a course-based research assignment, award program, co-curricular project, or in fulfillment of their Senior Capstone or Honors College thesis.

The second event, the Pforzheimer Honors College Conference 2024, also had an immersive academic showcase, as Honors students presented their research, creative work, honor theses, and innovative tech projects to the entire Pace Community. Seidenberg students were located in our Design Factory space on the 9th Floor of 15 Beekman, and showcased their work to their mentors, faculty, staff, fellow students, and family members.

Across both events, all of Seidenberg’s students presented a wide range of topics, showcasing the many different facets that technology occupies in our lives. Their research highlighted how tech innovations will be coming to all industries in the near future both locally and globally, and it exemplified the hunger for innovation that our experts, faculty, and students bring to the table.

The breadth of topics our students presented was impressive and ranged from using animations as tools for developing algorithmic thinking in artificial intelligence, to developing an orbital recycling system. One student researched how ride-hailing applications have influenced urban mobility patterns, while other students looked at how AI can be ethically utilized for the coloring process in comic books and presented new methods of developing cryptocurrency market legibility for users.

The Seidenberg school wants to thank our students who dedicated countless hours to developing their projects, and the faculty who supported them through their mentorship. This work perfectly exemplified the innovative spirit of Seidenberg, and highlighted Pace’s commitment to giving students the opportunities they need to shine and make a difference in the world.

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More from Pace

Gimme shelter: When Jackie Robinson batted for lower-income housing in Yonkers

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor John Nolon pens an op-ed about the untold story of how Whitney Young Manor in Yonkers was developed to provide shelter to lower-income families.

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Milk Has Lost Its Magic

Dyson College of Arts and Science

Professor Melanie DuPuis speaks to The Atlantic about a recent report from the FDA revealing that 20 percent of milk samples collected from retailers nationwide contained fragments of bird flu, raising concerns that the virus, which is spreading among animals, might be on its way to sickening humans too.

Melanie Dupuis
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Speedemissions, Inc. Announces Student Winners of its Inaugural $100,000 “Project Planet Young Entrepreneur” Competition

Lubin School of Business

Project Planet Young Entrepreneur was created as a collaboration between Speedemissions and the Pace University Lubin School of Business to underscore a shared commitment to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and supporting groundbreaking advancements in sustainable technology. The selected projects demonstrated promising approaches to addressing pressing environmental challenges and contributing to the global effort to protect our planet.

close up of small globe resting on a lawn of grass representing the idea of reducing carbon emissions
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Aileen Cannon's Recusal From Donald Trump's Trial Could Look Like This

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Professor Bennett Gershman speaks with Newsweek about Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponing Donald Trump's classified documents trial in Florida, furthering calls from critics for her to recuse herself from the case.

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Ethics Codes in Motion

Dyson College of Arts and Science

Ethics codes are being revised in the Town of Deerpark and Village of Warwick, and both municipalities will soon appoint ethics committee members. Gina Scutelnicu Todoran, Professor of Public Administration at Pace University, was asked how the appointment of ethics board members by municipal council members or trustees, as is the protocol, could result in effective oversight. How can the officials who are to be monitored choose their monitors? Todoran explained what are considered best practices.

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Judge Engoron under investigation over 'very troubling' talk with lawyer about Trump case

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

"Scheinkman, who now teaches legal ethics at Pace University Law School, said the interaction described by Bailey is 'very troubling,'" the article says. "'The fact that this lawyer made these statements — unprompted — during a recorded TV interview should raise serious concerns,' Scheinkman said."

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