It’s not every day that you have the chance to purchase dinner at your professor’s house, but that’s exactly the type of item up for sale at the annual Minority Law Caucus Auction.
Other hot items that have been auctioned off in the past include a three-night stay at a cabin near Strawberry River, a barbecue and guided hike for you and your friends, and milk and cookies for your whole class (brought to the final exam of your choice).
The annual Minority Law Caucus Auction is held in the spring every year to raise money for scholarships for diverse students. This year’s auction will take place on April 16 at 12:15 p.m. on the second floor patio at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. According to Esabelle Khaosanga, the president of the Minority Law Caucus, the MLC can be a source of resources and support for diverse students.
“The biggest benefit that students derive from the Minority Law Caucus is that feeling of community,” she said. “Having a community is a priority for me. It’s important to all of us.”
Established during the 1985 to 1986 school year, the Minority Law Caucus is one of the longest-running and most active student organizations at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Along with the iconic yearly auction, the MLC hosts a variety of other events focused on diversity, such as panel discussions and guest lectures. The MLC has also put on workshops for diverse undergraduates preparing for law school.
“I’m excited for the role the Minority Law Caucus is going to play at the law school in the coming years,” Khaosanga said. “There’s going to be a growth in diversity, considering the current 1L class is the most diverse that we’ve ever had.”
Professor Robert Flores is not only the faculty advisor of the Minority Law Caucus, but also the founding member of the organization.
“The greatest reward for a faculty member is to see students and former students actively making their communities better,” he said. “For three decades I have been rewarded through watching our students making those kinds of community contributions through the Minority Law Caucus, and then seeing them as graduates give of their time and skills through the Utah Minority Bar Association, as a partner organization for the Caucus. All of us in the law school look with great pride on the accomplishments and societal contributions of the Caucus members, during and after their time as our students.”
According to Khaosanga, law students don’t necessarily have to belong to a minority group to join the Minority Law Caucus.
“I think the Minority Law Caucus reaches a lot of students who identify as being part of a minority group, but I also think it benefits students who are strong allies,” Khaosanga said. “It’s open to people who have exhibited or shown interest in supporting diversity in the law, which I think is really important. Allyship can be very powerful.”
Anyone who is interested in joining the Minority Law Caucus can reach out to Khaosanga or another board member for information. Membership for the MLC is always open and membership dues are $25 for 1Ls, $15 for 2Ls, and $5 for 3Ls.
For more information about the student organizations at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, visit https://law.utah.edu/students/student-organizations/.
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