Campus briefs
Napolitano confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano officially filled the newest cabinet position on Tuesday hours after President Barack Obama was sworn into office.
The Santa Clara alum's confirmation hearing took place on Thursday with little controversy.
"As governor of Arizona for the past six years, I have lived at the nexus of a key issue that faces this agency and this nation: that of immigration. I have walked, flown over, and ridden horseback along our southwest border. I appreciate its vastness, as well as the grave consequences of our broken system," Napolitano said at her hearing.
She was voted in, along with five other nominees, in a voice vote, which does not require a roll call.
"To secure the homeland means to find and kill the roots of terrorism, to stop those who intend to hurt us, to wisely enforce the rule of law at our borders, to protect our nation's infrastructure, particularly things like our cyber infrastructure," she said in her opening statement at the hearing. Napolitano said her goal is "to be prepared for and to respond to homeland disasters with speed, skill, compassion, effectiveness and common sense."
Napolitano has received recognition for her knowledge of border issues -- something she became familiar with as governor of Arizona.
She graduated from Santa Clara in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in political science.
Law school to host application workshop in Second Life
Santa Clara Island will be the site for a law school admissions forum tonight.
Assistant Dean of Admissions for the Santa Clara School of Law Jeannette Leach will lead the event as her Second Life avatar, Penny Canucci.
The event will begin with a video from Donald Polden, dean of the law school, then the prospective students will be able to ask questions and receive information about applying to the law school.
"We need to meet prospective students where they are, and more and more, we find potential law students in various online arenas, including virtual worlds," said Julia Yaffee, senior assistant dean of external relations. "This is an exciting opportunity for us to offer a live application workshop that prospective students from around the world can attend."
Students who are registered with Second Life can still sign up for the event. E-mail lawadmissions@scu.edu.
The event will take place at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Santa%20Clara%20University/67/87/22
CSO leaders to attend Golden Circle
The Hollywood-style gala the university hosts as a fundraiser each year will take place this weekend in downtown San Jose.
The executive board of Associated Students and the heads of each Chartered Student Organization attend the event each year.
Umang Desai, vice president of AS, said seven members of his organization are invited, as opposed to one from each of the other groups, because some of them are elected by the student body.
From staff reports. E-mail news@thesantaclara.com.