Shaneka Shaw, Chair and Third Year Representative

Welcome to our new and well improved website! A little about myself… I am a third year student here at Osgoode. Prior to law school, I completed a Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Development Studies at the University of Windsor. I was born in Jamaica and moved to Canada at 16. I am somewhat of a social butterfly and love to be involved. In my first year, I was co-editor of the 2007-2008 Osgoode Yearbook as well as the first year representation for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), an Osgoode Ambassador and the Osgoode International Law Society. In my second year, I was Communications Director of Student Caucus and sat on both the Equality and Upper Year Curriculum Reform Working Group. I was also the social coordinator of BLSA.

As Chair of Student Caucus, I am looking forward to an exciting year and welcome your input, queries and simple greetings throughout the year. I gladly welcome your views on how to make SC more accessible, open and informative. Some of my initiatives for this year include the establishment of a physical space for SC where we can keep you updated you ongoing programs; getting your feedback for the new Dean search committee and working on an audio recording policy that is more in tune with your needs. I hope that we can be a fountain of wealth and knowledge to each other and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you. One Love!

Sarah Whitmore, Vice Chair and Third Year Representative

Hey Osgoode! My name is Sarah Whitmore, and I have the pleasure of serving as your Vice-Chair of Student Caucus for the upcoming school year. As Vice-Chair I am responsible for staffing faculty committees with the required number of JD students. So if you are interested in sitting on one of these committees feel free to let me know. As well, you can approach me or contact me with any other issues you feel Student Caucus should raise to the faculty, administration, or the greater York community.

At Osgoode I have tried to become involved in a variety of activities, and I would encourage each of you to try to do the same in order to fully explore all our school has to offer! I played on my sections touch football team in the fall, participated in mooting, represented Oz at Law Games, and worked for a professor on a constitutional challenge. Next year will be full of changes, but I am confident if we all work together we can ensure a wonderful Osgoode experience for everyone!

Marlene Costa, Communications Director and Second Year Representative

Hey Ozzies! I am a second year student and your Student Caucus Communications Director. I am here for all your communications needs!

Before law school I completed my undergrad at Queen's University with a B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology. I've always been very interested in travel, people, and their interaction with the legal system. At Osgoode, I decided that a good way of combining all of these fields was to get involved with International Legal Partnership group. In my first year I was also involved in mooting, Oz volleyball, and became a Student Ambassador. This year I look forward to participating in the Osgoode Business Clinic and representing all of you on Student Caucus. If you ever have any questions about Osgoode or law school life in general, feel free to stop me in the halls or send me a quick email.

Daniel Del Gobbo, Second Year Representative

Hi Osgoode! My name is Dan Del Gobbo and I am one of your second year representatives to Student Caucus. Hailing originally from Niagara Falls, I studied English and Political Studies from Queen's University before coming to law school. In my first year I participated in several mooting competitions, volunteered for Pro Bono Students Canada, and began writing commentary for TheCourt.ca. This year I'm serving as a Residence Fellow in the Osgoode Chambers and on the Building Coordination Committee, working to ensure that Osgoode remains a fun, inclusive, and accessible space for learning and socializing during the renovations. In my off time, I enjoy reading and creative writing crime fiction, piano, golf, tennis, and traveling. Please let me know if you have any questions about life here in Osgoode, and we can work together to affect positive change and make this year the best that it can be.

Brent Kettles, Second Year Representative

Hi! My name is Brent and I am looking forward to another great year on Student Caucus. I am a second year representative and am also one of Osgoode's representatives to the York University Senate.

I completed Bachelor of Commerce and Political Science degrees at the University of Calgary before moving to the exciting (subways! streetcars! electricity! oh my!) metropolis of Toronto. I have been involved with the Osgoode Debate Society, ADR Project as well as the several first year mooting competitions. I'm also part of this year's Gale Cup Team. Outside of Osgoode, I enjoy talking about politics, football, fishing, travel and transcendental metaphysics (jk).

I'm always happy to answer questions or listen to concerns or just chat about whatever, so please feel free to let me know what's on your mind.

Marc Rodrigue, Second Year Representative

Welcome (back) to Os! My name is Marc Rodrigue and I am proud to serve as one of the team of elected second year student caucus members. I look forward to being able to meet and work with you, and address our shared concerns all around campus this year. As a returning member of the Osgoode Hall Student Caucus I also want to invite you to get in touch with any of us, on any issue, at any time. On a personal note, I came to Osgoode after having completed an undergraduate degree in Political Science (specializing in identity and diversity) at Saint Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, where I was also highly involved in student politics and student issues locally and provincially. At Os, I have been lucky to be involved on many fronts outside of the SC and class, including opportunities with the Teen Osgoode Program, LINK, and this past summer I completed an internship through International Legal Partnerships with the United Nations in Indonesia. I hope to use all the perspective and experience these efforts have provided me to ensure that the top quality educational experience that Osgoode normally provides, despite our new campus spread. Cheers for now – catch you in the common room… wherever it may be!

Kevin Liang, Second Year Representative

Hey Ozzies! I am honoured to be one of your second year reps to Student Caucus. Before law school, I spent my time working in car sales while completing a BBA degree at the University of Toronto on the side. I hope to use my customer service experience to better serve my new clients... you! Please feel free to approach me with your academic interests and concerns. I promise to greet you with a smile and help advocate those interests and concerns to the Osgoode Faculty.

A little about me: My Chinese name is Xin (pronounced shin) which means happy. I find that this perfectly describes my demeanour. I love to share a good laugh so if you have any good (or bad) jokes feel free to pass them my way even if they are cheesy. By the way, I love cheese!

Jesse Sherrett, Third Year Representative

Hello all! I'm your third year rep. Please feel free to come to me with any issue or question.

Prior to law school, I worked in London, UK for a political risk consultancy after completing an MA at King's College London. Before my UK adventure I studied International Relations at U of T. In my first year summer I worked for Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Last summer I split my time between New York and TO. I'll be returning to the big apple to work upon graduation. Lastly, and most importantly, I just got married this past August!

Rob Kleinman, Third Year Representative

Hi Osgoode! I'm Rob Kleinman and I'm excited to be back on Faculty Council and Student Caucus as a 3rd year representative. Before starting law school, I studied statistics and physiology at the University of Toronto. I've been having an amazing time at Osgoode. It has a great student community and I enjoy being a part of it. I suggest that every student should join at least one student club. I currently sit on the Academic Standing Committee, which decides grade appeals and petitions, and also co-chair OUTLAWS, Osgoode’s LGBTQ group.

If you have any questions or concerns, no matter which year you are in, please do not hesitate to contact me at robertkleinman@osgoode.yorku.ca. Have a great year and I look forward to being one of your representatives!

Ori Rubin, Third Year Representative

A born provocateur and archetypal Scorpio, Ori has resolved himself to represent student interests to faculty and administration with energy and enthusiasm. He is a student of classics, an appreciator of argument, and (he hopes) an all around stand-up guy. If you have an idea or a perspective that you want voiced to the faculty or administration, contact him and his advocacy will be relentless.

Sanford Murray, President of Legal & Literary Society

As this year’s President of Legal & Lit, I am pleased to serve as one of the Society’s two representatives on Student Caucus. Many of the issues that affect students on a daily basis have roots in the mandates of both branches of Osgoode Hall’s student government, and I look forward to the continued cooperation with Student Caucus, as well as Faculty Council, to answer student concerns in a variety of forums. I am particularly honoured to serve as a JD Representative on the Decanal Search Committee, charged with selecting the new Dean of Osgoode Hall.

If you have any questions about Legal & Lit, Student Caucus, or any intersection thereof, please don’t hesitate to contact me at blakemurray@osgoode.yorku.ca.

Dan Hohnstein, VP Internal of Legal & Literary Society

Howdy, Osgoode. As Legal & Lit VP Internal, I’ll be looking out for your interests in Student Caucus, Legal & Lit, Faculty Council, and a couple of Faculty Committees. If you’ve got an issue you want to discuss, please feel free to get in touch with me. It’s also my responsibility to maintain tight communication and cohesion between the two branches of student government through active membership on both sides. In previous years, I’ve served as first- and second-year rep on Student Caucus. Cheers.

Michael Nilevsky, First Year Representative

Hello, Osgoode! My name is Mike Nilevsky and I am the first year student caucus representative for section A. After completing my undergraduate degree in sciences at the University of Guelph, and then my MBA at McMaster, I decided that law school was the logical next step. “Why law school” you may ask? Well it’s because I just can’t get enough of the readings, classes, lectures, tests, readings, presentations, mock trials, and more readings that will consume my life for the next three years. In my spare time (which is fading with each day), I enjoy sports, traveling, watching movies and of course, wasting the time I do have on facebook.

As a new member of the student caucus I look forward to speaking up, representing the student body’s concerns, and trying to memorize as many names and titles as possible. I am eager to advance the success of the student caucus from past years and hope to meet as many new people as possible. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, I would appreciate it if you kept them to yourself while I try to finish my readings. Actually, in all seriousness, please don’t hesitate to approach me. I took this position because the next few years are going to be challenging on all of us (as they should be), therefore, it is important to have peers you can come to who are looking out for your interests. As a member of the student caucus, that is what I will be dedicated to.

Jessica Diab, First Year Representative

Hello Osgoode! My name is Jessica Diab and I am the First Year Representative for Section B. I completed my undergrad at Queen’s University in Politics and Global Development Studies. During my time at Queen’s I spent three years on the Orientation Committee (I think first year students have a lot to offer) and chaired the Academics Committee for 2009. I also danced for the Queen’s Dance Team, choreographed for an annual charity fashion and taught for the Queen’s Dance Club. Dance has always been a very important part of my life. I am currently the co-director of a contemporary dance company (EXPOSED Dance Initiative), which aims to voice social concerns through art. I spent this past summer travelling Southeast Asia and have caught the travel bug! I am hoping to spend next summer combining my legal studies with an experience abroad.

As for this year, I am looking forward to working with my fellow classmates (YOU!) to ensure that Osgoode is an academic community where the needs and priorities of faculty, administration and most importantly, students are in harmony. Please send any thoughts, concerns or ideas regarding the success of this harmony my way!

Marcel Malfitano , First Year Representative

Hey Osgoode! My name is Marcel Malfitano and I am the Student Caucus representative for all first year students in Section D. I’m a Torontonian born and raised (don’t hold it against me!) and so it should come as no surprise that I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in Classics and Political Science. When I’m not driving people crazy with unsolicited knowledge about ancient Rome, I like to engage in a variety of activities, such as baseball, piano, and most recently, fencing.

I am devoted to representing my section, but I would like to invite anyone, regardless of section, to approach me if you have any concerns, questions, or complaints and I will make sure to voice those issues with my fellow colleagues on Student Caucus. We are entering a period of transition, but I firmly believe a building is nothing more than mortar and bricks. Buildings are vulnerable to demolition, but our community is steadfast in the values we all share. In light of that, I ask each and every one of you to join me so that we can make this year a memorable one!

Rachel Stack, First Year Representative

I was born and raised in the suburb of Barrhaven, just outside of Ottawa. I find myself at Osgoode by way of the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto where I was known to argue about politics and hug the occasional tree. I have spent some time in student government in the past and am very excited to be this year's Section C Rep. This year looks great so far but please let me know what I can do (or say) to make it better. After all, that is why you guys voted (or in our Section's case passively allowed) me in this position to do! Cheers!