Power and Control

I am working during the break on my first scholarly writing since joining the academy last year. Here is a working draft of the potential thesis:

Every state provides a civil, statutory system for providing protection orders for victims of domestic violence. Conventional civil protection regimes are fixated on physical violence or refer to crimes with elements requiring physical violence. Thus, these civil protection statutes do not define “abuse” correctly to confront the reality of the phenomenon. Civil protection regimes should contemplate “abuse” beyond a reference to criminal statutes with a fixation on physical violence. Rather, these regimes should acknowledge and address the actual underpinnings of domestic abuse: power, control and oppression. By providing an injunctive remedy to victims of oppression that is not physically violent, civil protection regimes could intercept a dangerous relationship before violence occurs. At least, enjoiningng oppression would square civil protection orders with the reality of domestic violence.

Go State!

This Mississippian is awfully proud of MSU and Coach Croom, the 2007 SEC Coach of the Year. This is a mark of cultural and social success and progress that transcends the Religion of Football in the South, and Mississippi State should be honored for very good work.

Go Dogs.

New PR!

On Saturday, I set a new 5-K personal best in the inaugural outing of the FU Law & Running Club. With a bit of coaching from Professor MacLeod and the cammaraderie of several JSL students, I ran came in at 21:24. That is 32 seconds faster than my first race a month ago.

Congratulations to MacLeod, Bruce, Steve and Justin for a good showing on our first race.

Now, I am in a new training regime that I call Christmas Break and 85 Pounds. This morning, I ran 3.3 miles pushing a 33 lbs. almost-three-year old, a 22 lbs. seventeen-month-old in a 30 lbs. jogging stroller. That's not so bad on a straight-away, but it's a whole new workout up hills in a head-wind.