Author Archives: Sophia Rub

A Big Mac is a Big Mac™ . . . Unless You Are in the EU

STEPHANIE MORAN—On January 11, 2019, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) cancelled McDonald’s trademark on the “Big Mac” in the European Union. McDonald’s has held its “Big Mac” trademark in the EU since 1998. The cancellation of McDonald’s EU trademark is a result of a 2017 lawsuit filed by Irish restaurant chain “Supermac,” that […]

Why the President Cannot Rely on His Own Powers to Fund the Border Wall: A Story of Separation of Powers

ANABEL BLANCO—On Saturday, December 22, the U.S. government entered a partial shutdown after President Trump and Congress failed to reach an agreement to pass a spending bill—a proposed law that authorizes the expenditure of government funds. President Trump demanded that the bill include 5.6 billion dollars in border wall funding, something that democrats steadfastly oppose. […]

National Referendums on Federal Constitutional and Legislative Issues: Can the Public Have a Direct Say?

MATTHEW CASBARRO—On January 4th, 2019, Senator Ted Cruz proposed a constitutional amendment that would place limits on Congressional terms. The proposed amendment would limit United States Senators and House Representatives to two six-year terms and three two-year terms, respectively. There are currently no term limits for either of the chambers of our Federal Legislature, though […]

Trump’s Border Wall: Waive Goodbye to Environmental Protection

JACOB HENSCH—Since Trump issued Executive Order 13767, “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has waived dozens of environmental laws for border wall construction projects in California, Texas, and New Mexico. The waivers were issued pursuant to section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 […]

How Should the Government Respond to Big Pharma’s Role in the Opioid Epidemic?

CASEY SOARES—My friend Danny woke up Christmas morning to news that his neighbor died from an opioid overdose overnight. Although Danny found the news upsetting, he was not surprised; Danny lives in Taunton, Massachusetts, a city struggling with the opioid epidemic. Embed from Getty Images Every day, more than 100 people die from opioid overdose. […]