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Forget religion, gender and sexuality, let's talk Ivy League Supreme Court bias

Does Harvard rule the Supreme Court?
If not Yale does.
Elena Kagan probably never even imagined the questions would get to an IvyLeague bias.

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has faced a lot of probing. There's somehow continued debate over her sexuality (a 50-year-old single woman? What's wrong with her?), her religion (she's Jewish, and if confirmed will make the court entirely non-Protestant) and, of course, her politics.

But the latest issue to worry pundits isn't the gender make up of our highest court or even how religious background affects the Justices' rulings. It seems that the court is just a bit too Ivy League for comfort.

Does diversity really matter if everyone's Harvard and Yale-educated? Can we not get a little Stanford up in this bitch?

If confirmed, Kagan will replace the only justice without a Harvard or Yale law background. And many are wondering why intellectual diversity isn't becoming of the same concern as diversity of religion, ethnicity and gender.

I get, I do — but I'm going to have to play devil's advocate here. We're drawing from the same exclusive, "elitist" community, and I get the argument that attending the same schools might mold similar ideologies.

But this is law school — help me out here, but isn't the law the law, no matter where you study?

There are certainly reputable programs outside Harvard and Yale (Michigan, University of Chicago, University of Virginia, and Texas — to name some non-Ivies), but I think there are probably worse things than staffing our highest court with the best and brightest — with graduates of the top two law programs in the nation.

Getting a law degree is just three years in a much longer life. Shouldn't we worry more about what people did with their degrees than where they got them? Diversifying for the sake of diversity has never struck me as a bright idea (cue the comments).

And doesn't assuming that everyone who went to Harvard and Yale are automatic cronies (Obama went to Harvard like Kagan), that they're the same "types" of people with the same beliefs and value systems amount to exactly what these critics are decrying?

Just sayin'.

So let me have it — do you find the Supreme Court's lack of educational diversity problematic? Or is the president just recruiting the cream of the crop?

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don't get burned

Talented performers fire up new store and training facility in Houston

Supplies for fire performances to open in Houston in 2025.

Photo by Matt Hellman

Kira Bailey performs with fire fingers.

Have you ever wanted to juggle, swallow, or dance with fire? Houston will soon be home for a place that sells the gear and offers lessons in that art.

Chris and Kira Bailey of the Solar Rain Performance Troupe have been firebending for audiences for more than a decade, as well as running their own online store for tools of the trade, TheOddPropShop. In 2025, they plan to open a combination storefront and workshop for Houstonians to enter and practice the fiery arts.

"Having a physical location allows us to connect with our customers on a more personal level that can’t be replicated online — which is especially important for building props that performers must trust with their lives," the Baileys wrote in an email. "Because of that, we’re building this workshop to become a space to create and test products, and invite our customers in when they want custom-made props. We go through a long trial-and-error with each of our new ideas, often using affordable items from Temu to build our prototypes, and then improve our designs until they’re ready to sell."

The space will be located in Kemah and is scheduled to open in the second half of the year. It will be a combination storefront, living space, and workshop area that will serve aspiring fire performers in a variety of ways. The Baileys will sell their signature fire bubblers, fire jump ropes, and sun wheels that are perfect for both professionals and hobbyists.

The brick-and-mortar OddPropShop will serve as a hub for greater Houston's performance community. Interested first timers will be able to take classes, while established performers can try out new routines and equipment. According to the couple, Houston is home to a significant community of fire artists.

"We wanted to be in a city that not only has a great arts scene and supportive creative community, but is also in a location where we could quickly and easily get the materials we needed to build our props," the Baileys wrote. "Houston was the only place that checked all those boxes. We were also personally drawn to Houston because many of our friends and fellow performers live in the city. In many ways, Houston already felt like home."

In addition to the tools of the fire trade, TheOddPropShop will sell costumes and accessories such as leather and stone jewelry. These small pieces of flair help add to the pagan ambience of the overall fire package.

performing-arts shopping fire performers