(Written by kencraw)

First a link bonanza!

• SF Gate Article
• Channel 11 (NBC) article with video on sidebar
• Channel 7 (ABC) article, also with video on sidebar

The first thing to note is RunningWolf’s insistance on entering the fray. He went and followed the group up into the stadium and up onto the roof of the press box to yell a couple of “points” at the judge as the police told him that he was not welcome. While I don’t think the incident will make any difference in the outcome it further illustrates the lack of respect the protestors have for the law (we didn’t see any Bear fans coming to find her, as a counter point). As I said, I doubt it’ll have any impact, but if it does, it would be in the University’s favor.

Watching the videos, this seems like nothing more than a PR/attention grabbing moment. The judge didn’t look like she was on a fact finding mission or that she was trying to get a sense of the project visually, she looked like she was on a presidential tour of a national disaster. So personally, I think this is a big nothing of a moment. One that will have little impact on the case, at least in principle.

There is one caveat to that. In the big picture, I think that it was a good chance for her to “bond” with the University lawyers and administrators. She saw things on their turf, got to talk with them casually outside the court room. Those are the moments when a personal connection is made, the moments when you realize that the plantiffs are harassing some good people trying to do a good project. That the stadium facilities really are in need of an upgrade and that connecting the gym with the stadium keeps the status quo for the students who already train there, while upgrading the facilities to be safe and meet their needs as student athletes.

All of this shouldn’t matter to a good judge, they should rule based on the law, not personal connections, but I can’t help but think that if this PR show is going to have any benefit it will be in the University’s favor.

No more days in court until next Thursday where final arguments will be heard.