Six students at Plymouth State University made a recent trip to Harvard and came home happy.

The students, five freshmen and a senior, took a class called "Individual and the Law" with prominent defense attorney and visiting professor Roderick MacLeish. As the culmination of their course, the students took a trip down to Harvard where they faced six law students in "moot court" arguments on two issues: gay marriage and assisted suicide.

MacLeish and Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz played judges. They split their votes on gay marriage but both picked the Plymouth State students on suicide.

Plymouth State freshman Samantha Spence was part of the team arguing that it is unconstitutional to ban gay marriage.

"My arguments were that it was a fundamental right protected by the 14th amendment and the equal protection clause," said Spence, 18, of Raymond.

After the debate, Dershowitz offered to write a recommendation for any of the Plymouth State students.

Now, Spence said, she's looking hard at becoming a lawyer. "I am a business and art major. But after having this experience, I am very seriously considering going to law school," she said.

LAUREN R. DORGAN