“Come to the edge” he said. They said, “We are afraid.“ “Come to the edge,” he said. They came. He pushed them…and they flew.” – Guillaume Apollinaire
“Study while others are sleeping, decide while others are delaying, prepare while others are daydreaming, begin while others are procrastinating, work while others are wishing, persist while others are quitting” - Anonymous
We are excited that our first year class (C|M|LAW Class of 2020) will be arriving tomorrow for orientation. Below are excerpts from my welcome message.
When you were admitted to Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, each of you received what many believe to be the best novel ever written, To Kill a Mockingbird. It is the story of a crusading lawyer, Atticus Finch, and his fight for moral truth and racial justice. It was our gift to you because of the path you have chosen and because the story of Cleveland-Marshall is also an iconic story of justice and equality.
In our 120-year history of leadership and innovation in legal education, we were the first law school in Ohio to admit women and one of the first to admit African-Americans. Ever since, we have been a “door-opener” law school not only for women but also for many women and men who have broken gender, race, ethnic, and generational barriers to achieve great success.
The hatred, bigotry, and violence we saw in Charlottesville by white supremacists this past weekend reminds us that we have a responsibility to continue opening doors and minds.
You will learn at the same law school where giants have learned. Judge Mary Grossman ’12; Governor Frank Lausche ’21; Norman Minor ’27; Max Ratner ’29; Judge Jean Murrell Capers ’45; Judge John Manos ’50; Congressman Louis Stokes ’53; Mayor Carl Stokes ’56; andTim Russert’ 76, just to name a few.
Later this week, you will hear from Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor ’80; Congresswoman Marcia Fudge ’83; Mayor Frank Jackson ’83; and Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley’ 04.
To paraphrase LeBron James, you were not given this opportunity; you earned it. You have met our high standards for admission. Now you must earn the right not only to stay here, but to shine here.
Dean Fisher’s Serenity Prayer for C|M|Law Law Students
God grant me the serenity to accept that pursuing my dream is living a few years of my life like most people won’t, so I can spend the rest of my life like most people can’t.
The courage to change from learning information to learning how to think, understand, analyze, and apply what I have learned.
And the wisdom to know that law school will not test my knowledge as much as it will test my state of mind and body.
Taking each day and each course one at a time.
Focusing on the moment, parking my worries and fears in the past, and visualizing success.
Accepting that the harder I want something, the greater I’ll feel when I achieve it.
Taking my classmates not as competitors but as future colleagues for life.
Trusting in my skills and surrendering to an unshakeable belief in myself.
Supremely happy that I am not only learning law but also learning how to live justice.
As we enter the final 48 hours of Phase One of our historic 120 Scholarship Campaign focused on scholarships for our Fall 2017 first year class, I am confident that
some of those talented women and men joining us this week as first year students may someday be inducted in our Hall of Fame.
Please join us at our C|M|Law Inaugural Hall of Fame Celebration on October 19, 2017, 5:30-8pm, and please invest in our 120 Scholarship Campaign by tomorrow, August 15. Please consider a contribution or pledge today ranging from $120 to $12,000 to $120,000. Please give here: Believe in C|M|LAW. Give Now. or send me an email with your pledge at: lee.fishernull@csuohio.nulledu. Your groundbreaking contribution will be the foundation of our campaign. It would mean a lot to us.
Have a great week.
My best,
Lee
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.