“Defend The Land” – Cleveland Cavaliers Playoff Slogan
“Regardless of the path we choose, it is important for us to give back. We are agents of change and we must ‘defend the land’ for everyone.”–Elissa Schooler, Class of 2017
“We are not just attorneys, but defenders of justice. A voice for the voiceless. Advocates for fairness….We are advice-givers and role models. Creative minds yet logical thinkers. To merely label us ‘attorneys’ would do a disservice to this great profession…” – Brittany Lowe, Class of 2017
This past Saturday was the culmination of a year of teaching, studying, inquiring, debating, volunteering, leading, and learning as our Class of 2017 graduated. Our 131 graduates came to us from more than 55 colleges and universities across the country and around the world. 118 graduated with a JD degree, 4 with an LLM degree, 9 with an MLS degree from our Masters of Legal Studies program, and 9 with joint degrees.
We heard from CSU President Ronald Berkman, CSU Board Chair Bernie Moreno, Ben Beckman ‘10, Chair of our Board of Visitors, Chief Magistrate Greg Clifford ‘80, President of our Alumni Association, Tiffany Henderson ‘17, President of our Student Bar Association, Brittany Lowe ‘17 and Elissa Schooler ‘17, our Learn Law Live Justice Award winners, Steve Percy ’79 and Richard (Dick) Pogue, our Honorary Degree Recipients; and Linda Klein, President of the American Bar Association, our Commencement Speaker. David Weiner received the Judge Richard Markus Adjunct Faculty Member of the Year Award. We were also joined by Provost Jianping Zhu, our faculty, our students’ families and friends, and a number of alumni, including many distinguished members of the state and local judiciary. Professor John Plecnik, the Student Bar Association Faculty Member of the Year, led the student procession and Associate Dean and Professor Milena Sterio and Professor Heidi Robertson read the names of each graduate. Jill Natran and Hollie Goodman led a team of staff who superbly organized the event at the historic Ohio Theater.
Each speaker was eloquent, and I will be quoting from each of them in the coming weeks and months. Below are some more remarks of our two Learn Law Live Justice Award winners.
“ … great changes are resulting from Cleveland’s renaissance, but sadly not everyone is benefiting from this revival. There are struggling communities that truly need us to “Defend the Land.” In many areas, vacant lots outnumber occupied homes and gang violence, drug abuse and crime infects the streets…. During my time in college and law school working with at-risk communities, I have witnessed the inability to trust the legal system. As lawyers, it will be up to us to advocate for individuals who have no voice or whose voice is not heard. It will be to us to ensure justice is not only for people who can pay for it. As United States Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. said ‘Equal justice under law is not merely a caption on the facade of the Supreme Court building, it is perhaps the most inspiring ideal of our society. It is one of the ends for which our entire legal system exists...it is fundamental that justice should be the same, in substance and availability, without regard to economic status.’ ” – Elissa Schooler, ‘17
“No matter where life may lead you, I urge you never to lose sight of who you are and where you came from. As I stand before you today, I ask you to use your past experiences, coupled with the knowledge and skills we have gained at Cleveland-Marshall, to make our world a better place….In Song of Myself from Leaves of Grass, poet Walt Whitman used a phrase that we should carry with us for the remainder of our careers. ‘I am large. I contain multitudes.’ … And, as your classmate, future colleague, and friend, I can say with certainty that you all have the passion necessary to impact our community. No matter where you go, and what you become, I know that you’ll do great things. I am confident that you’ll uphold our school’s motto of ‘learn law, live justice.’ Because you are large. You contain multitudes.” – Brittany Lowe ‘17
In honor of our 120th anniversary and our inspiring students like Elissa and Brittany, please help us “defend the land” by being one of the inaugural donors to our 120 Scholarship Campaign. Please consider a contribution or pledge today ranging from $120 to $12,000. The first 120 donors who contribute or pledge $1,200 or more by May 25 will receive a limited edition C|M|LAW 120 lapel pin, specially designed for this historic campaign. 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