Disciplina et discipulī

Last week, President Shalala wrote in her missive to the University, “As we head into the holiday season, I want to update you on where we are just over a year into the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.” That was just slightly less cheery than Queen Elizabeth’s message to the Commonwealth: “Each year that passes seems to have its own character. Some leave us with a feeling of satisfaction; others are best forgotten.”

But, whatever the case with campus and the English-speaking world, it was a big year for the School of Law. First, Captain Jellico’s interregnum of austerity ended none too soon, and we got our coffee machines and automatic doors back. The new Powers That Be dealt with the superfluity of new students inherited from the previous shift by rolling up their sleeves and personally teaching first-year classes. In one move, Elements was revamped and a team of super-gunner 1Ls self-selected for incubation in a new classroom we commandeered. The Legal Reading and Writing program was professionalized. We both furthered and spoiled the Business School’s dream of a snazzy new building by offering to buy half of it. (Negotiations are on-going. We have our best people on it. The President’s gloomy letter mentions it as though it’s just about a done deal.) The Eleventh Circuit approved my new appellate clinic. The adversarial system of justice repelled an assault from the Department of Justice. The influence in the academy of one of our own was lauded. The U became our logo officially. Oh, and I got tenure along with enough comedic material to draft a passable screenplay about academic politics.