Connected Minds,Connected Cultures:\ Connected Minds

FROM THE Dean’s DeskDear CUA Law School Community,One of the intellectual benefitsof a life in higher education ishaving the opportunity toengage in a topic that is truly “big picture,”that considers questions of universalimportance to humanity. Thisrare privilege came to the ColumbusSchool of Law in late March, during aground-breaking conference that gatheredsome of the most accomplishedminds in the world to consider whetherthere is a common ethical heritage forthe human race.“A Common Morality for theGlobal Age — In Gratitude for WhatWe Are Given” was organized and executedby Professor William Wagner,director of Catholic University’s Centerfor Law, Philosophy and Culture. Thetopic at hand — Do all cultures and peoplesshare a basic sense of right andwrong and if so, how can this be broughtto bear upon the most pressing worldproblems? — was suggested in 2004 bythen-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. He isbetter known today as Pope BenedictXVI. The tale of how the Pope’sexpressed wishes were brought tofruition by a distinguished member ofour faculty is the cover story of this issueof CUA Lawyer.Other content is included that Ihope will relay a sense of the complexity,energy and achievements of theCUA law community. There is a saluteto the drive and dedication of our Boardof Visitors, a volunteer group of alumniwho devote considerable time and energyto helping the law school reach itsfullest potential. We have included astory about a recent alumnus who publisheda book about his long fight tolegally remain in the United States.There is an introduction to four newfaculty members who join us for the2008–2009 academic year and beyond.Also included is a light-hearted look ata part-time faculty member who, inaddition to fulfilling his duties as ajudge, has launched a promising operaticacting (not singing!) career withlocal theater groups.Not long ago, I wrote a letter to allalumni summarizing many of the highlightsand accomplishments of this pastacademic year. To recap just a bit: Ourbar examination test scores and nationalrankings went up; our Web site waseffectively redesigned; our students continuedto demonstrate their commitmentto a better world in the form ofselfless volunteerism through our LegalServices Society, the law school’s probono organization; our moot court andtrial advocacy teams performedextremely well; and our symposia andspeaker calendar was perhaps thestrongest ever in the law school’s history.Our faculty members continue toachieve national and international distinctionas legal scholars and educators.I believe that the Columbus Schoolof Law will solidify and build upon thesetrends into the future. We are hard atwork enrolling another highly competitiveincoming class. Its final contourswon’t be known until it is officiallyseated in August, but we are encouragedby the caliber of the admissions applicationsthat we receive.Although summer is a period ofrelative quiet in the building, a muchneededopportunity for faculty, staff andstudents to recharge for the coming year,we are deep in preparations for a vitallyimportant visit next spring by membersof the American Bar Association’s lawschool accreditation committee. This isa process that most U.S. law schoolsundergo every few years. Although theactual time spent on site by committeemembers is brief, there is an enormousamount of planning, data gathering andpreparation that precedes their visit. Iwill, of course, keep you all up to date onthat and other developments affectingour law school.In the meantime, I wish everyone ahealthy, restful and relaxing summer.With best wishes,Veryl V. MilesDean and Professor of Law