Jurist Summer 2007.qxd - Howard University School of Law

T H E L A S T W O R DOn August 10, 1992, I attended my firstday of orientation at Howard UniversitySchool of Law (HUSL). Who would haveknown that 15 years later I would beappointed as the associate dean for studentaffairs? Much at the School of Law haschanged over the years, andmuch has remained the same.For me, attending Howard as alaw student was a veryempowering experience thatsubstantially contributed to mygrowth as a person and as aprofessional. I was surroundedby many intelligent, diverse,and successful faculty membersand students who lookedlike me. For the first time, I hadrole models (outside of myfamily) who looked like me. Ihad mentors—faculty members,administrators, and students—whohad a very apparentinterest and stake in mysuccess. Faculty membersbelieved in the students, andthe students believed in eachother. The synergism createdby this dynamic made HUSLthe best place that I could haveattended for law school. Thosecharacteristics continue to exist at the Schoolof Law today.The School of Law is still a familial environment.Members of the faculty still eatlunch with the students. The second- andthird-year students still mentor the first-yearstudents. Faculty members, administrators,and alumni continue to promote the studentsoutside the school. Alumni, whom I had thepleasure of serving when I was senior directorof development and alumni relations forthe law school, serve as bar support mentorsand continue to recruit students for employment.A few years after my graduation, HUSLinstituted the annual pinning ceremony forBy Dione Traci DuckettClass of 1995We are a small,friendly, andconfidential office,but our influence onthe lives of studentsis enormous.first-year students. First-year students areofficially inducted into the HUSL family, andeach first-year student is pinned by an alumnus,a faculty member, or an upper-class student.There have been other positive changes atthe law school since my time.Now, as I approach HoustonHall, instead of walkingthrough the dean’s parking lotto enter the building, I walkthrough a beautiful courtyardwith benches, where studentsgather between classes. When Ienter the building, there is aglass atrium with marblefloors, and the elevators nowannounce the floors as Iapproach my office. I no longereat in the cafeteria; instead, Idine in the dining hall, whichhas a very bright and open feeling,with its modern décor. Forbreakfast, there is an omeletstation, a waffle station, a fruitbar, and hot food selections.Every Thursday is “Soul FoodThursday” for lunch; and whenI am short on cash, I can use mydebit or credit card to purchasemeals.Instead of checking the “wall” for grades,students now check their grades online.Students also “drop” their resumes online forinterviews during the recruiting seasons. If Iwant a change of scenery, I can take my laptopand access the Internet and my e-mailaccount wirelessly from almost anywhere oncampus.And the new law library is amazing. Thefour-story building is bright and open withmonstrous windows that provide a greatview of the campus and the surroundingneighborhood. The new library is dramaticallydifferent from the windowless MercerDaniel Law Library in which I studied as astudent.THE JURIST 23