R S V P : W I L L A T T E N DMore on the WayThe law school’s marquee symposia continue to grow invision and ambition.• As they have so <strong>of</strong>ten in the past, the students <strong>of</strong> Comm<strong>Law</strong>Conspectus: Journal <strong>of</strong> Communications <strong>Law</strong> & Policy and<strong>CUA</strong>’s Institute for Communications <strong>Law</strong> Studies are againleading the way. On March 13, 2008, the group will producea high-powered symposium titled “The 2008 Election: TheRole and Influence <strong>of</strong> 21st Century Media.”“This year’s spring symposium will also be great as a casestudy <strong>of</strong> engaged students, working with faculty support, tochoose a topic and attract astonishing speakers,” saysPr<strong>of</strong>essor Irwin, director <strong>of</strong> the institute.• On Feb. 22, 2008, the Catholic University <strong>Law</strong> Review willpresent “A Tribute to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor:Reflecting on Justice O’Connor’s Jurisprudence Relating toRace and Education.” The panel <strong>of</strong> presenters is still a workin progress, but Editor-in-Chief Maureen Smith expectsthat the event will not only publicize the law school, but alsoattract positive attention from practitioners, law pr<strong>of</strong>essors,and law students in the area.“Given the two Supreme Court cases decided last term thatdealt with the role <strong>of</strong> race in education, this topic is timely, controversialand likely to ignite a wealth <strong>of</strong> intellectual discussion,”says Smith.Catholic University’s law students show no sign <strong>of</strong> scalingback their ambitious endeavors. They have always understood, ashave their faculty advisers, that a legal education worthy <strong>of</strong> thename encompasses the real world beyond textbooks and classroomwalls.“Every year seems uniquely challenging,” sums up Pr<strong>of</strong>essorIrwin. “It takes collective brain-power to tailor a topic that hasbroad appeal — a topic that will draw moderators, panelists andparticipants, and which will attract an audience.”Students are up for the challenge. Many times, they seem topick up the ball and run with it on their own. They will continueto sweep their intellectual spotlight over topics that affect usall, and <strong>of</strong>fer a <strong>CUA</strong> law platform to speakers that have somethingvaluable to contribute.Thoughtfulness, relevance and access to society’s leaders havebecome trademarks for the law school’s speaking programs. Aninvitation to visit and participate carries an extra cachet when it isstamped: From the Students <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Columbus</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong>.Case Study: Scott Rembrandt Wallops a DoubleScott Rembrandt, 4E, has a knack for packingthem in. He was the primary studentorganizer for two <strong>of</strong> the most successful2007 law school symposia, both dealingwith Africa.An experienced planner, Rembrandtorganizes up to 20 university seminarsaround the country each year as directorfor research and academic affairs at a thinktank called the Korea Economic Institute.His event projects at <strong>CUA</strong> law wereheld barely two weeks apart. One dealtwith the spread <strong>of</strong> the HIV virus acrossthe African continent and the other withways to achieve peace in Sudan.Rembrandt spent countless hoursfinessing the myriad details that attendedeach discussion. What should theintroductory remarks say? Which mediashould be invited? What kind <strong>of</strong> technicalsupport was needed for visuals? Hishard work and careful attention to theminutiae <strong>of</strong> details paid <strong>of</strong>f. Both <strong>of</strong> thetalks drew a healthy audience <strong>of</strong> <strong>CUA</strong>students and faculty and garnered favorablemedia coverage as well.Rembrandt began laying the groundworkfor the symposia many monthsbefore. In February 2007, he approachedthe law school administration with a proposal.Why not create a National Security<strong>Law</strong> Speakers Series featuring prominentU.S. government <strong>of</strong>ficials, with the Militaryand National Security <strong>Law</strong> StudentsAssociation to serve as main sponsor <strong>of</strong>the twice-per-semester lectures.After giving the proposal seriousconsideration, law school administratorstested the idea by approving the invitation<strong>of</strong> Daniel Glaser, a deputy assistantfrom the Treasury Department, to comeand speak about ways to cut <strong>of</strong>f terroristfinancing. Glaser’s talk generated a greatdeal <strong>of</strong> interest. Convinced <strong>of</strong> its appeal,the university now supports the fullfledgedspeaker series.LessonsRembrandt’s experiences so far convincehim that “<strong>of</strong>ficials jump at the chanceto come to Catholic’s law school.”ItsWashington location makes it an attractiveand convenient destination for top government<strong>of</strong>ficials and other prominent speakers.Perhaps surprisingly, top experts insubjects other than law are rarely invited tolaw schools. More typically, they receivespeaking opportunities from programs ininternational relations,political science or publicpolicy.“The fact that studentorganizations areinviting them, asopposed to faculty membersor administration<strong>of</strong>ficials, only heightensthe interest <strong>of</strong> speakersin coming,” he says. Scott RembrandtBy all accounts, the<strong>Columbus</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong>’s academicguests are delighted that they said yes tothe opportunity to speak. They have indicatedgreat satisfaction to program sponsorswith the audience size, the intelligence<strong>of</strong> the questions they receive andthe enthusiasm <strong>of</strong> the students during theprograms and receptions afterward.“I’m optimistic that everyone we’veinvited thus far would come back toCatholic law,” says Rembrandt. “We areall emissaries <strong>of</strong> the school. High-pr<strong>of</strong>ileevents are first and foremost meant toshowcase the quality <strong>of</strong> the law school,its faculty and most importantly, its studentbody to the larger policy-makingcommunity in Washington.”20<strong>CUA</strong>LAWYER /Fall–<strong>Winter</strong> 2007
<strong>CUA</strong> <strong>Law</strong>yers areAll HeartEasily identified in theirCardinal-red caps, somemembers <strong>of</strong> the <strong>CUA</strong> law teamgathered before the race.A team <strong>of</strong> runners and volunteers representing The Catholic University<strong>of</strong> America <strong>Columbus</strong> <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Law</strong> were among the more than 4,800lawyers, Washington residents, parents and children who participatedin the fun-filled <strong>Law</strong>yers Have Heart Race, which included the race andwalk, as well as food and festivities.Please SAVE THE DATEand join Team <strong>CUA</strong> <strong>Law</strong>!2008 <strong>Law</strong>yers Have HeartRace on June 14, 2008.Our fleet-footed team composed <strong>of</strong> alumni, students and law schoolstaff placed 7th out <strong>of</strong> 28 teams in the corporation division <strong>of</strong> the annual<strong>Law</strong>yers Have Heart Race, held in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 2007.The 10K race has raised more than $4.3 million for the American HeartAssociation since its inception. The funds support the AHA’s missionto reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke,the No. 1 and 3 killers, respectively, <strong>of</strong> all Americans. The money alsounderwrites heart-healthy education programs.
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