Monday Morning Message 10.23.23 Last Friday in October. First Friday in November.
“As a diverse nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, democracy holds us together. We are a country rooted in the rule of law, where the protection of the rights of all people is paramount. …. underscoring the importance of compassion, tolerance, pluralism, and respect for others.”
-Statement of 13 Presidential Centers representing former Republican and Democrat U.S. Presidents, September 7, 2023
“Life is no ‘brief candle’ to me. It is sort of a splendid torch which I have a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it over to future generations.” ― George Bernard Shaw
Richard W. Pogue Leadership Conversation Series to Bring Prominent Speakers to CSU|LAW
The Richard W. Pogue Leadership Conversation Series was recently established at Cleveland State University College of Law, thanks to a generous donation from Richard W.
Monday Morning Message 10.16.23 No Cause Justifies Terror
“My powers of empathy, my ability to reach into another's heart, cannot penetrate the blank stares of those would murder innocents with abstract, serene satisfaction.”― President Barack Obama
Dear CSU|LAW community,
In last week’s Monday Morning Message, I expressed my profound grief over the loss of innocent lives in Israel, but I did not think it was appropriate for me to say anything further until after the university made a statement. On Friday, CSU President Laura Bloomberg and CSU Board of Trustees Chair David Reynolds sent the below open letter to the CSU community. I strongly support their statement and thank them for their continued leadership.
'All Rise' Film Festival Returns for Second Year
The Festival allows everyone to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of law on our lives and how it is reflected in the art of filmmaking.
CSU|LAW and the CSU School of Film and Media Arts are proud to announce the return of "All Rise: A Festival of Film & Law" for its highly anticipated second year. This unique and engaging festival is set to captivate audiences once again with its compelling exploration of the fascinating interplay between the world of film and the realm of law.
"All Rise" is not just a film festival; it is an immersive experience that bridges the gap between two seemingly distinct worlds, shedding light on how they intersect and influence one another.
Monday Morning Message 10.9.23 Let Freedom Read
We mourn the many lives lost in Israel this past weekend and send thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.
“…..libraries should be open to all — except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”
— President John F. Kennedy
“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book...”― President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Alumni Spotlight: Avery Friedman ’72 Recognized with Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s President’s Award
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference recognized Cleveland State University College of Law alumnus, Adjunct Professor and Hall of Fame member Avery Friedman ’72 with its President’s Award, the Conference’s highest honor. Frie
Monday Morning Message 10.2.23 Remember Your Why
“Regardless of what we do in our lives, our why—our driving purpose, cause or belief—never changes.”
― Simon Sinek
Over the past weeks, I’ve shared 2 of “The 10 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Law School” that I shared with our first year class. Here’s the 3rd and final one I’m sharing…. I have spared you all 10!
When I started law school, I wish I had known to remember my why.
Two bricklayers were asked: “What are you doing?’ The first, exhausted and unhappy, said, “I am laying bricks.” The second, energized and in good spirits, said, “I am building a cathedral.”
Tuesday Morning Message 9.26.23 The Power of Listening.
Last week, I noted that when I welcomed our first year class of law students, I shared “The 10 Things I Wish I Had Known When I Started Law School.” Here’s another “thing I wish I had known.”
When I started law school, I wish I had known the power of listening.
We need leaders who recognize the value of asking rather than telling, of listening rather than jumping to conclusions. As Steven Covey notes in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
Conference: War Crimes in Ukraine: The Abduction and Deportation of Children
This Conference will address the ongoing war in Ukraine with a particular focus on the war crime of abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian authorities. Over the past year, Russian authorities have willfully separated Ukrainian children from their families and have orchestrated a policy whereby such children are adopted by Russian families. The forcible abduction and deportation of children is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; moreover, it is also illegal under customary international law and can amount to genocide, if committed with the intent to destroy a particular national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ma