Monday Morning Message 1.30.23 I'm Just Trying to Go Home
“I’m just trying to go home….Mom, Mom, Mom!” –Tyre Nicols
The video of Tyre Nichols' brutal killing at the hands of five Memphis police is horrifying. It was shocking to witness these officers, who are sworn to uphold the law, carry out such a flagrantly unjustified attack on Tyre Nicols after a traffic stop. The 29-year-old was attacked for three minutes while officers shouted profanities at him. As he was being beaten just 80 yards from his family home, he repeatedly called out for his mother.
Monday Morning Message 1.23.23 We Are For Each Other
“They are one person. They are two alone. They are three together. They are for each other.” - "Helplessly Hoping", Crosby, Stills, and Nash
Crosby, Stills, and Nash has been one of the soundtracks of my life. So when the legendary singer songwriter David Crosby passed away this past week, I listened again to many of their songs and was reminded how much their music and lyrics have resonated with me over the decades.
If I could give only one reason why prospective and admitted students should choose our law school over many other fine law schools, it would be this:
In the words of David Crosby, we “are for each other.”
Monday Morning Message 1.9.23 Reflect, Re-Evaluate, Reset, Reboot
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou
As we begin the Spring semester and a new year, I want to welcome back all of you, but my message this morning is directed particularly to those students whose first semester grades were disappointing.
Grades are pieces of information, not a judgement of who you are as a person. You get to decide how to use that information.
Your grades don’t define you. You define you.
This is a moment to reflect, re-evaluate, reset, and reboot. If you did well, don’t be overconfident and don’t be satisfied. If you did not do as well as you had hoped, you should be disappointed - but you should not be discouraged.
Monday Morning Message 12.19.22 Raising the Bar
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou
I have just one request before I give your email inbox a winter break! I’m asking you to liberate your soul! The Monday Morning Message will resume the week of January 9, 2023, the first week of spring semester classes.
Monday Morning Message 12.12.22 Thank You For Being My Lifeline
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Not a week goes by when I don’t receive a positive message about our law school. As the fall semester comes to an end, I’m pleased to share some of those emails I’ve received this year. I will share many more in future messages.
Tuesday Morning Message 5.31.22 If U.S. News Ranked Law Alumni Associations....
“We would like to recognize and give thanks to our long-time CMLAA Trustees Joseph B. Jerome ’75, Stanley E. Stein ’62, and Steven L. Wasserman ’78, who we lost over this past year. Their leadership was truly appreciated and their love of and appreciation for C|M|LAW and CMLAA were evident. We miss them and feel the loss of these esteemed colleagues on our Board.”
– Allison Taller Reich ‘09, Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association President
Monday Morning Message 12.5.22 Pressure is a Privilege
“Pressure is a privilege - it only comes to those who earn it.” – Billie Jean King
“Nothing is given. Everything is earned.” ― LeBron James
"I run on the road long before I dance under the lights." - Muhammad Ali
This morning’s message is to our students, particularly our first-year students.
Final exams begin Thursday and continue until December 21.
My advice is to change the way you look at the pressure of final exams.
Look at the pressure as a privilege that you have earned.
You have chosen to study and work during this time of your life like most people won’t, so that you can learn law and live justice like most people can’t.
Monday Morning Message 11.28.22 Our Secret Sauce
“I just wanted to reach out and say that I really enjoyed our conversation at the OSU Law Fair on Tuesday. CSU College of Law sounds like a fantastic school with an amazing alumni network.” – Prospective Student
“I am reaching out to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today at the Law Fair at Miami University. I have been encouraged to apply by many CSU|LAW alumni who speak so highly of their experiences.” – Prospective Student
Monday Morning Message 11.21.22 Thankful
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you….” Ralph Waldo Emerson
As Thanksgiving approaches this week,
I’m thankful for our talented faculty, students, and staff who come together every day to teach and learn in ways that are collaborative and spirited.
I’m thankful for our loyal alumni and former faculty, staff, and deans for building an iconic law school that is an enduring, essential piece of the fabric of our city, region, and state.
I’m thankful for our law’s school’s daily focus on our mission: To Learn Law and Live Justice.
Monday Morning Message 11.14.22 Nominate an Alum for the 2023 Hall of Fame!
“Thank you to everyone who put on such a wonderful event. And congratulations to all the honorees.” Hon. Sean C. Gallagher ‘89, Presiding Judge, 8th District Ohio Court of Appeals, 2022 CSU C|M|LAW Hall of Fame Honoree
"....I want to express to you how touched I am by the recognition the school is extending to me .... I will do my best to live out the responsibility that comes with such a recognition." – Sarah Flannery’02, 2022 CSU C|M|LAW Hall of Fame Honoree
“It was a FANTASTIC evening, Lee. I’m so pleased to have been there.” – Cleveland State University President Laura Bloomberg