Messages and Assignments from the Faculty

THIS IS ARCHIVAL MATERIAL STORED FOR HISTORICAL REFERENCE

What separates our society from others is our extraordinary commitment to the rule of law. Over the next few months our most cherished beliefs will be challenged. We must resolve to double our efforts (and then double them again) to bring order out of chaos and use every legal means to find and then punish those responsible. More fundamentally, as members of a helping profession, we must do all we can to bring our community back as strong as ever. I often say that at New York Law School we "Learn Law and then Take Action." Now is our time to do both.

Dean Richard Matasar

First, and most important, let me say on my behalf and on behalf of New York Law School, that our thoughts and prayers are with each of you in the fervent hope that all of you and all of your families and friends are safe and well. While many grave tasks face our country, it is important for us to pick up our lives again and to begin the process of returning to normal productive efforts.

Professor Edward Purcell Jr.

I hope and pray that all of you, and all your loved ones, are safe. One way to overcome the tragedy is to return to our lives as best we can--to be resilient in the face of adversity.

Professor Gerald Lebovits

On one hand, it seems so dissonant to be posting about cases to read, and make-up classes, given the horror of the past eight days. On the other hand, though, I believe that our lives are, in many ways, the sum of the different communities of which we are members.

Professor Michael Perlin

Along with other leaders of the ACLU -- and an unprecedentedly broad, diverse coalition we organized of other groups from across the political, religious, and ethnic spectrum -- I have been working with government officials to ensure that we who have the good fortune to live in this great city, and in this great country, can continue to enjoy both safety and freedom. Our paramount concern for protecting human life should not -- and need not -- come at the cost of fundamental human rights for everyone in this country, including non-citizens, and including people of every ethnic and religious background.

As you know, many important issues of constitutional law are now affecting our lives more directly, and differently, since the horrific September 11 attacks. Since September 11, I have been addressing these issues non-stop with civil rights leaders, government officials, and media representatives. I look forward to discussing them with my students in the courses I'l be teaching next semester, Constitutional Law II and Advanced Constitutional Law & Appellate Advocacy. I also look forward to seeing and talking with many of you this semester.

Professor Nadine Strossen
President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

I will be very grateful to see all your faces and hear your voices next Monday and Tuesday, and I hope that you are feeling confident that once we gather we will move ahead with our work for the semester.

Professor Elaine Mills

Our plan for that class is to spend some time talking about what has happened, and how it affects us as people, as New Yorkers, and as lawyers.

Professors Carol Buckler and Richard Marsico

Please spend some time thinking about a couple of questions, which we will spend some time discussing before returning to our studies:
1. Has your desire to be a law student, learn about law, and become a lawyer changed since September 11?
2. Why should we still care about law school in general, and learning Torts in particular.
3. Why should we still care about law school in general, and learning Constitutional Law in particular?

Professor David Chang