The Ohio State University College of Law Alumni Association Summer

Summer 1981 The Ohio State University College of Law Alumni Association I OSU Law Record is published by The Ohio State University College of Law for its Alumni Association, Columbus, Ohio 43210. Prepared and edited by Dean Joanne W. Murphy, Karen Nirschl, and Pat Howard. Design by Jeff Cox Photography by Doug Martin. Send address changes and correspondence regarding editorial content to: Mrs. Pat Howard, OSU Law Record, College of Law, The Ohio State University, 1659 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43210. OSU College of Law Officers James E. Meeks, Dean Philip C. Sorensen, Associate Dean John P. Henderson, Associate Dean Robert A. Carter, Assistant Dean Mathew F. Dee, Assistant Dean Joanne W. Murphy, Assistant Dean OSU College of Law Alumni Association Frank E. Bazler, President Paul M. Smart, President-Elect James K. L. Lawrence, Secretary-Treasurer OSU College of Law National Council Executive Committee Thomas E. Cavendish, Chairman Jacob E. Davis, II, Vice Chairman Frank E. Bazler Paul M. Smart William L. Coleman Robert M. Duncan David R. Fullmer James K. L. Lawrence J. Paul McNamara Norman W. Shibley Robert A. Carter James E. Meeks Copyright © 1981 by the College of Law of The Ohio State University I » * £ m t i Message from the Dean 1 2 /0 8 01- 139-00 o m o * The 1980-81 fiscal year has sounded a universal note ... cut! cut! cut! The University and the College of Law have not been spared the retrenchment perpetrated by diminishing tax revenues of the State and rising costs. At a time when normal annual appropriations shrink under the assault of inflation, actual budget cuts have taken a greater toll. The operating budget of the College of Law for 1980-81 was appropriated at $2,487,000. In addition to these funds, the College is supported by approximately $151,000 of contributed funds for discretionary use that provide critical support for projects and services not funded through state allocations. During the current year the University absorbed $10.15 million cuts from unrestricted general funds. This was translated to the College as a budget cut in the amount of $70,500. The impact was greater than simply an approximate 3% retrenchment. Cuts were implemented well into the fiscal year after the expenditure of a large portion of the budget allocation. Absorbing the cuts was further complicated by the fact that the College is Dean James E. Meeks operating with minimal support personnel in comparison with other like institutions other support funds, reduced faculty program implementation. Such and the fact that approximately 85% of the student ratios to achieve better teaching of individually intensive programs budget is contractually committed for lawyering skills, and promotion of the necessitate increased teaching personnel salaries. The so-called "fat" has been quality of our library. and program support. The ability of the growing leaner and leaner in recent years. The gap between professional salaries for College to respond to concerns of the bar for The mandated budget cuts were imposed the practitioner and for the law teacher is the mobilization of lawyering experiences against secretarial assistance, faculty increasingly becoming a disincentive for for students will again depend in research assistance, student organization young, talented graduates to pursue law considerable measure upon the support, professional travel, supplies and teaching. Furthermore, competition and enlargement of alumni support. appointments of adjunct faculty for limitations imposed on salary levels from Although there is talk of possible tuition particular academic programs. Renovation appropriated funds create retention increases at the University if state subsidies projects not completed were suspended, problems with regard to senior faculty. are not enlarged, this does not provide a needed equipment acquisitions were Contributed dollars will play an ever quick fix. The benefits to students of postponed, and staff vacancies were not important role in attracting and retaining tuition subsidy is considerable when filled. Further reduction in services may superior teachers. The College has greatly compared to tuition at private institutions. well need to be implemented before the benefitted from the four named The College through these subsidies can conclusion of the year. More drastic cuts in professorships established during the provide quality education to students from academic programs were forestalled only 1970's. This level of support is critical and broad economic backgrounds. Any by the temporary shift of contributed funds hopefully will continue to develop. significant increase in tuition will simply for program continuation. The spiraling cost of library acquisitions shift the need for funds into student Fiscal problems are by no means a and services further threaten to outrun financial aids if the College is to maintain a phenomenon of fiscal 1980-81. The budget allocations. The College's Law rich diversity of student participation, and forthcoming biennial budget for the Library is a rare resource to students, to continue in its mission as a land grant University projects almost negligible faculty and the bar of the State. Budget lags University. funding growth. State-supported have resulted in a drop in recent years of The responsibility of the administration is institutions are no longer safe havens from rankings of the Library from 7th to 10th to maximize the use of all support, public harsh economic realities. The challenge to largest law school library. The future and private funds. This responsibility is the College for the decade of the 80's places distinction of the Library will be closely being diligently pursued by the Dean, and an ever heightening need for partnership tied to alumni support in the years ahead. central administration. The future of support with alumni. At a time when increasing emphasis is quality education at the College is Particular needs for the College in the being placed upon more individualized increasingly a shared responsibility with coming decade include faculty salary and skill training for law students, budget alumni and friends. The future holds out restrictions inevitably will postpone abundant new challenges. 2 Professor Wills Retires from Teaching There comes a time in the life of every glamorous in those days." The Clinic had institution when it must bid farewell to to generate its own cases so practicum faithful and cherished members. June 30, opportunities were more limited. He also 1981, will be such a tim e for the College of recalls that clinic teaching drew little Law. On that date, Professor Robert L. Wills esteem from colleagues. Asked if he leaves a faculty which he has distinguished believes Clinic as now developed is a for over 35 years. His teaching career marks meaningful learning experience, he is quick the greatest number of years of law to respond "Yes, it still remains so." teaching at the College. Professor Robert "Mr. Ohio Civil Procedure" is not a Mathews, who is also honored in this issue, misplaced title for Professor Wills. Not completed 34 years of actual teaching at the only has he carefully schooled thousands of College, although counting leaves of students through common law and absence Professor Mathews' faculty statutory pleading, but he has contributed association extended to 40 years. We are significantly to the development of the pleased to include excerpts from a recent modernization of Ohio Rides of Civil interview with Professor Wills about his Procedure. His public service was no less years at OSU. generous than his dedication to teaching in When Robert L. Wills first left Ohio State this area. He served on various committees University as a student, he had earned a of the bar involved with reform and also B.A. Degree in 1931, and his LL.B. (now a served as consultant to the Civil Rules J.D.) in 1934. Convinced that he would Advisory Committee to the Ohio Supreme pursue a career at the bar, the new law Court. His work was a vital part of the graduate entered practice in Cleveland, collective efforts involved in the adoption Ohio. After four years, he moved to of the state's revised rules of procedure. The Chillicothe where he completed ten years late Chief Justice C. William O'Neill said of of practice. Professor Wills' service on the Advisory War years came and with them career Committee that his "talents were interruptions. From 1944-46, Bob Wills especially suited for the task of that served with the United States Naval committee and his active participation Reserves. He was involved with the in that work resulted in lasting and development of simulated training devices meaningful contributions to the procedural for naval pilots. During this break from law of the state." This statement appeared practice, Bob Wills began to think about in the Ohio State Law Journal tribute to law teaching. He wrote a letter to then Professor Wills in volume 37, 1976. Dean Martin of the OSU College of Law The late Chief Justice was honored by Professor Robert L. Wills indicating his interest. By return mail, he many friends through the establishment of was advised of a faculty resignation for the C. William O'Neill Professorship at the Spring Quarter, 1946, and was offered an College of Law, The Ohio State University. lawyers has been enriching to my own appointment as an Associate Professor. In 1979, Professor Wills was named the first scholarship and teaching." Professor Wills arrived at Ohio State in the C. William O'Neill Professor, a designation Along this line, Professor Wills was asked Spring of 1946, still convinced that his of which Chief Justice O'Neill would what he thought were the unique destiny was law practice and that his return surely have approved. attractions of law teaching. "Oh, it's hard to to Chillicothe was only "temporarily" Because of the respect of generations of single out a specific, but I guess I would say deferred.

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