Report of the Dean 1961•fi1962
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Notre Dame Law School NDLScholarship 1952–1968: Joseph O'Meara Law School Deans 8-15-1962 Report of the Dean 1961–1962 Joseph O'Meara Notre Dame Law School Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.nd.edu/jomeara Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Joseph O'Meara, Report of the Dean 1961–1962, ([Notre Dame, Ind.]: Notre Dame Law School, 1962). This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Deans at NDLScholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in 1952–1968: Joseph O'Meara by an authorized administrator of NDLScholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The following pages were copied from one of the books below that are available in Kresge Law Library at the University Notre Dame: — LAW LIBRARY F I uNIV. OF NOTRE jptre arnt 3Lt i I port of 1it It4P l6l=l9G2 0 EJE . I. “ . ‘ What do you want from life? tan’s 3Lcport 1961=62 “Another way of asking this question is : What are your values? As in earlier reports, I begin with some observations about our These values represent what you really intend to live and work for, students — past, present and prospective. or if needs be, to suffer and die for. These values define the kind of person you wish to be, the kind of life you intend to live, the best hoped-for meaning of your life in the days ahead. I would suggest some enduring values that have made human existence worthwhile in THE STUDENT BODY every age and that could make your life most meaningful in our times. ENROLLMENT “First of all, commitment to truth in all its forms : the joy of ever Happily, the expected drop in the number of beginning seeking truth, the peace of finding truth everywhere, the courage of (forecast in my students last Annual Report, p. 2) did not living truth always. Open-mindedness is the prelude to this commit- tually, the materialize. Ac- t* class entering last September numbered ment, intellectual honesty is its truest spirit, and purity of life is 63 in September 64 as against essential to both possession of 1960. As anticipated, however, of the truth and commitment to what it dine in total there was a de demands of us. enrollment — from 169 to 154, that is, 8.9%. 1w . dl Total enrollment “Commitment to what is good and excellent. : last September was I mean here no when the smallest since 1957, . it numbered 150. narrowly selfish good, but that every good and noble inspiration might Last year’s student body included students find in you a champion and a defender, from 29 states. 31 of the and indeed a personification. % students were married; slightly over 20% i; • • What is good for your own moral integrity, were veterans. Colleges yes, but also the realiza and universities represented in the tion that you will often find yourself and your good in spending your- body totaled 59. student . , , self and your J. talent for the good of others who need you. To avoid Applications for admission : • in September are running I’, the taint of intellectual and moral mediocrity, to be willing to stand ahead of last slightly : for something, year. This should result in a somewhat even something unpopular, if it is good; to be willing class. Total larger entering to be a minority of one if enrollment may decline slightly, however, need be. This is part of the commitment. than-usual due to a smaller- But not to be a neutral where principle is involved, a moral cipher, graduating class. pragmatic In 1953 (my a compromiser who easily takes on the protective cobra- first full year as Dean) 18% of our don of whatever moral done their students had environment happens to be at hand. This also undergraduate work at colleges or universities is ruled out by the commitment. Is it too much Notre Dame. other than to expect of you? In 1961 the figure had risen to 51.6%. Anything less is all too little. vebopment This is a de we welcome, for it indicates that “A passion School the Notre Dame Law for justice in our times. Again, not merely justice for is exerting a progressively wider appeal. yourself, or your family, or your profession, but especially a passion We are convinced that a small law school for justice as regards those who have few friends and fewer champions. advantages. can offer very great There are great and festering injustices Accordingly, the gradual increase in in our country and in our we anticipate, enrollment, which world. You can side step them if you wish, you can close will be limited to a maximum of 300. your eyes our hypothesis, According to and say it is none of your business. Then remember that freedom and the optimum enrollment is about 250. equality of opportunity in our times are quite indivisible. If one class, The number of applications for admission has been growing or nation, or race of men is not really free, then the freedom of all steadily. In 1954, there were, in all, 126 applications. Last year that men is endangered. Injustice breeds more injustice, disorder begets number had increased to 274. , . Yet more disorder. You do not need first-year enrollment was almost a suit of armor, or a white horse, exactly the same : in 1954, 126 or a sword, but just a sensitivity to justice wherever applications produced 63 first-year it is endangered, students, whereas in 1961, 274 a quiet passion to be concerned for justice in our times, a compassion applications produced only 64. The chief reasons for this are 1 for all men who suffer injustice, or the fruits of injustice.” ( ) the sharp increase in the cost of at- tending the Notre Dame Law School and (2) our own greater selec From Father Hesburgh’s commencement address tivity. In 1950-51 tuition was at the $530 a year; now it is $1000. And Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 8, 1962. other expenses have risen at least proportionately. This exerts heavy 2 Dean’s Report 1961-62 Notre Dame Law School 3 pressure on the prospective student, who can attend the law school RECRUITMENT of his own state university for a small fraction of the cost of studying : A letter from Mr. law at Notre Dame. John G. Hervey, Advisor to the American Bar 1. Association’s Section Moreover, since 1954 our entrance requirements have been raised of Legal Education and Admissions to the contains Bar, progressively. This has resulted in the rejection of a constantly in- these solemn words: creasing number and percentage of the applications received. The “We are convinced that the preservation of our form of gov requirements presently in use were described in my last Annual Re- ernment and the institutions which characterize Western society port (p. 3) as follows: may well depend on the continued development of a strong legal profession and “To be eligible for admission, an applicant must make a score that the profession is obligated to make available men of first of 500 or better on the Law School Admission Test and be in the rank in character, integrity, and competence.” top half of his college class. We will accept an applicant whose There is much Law School Admission Test score is between 400 and 500 but to be said for that view. Accordingly, we have felt it incumbent only if he was in the top quarter of his college class. An applicant upon us to extend and intensify our recruitment ( . whose Test Score is below is not eligible program. To 400 unless he was in that end, as reported last year (p. 3) alumni recruiting the top 10% of his college class. Similarly, applicants who were committees have been set up in a number of cities. The function of not in the top half of their college class will be accepted but only these committees is to interview first-rate prospective law students if they score 600 or better on the Law School Admission Test.” and talk to them about the practice of law and the advantages of the Notre Dame These criteria will continue in effect until our experience indicates Law School. Committee members who have done that a change is in order. excellent work include : ‘ !i. Raymond J. Broderick, ‘35, Philadelphia :‘ MORTALITY Valentine B. Deale, ‘39, Washington, D.C. The percentage of first-year students dismissed for scholastic de Peter F. Flaherty, ‘51L, Pittsburgh ficiency in the eight-year period beginning with September, 1953 Burton M. Greenburg, ‘58L, St. Louis •b and ending with June, 1961, fluctuated between 15.9% in 1954-55 Robert P. Gorman, ‘57L, Newark and 29.7% in 1957-58. Last year (1961-62) it was down to 14.1%, Daniel W. Hammer, ‘59L, Cleveland which reflects the greater selectivity referred to above. Honorable William B. Lawless, ‘44L, Buffalo The percentage of students dismissed for scholastic Ronald j . deficiency in P. Mealey, ‘56L, New York City each of the last three academic years is shown in the following table. George P. Michaely, ‘56L, Washington, D.C. 1r John L. Rosshirt, ‘56L, Chicago 1st year 2nd year 3rd year Paul F. Titus, ‘60L, Pittsburgh 1959-60 25.6 8.3 0.0 George N. Tompkins, ‘56L, New York City 1960-61 22.2 6.0 0.0 Eugene F. Waye, ‘58L, Philadelphia 1961-62 14.1 7.3 2.0 • Recruiting trips by 1 members of the Faculty were made to Total first-year attrition, including voluntary as well as involuntary colleges and universities.