October 16, 2009
Schermerhorn
Scholars Return to Law School
On Saturday October 3rd, close to 60 St. John’s Law graduates,
from the Class of 1959 and prior years, returned to the Law School
to meet Dean Michael A. Simons and reminisce with fellow
“Schermerhorn Street Law Graduates” at the Annual Schermerhorn
Scholar’s Brunch. For many in attendance, this was their
first visit to the Queens Law Campus.
The day began in the Belson Moot Courtroom, a state of the art
legal lecture hall designed as a courtroom with technology
enhancements allowing students an opportunity to hone their
litigation skills in a true courtroom setting. After a
welcome by Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Development
George Richardson, Dean Simons addressed the assembled alumni
student body.
To demonstrate the technology featured in the Law School, Dean
Simons chose to re-create a Day 1 Lecture from his Criminal Law
class. In this instance, the student body consisted of Law
School alumni with a combined 3,000 plus years of legal
practice. The case presented, Regina v. Dudley and
Stephens, was an actual court case from 1884 involving an act
of murder and cannibalism which occurred in a lifeboat after a
shipwreck. The senior alumni participating in the classroom
exercise quickly applied their legal training and queried Dean
Simons on motive, venue, legal precedent and courtroom protocol
from the era. A lively discussion ensued that was only
interrupted because brunch was about to be served in the Mattone
Family Atrium.
After a brief interlude during which alumni guests became
reacquainted with fellow classmates, the Schermerhorn graduates
enjoyed brunch while 3L student Kristin Roshelli discussed life at
the Law School today. Dean Michael Simons took the podium and
discussed the facility, the faculty, the administration, the
students and the alumni body. Dean Simons noted, “…although
you may have been away for awhile, this is your Law School.”
After Dean Simons’ address, the Class of 1959 and those who had
never attended this event before were inducted as Schermerhorn
Scholars. The induction is a traditional pinning
ceremony. This was followed by individual photos with Dean
Simons and a group photo of all attending members. The “two
most experienced” attending graduates, Eleanor J. Smirti ’43 and
Carl E. Tavolacci ’35 cut the celebratory cake which all enjoyed
for dessert.
Tours of the Law School added closure to the festivities.
Next year, members of the Class of 1960, and all preceding years
will join in the festivities.