Roland Betts remarked, “New York is truly a great city because of citizens who choose to get engaged in things and com­mit to them and to contribute to the fabric of the city....Don’t forget that at some point you have a duty to work with the institutions and care for the institutions that make a city great, and you will love doing it.”

 

 

Peter Malkin congratulates Franklin Thomas, who said, “Too many of us cringe at lawyer-bashing and yet decline to point out that the law is essential to our economic, political, and social systems. Without it, we would have chaos. For me, the law has been a gateway to a fulfilling life of service in govern­ment, in the private sector, and in philanthropy.”

 

 

(Left to right) Rusty Wing, Peter S. Ness ’63, and John S. Siffert ’72

 

 

(Left to right) Tyson A. Pratcher ’00, Michael Patterson ’67, and Amir Dossal, executive director of the UN Fund for Interna­tional Partnerships

 

 

Members of the Wien family pose with the prize winners. (Left to right) Roland W. Betts, his daugh­ter Jessica and wife Lois, Franklin A. Thomas, Kate Whitney, Dean David M. Schizer and his wife Meredith, Kate Nelson, Lester Morse, Jr., Dinny W. Morse, Isabel W. Malkin, and Peter L. Malkin

 

Photos by Char Smullyan

 

Justice Sandile Ngcobo, associate justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, spoke on “Courts and Transformation of Society: What is Their Role?” on December 7 at the 33rd annual Rubin lecture. Justice Ngcobo was also this fall's Rubin Visiting Professor.

 

 

(Left to right) Dean Schizer, Hon. Sheila Abdus-Salaam '77, Zandile Ngcobo, and her husband Justice Ngcobo

 

Photos by Lynn Saville

 

 

 

 

(Left to right) Peggy Cross '01, Jennifer Kronick '02, and Jason Cooper '02 were among the Reunion volunteers who converged on the Columbia Club in Midtown on October 19 to plan for upcoming reunions. More than 80 Reunion 2006 and 2007 committee members were on hand to share their experiences.

Mark A. Belnick, former executive vice president and chief corporate counsel of Tyco International, Ltd., gave a talk titled “General Counsel under Fire” at the Three West Club in New York on November 15. Mr. Belnick spoke about the financial scandal that rocked Tyco and his eventual exoneration after a long trial.

 

Dean David Schizer speaks with Myra and Milton Schubin, both members of the Class of 1956, at a reception at Rockefeller Center to honor alumni who are members of the Harlan Fiske Stone Society. The society recognizes Law School donors who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more. Recent graduates who give annual gifts of $250 or more are also recognized as associate members of the society.

 

 

The dean's annual cocktail parties for first-year students were held throughout the fall and gave students, alumni, and faculty a chance to get acquainted. Attending the event on October 24 were (left to right) Judith Thoyer '65, LaRue Robinson '09, Marcia Sells '84, and Mikhaile Savary '09.

Columbia University officially launched its $4 billion capital campaign with festivities on September 29 held at the Law School. President Lee Bollinger '71 spoke to attendees in New York and via simulcast to alumni in London and Hong Kong. The goals of the campaign, scheduled to run until 2011, are focused on increasing financial aid and faculty support across the campuses, as well as for new and renovated facilities. At launch time, Columbia had raised $1.6 billion during a silent phase.

 

 

Professor Kent Greenawalt '63 (center) speaks with visiting scholars Neeru Shrestha (left) and Shree Krishna Subedi during a reception on October 10. Each year, the Law School hosts dozens of scholars from around the world.

 

The Columbia Law School Association of Washington, D.C., Award Dinner honored Eric Holder, Jr., '76 (right) of Covington & Burling on October 17 for his service to the Washington community. He is shown here with Peter D. Ehrenhaft '57. The event, which also provided a chance to welcome members of the Class of 2006 now practicing in the area, was held at Fulbright & Jaworski.

The Law School held several events for California alumni this fall. Here are some highlights.

 

 

 

Wayne Ybarra '82 (left) and David McAlexander '00

 

 

Vincent Chieffo '70 (left) and Philip Graves '90

 

 

(Left to right) Kristin Lynch from the Development and Alum­ni Relations Office, Scott Benbow '89, and Raymond Cho '05

 

 

(Left to right) Prof. Clarisa Long, Michael Dorf '92, and Jared Bobrow '86