2002 Deans' Cup


New York, NY (March 19, 2002) -- Columbia Law School and New York University (NYU) Law School have long been perceived as rivals for premier students and faculty, as well as Manhattan bragging rights. But this spring, the law schools plan to take the battle to court - the basketball court, that is. April 2, 2002, will mark the start of the "Deans' Cup," an annual basketball game between male and female students from Columbia and NYU law schools, played to raise funds for public interest law projects and community service organizations on both campuses.

"We hope that the yearly game will build camaraderie between the two schools, foster interaction between their students, faculty, staff and alumni, and garner financial support for worthwhile organizations," said Jason Cooper, a third year Columbia Law School student and one of the event's founders.

Alumni/ae, faculty and students have rallied around the "Deans' Cup," and a large turnout is expected. However, many students are most excited about the half-time spectacle, which will include a Columbia/NYU faculty face-off, as well as a one-on-one game between a NYU law alumnus and their dean, John Sexton.

Additionally, law firms have been so impressed with the organizers' initiative that they have agreed to sponsor the event. To date, over a dozen firms have committed, including, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft; Coudert Brothers LLP; Kenyon & Kenyon; Nixon Peabody LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; and Dechert and Chadbourne & Park LLP.

The "Deans' Cup," was founded by Justin Goodyear, David Glick, and Jason Cooper, three third year students at Columbia Law School, and Brendan McGuire, Michael Pastor, and Brad Klein, two third year students and one second year student at NYU Law School.

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