CLS Graduation 2002

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
DELIVERED BY REYNOLD LEVY, PRESIDENT LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
AT AVERY FISHER HALL
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2002

THANK YOU VERY MUCH DEAN LEEBRON. THIS IS A RARE AND SPECIAL DAY -- FOR ALL OF THE GRADUATES, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. I AM HONORED TO SHARE THE MOMENT WITH YOU.

DEAN LEEBRON TELLS ME THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO BORROW MONEY TO PAY FOR PART OF YOUR LEGAL EDUCATION. PAYING IT BACK MUST SURELY BE ON YOUR MIND.

SUCH A BURDEN IS ONE WITH WHICH I CAN FULLY IDENTIFY. HERE'S WHY.

MY FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL FOUND ME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BLESSED WITH A VERY GENEROUS FELLOWSHIP -- ROOM, BOARD, TUITION, BOOKS AND A MONTHLY STIPEND. MY GRADES WERE EXCELLENT.

WHEN I DECIDED TO FINISH MY LEGAL EDUCATION AT COLUMBIA, THE POWERS THAT BE OFFERED ME SOMEWHAT LESS GRANT ASSISTANCE. ENOUGH LESS TO MATTER. WISHING TO AVOID ASSUMING MORE DEBT, I APPROACHED THE THEN COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL DEAN, MICHAEL SOVERN, FOR RELIEF. HE DENIED IT. HE TOLD ME THE ONLY PLACE I COULD APPEAL WAS TO THE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT. AND, HE ADDED, THE CHANCE OF HIS DECISION BEING OVERTURNED WAS A DISTINCT LONG SHOT.

WELL, I WAS WORKING FULL-TIME WHILE FINISHING LAW SCHOOL AT COLUMBIA AND I WAS MARRIED WITH A YOUNG CHILD AND VERY BUSY. BY THE TIME I GOT AROUND TO APPEALING SOVERN'S DECISION TO THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA, SOVERN WAS THE PRESIDENT OF COLUMBIA.

NOW, FLASH FORWARD ABOUT THIRTY YEARS AND I FIND MYSELF LEAVING MY POST AS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, A LEADING REFUGEE RELIEF AND RESETTLEMENT AGENCY, TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF LINCOLN CENTER. AND, LO AND BEHOLD, MY SUCCESSOR AT THE IRC TURNS OUT TO BE NONE OTHER THAN COLUMBIA'S PRESIDENT, GEORGE RUPP.

THERE BEING NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON APPEALING FOR ONE'S JUST DUES AND HAVING AN INSIDE TRACK WITH RUPP, I PRAYED TO HIM FOR RELIEF.

ALAS, RUPP SIMPLY REFUSED TO REDRESS A LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCE, CLAIMING THAT HE IS A LAME DUCK. SEE BOLLINGER, HE SAYS.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT-ELECT BOLLINGER IS WITH US TODAY. LEE, I KNOW YOU ARE HERE TO JOYOUSLY WITNESS YOUR DAUGHTER CAREY'S OWN GRADUATION AND I'M ALSO AWARE THAT YOU'RE NOT OFFICIALLY IN CHARGE FOR TEN DAYS OR SO.

BUT PERHAPS WE CAN TALK SOON. I'M SURE YOU WILL WANT TO RIGHT AN HISTORIC WRONG.

NOW, MY FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO OFFER SPIRITED CONGRATULATIONS AIMED NOT JUST AT TODAY'S GRADUATES, BUT TO ALL THOSE HERE WHO PROVIDED FINANCIAL, PSYCHIC AND INTELLECTUAL SUPPORT TO THEM. I AM REFERRING TO PARENTS, SPOUSES, FIANCÉS, SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, CHILDREN, AND, OF COURSE TO THE LAW SCHOOL'S TERRIFIC FACULTY.

HARDLY ANYONE CAN BE ADMITTED TO COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL, LET ALONE EARN A DEGREE HERE, WITHOUT A TONY AWARD WINNING SUPPORTING CAST OF CHARACTERS.

SO I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT ALL OF THE GRADUATES JOIN ME IN A WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HELPED PUT YOU IN THE SEATS YOU OCCUPY THIS AFTERNOON. AS LINCOLN CENTER'S PRESIDENT, I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD TO HOST YOUR GRADUATION IN AVERY FISHER HALL.

ON THIS STAGE APPEAR THE WORLD'S GREAT MUSICIANS. I USE THAT ADJECTIVE FULLY AWARE THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS ARE SECOND ONLY TO POLITICS IN GENERATING CONFLICTING OPINIONS.

WHO COULD FORGET MARK TWAIN'S VIEW THAT THE MUSIC OF WAGNER IS NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS IT SOUNDS?

TODAY, TWAIN WOULD PROBABLY SAY THAT THE MUSIC OF BRITNEY SPEARS IS NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS IT LOOKS.

BUT THE MUSIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HALL IS SYMPHONIC. AND, IF I MAY INVOKE THE GRADUATION SPEAKER'S PRIVILEGE OF OFFERING A LITTLE COUNSEL, THERE IS A SYMPHONY IN WHICH I'D URGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE. I CALL IT THE HUMAN SYMPHONY. IT PLAYS THE MUSIC OF EMPATHY. IT OFFERS THE HARMONY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. IT REPRESENTS THE RHAPSODY OF SERVICE BEYOND SELF -- TO ONE'S NEIGHBOR, ONE'S COMMUNITY AND ONE'S COUNTRY.

CIVIC SERVICE HAS ENRICHED THE LIVES OF MANY COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI AND I'D URGE YOU TO EMULATE THEIR EXAMPLE.

YOUR INTELLECTUAL GIFTS AND LEGAL EDUCATION OFFER THE POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO BE OUTSTANDING SYMPHONY PERFORMERS. YOU WILL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL LAWYERS AND MUCH MORE CONTENT HUMAN BEINGS IF YOU LEARN AS MUCH OF THIS MUSIC AS YOU CAN AND IF YOU PLAY IT WITH ENTHUSIASM.

PLEASE DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF TO THE FEW SET PIECES OF THE REPERTORY THAT YOU PLAY FOR MATERIAL COMPENSATION. THE CASES YOU LITIGATE, THE CORPORATIONS YOU ADVISE, THE IPOS YOU HELP BRING TO MARKET, THE CONTRACTS YOU WRITE. ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK. DO IT WELL AND DO IT WITH PRIDE…BUT FOR YOUR SAKE AND FOR THE SAKE OF SOCIETY, KEEP EXPANDING YOUR REPERTORY.

DOING SO WILL TAKE MORE THAN A LITTLE DETERMINATION ON YOUR PART. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU WILL LOOK BACK ON THE DEMANDS ON YOUR TIME IN LAW SCHOOL AS INSIGNIFICANT COMPARED WITH WHAT IS COMING. YOU WILL FACE A TIDAL WAVE OF FAXES, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS AND VISITORS, NOT TO MENTION THE TIME REQUIRED TO SATISFY YOUR DESIRE TO BE WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN COMMUNAL PRIORITIES, YOU WILL RISK SPENDING MUCH OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE RESPONDING ONLY TO THE DEMANDS OF OTHERS. THERE SHOULD BE MUCH MORE TO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE THAN SERVING FEE-PAYING CLIENTS WELL.

THEIR DEMANDS CAN LOCK YOU INTO A NARROW PROFESSIONAL SPECIALTY, ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR LITTLE CONNECTION TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU. THAT IS A DIFFICULT TRACK TO ESCAPE FROM IF YOU STAY IN IT UNTIL YOUR FORTIES OR FIFTIES. EVERY YEAR I SEE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL BUT VERY UNHAPPY ATTORNEYS. THEY ARE LOOKING TO MOVE FROM SUCCESS TO CONSEQUENCE AND FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO DO SO. HAVING ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO GET STUCK IN A PROFESSIONAL RUT FOR TOO LONG, THEY HAVE FORECLOSED MANY PROFESSIONAL AND AVOCATIONAL OPTIONS. SO, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE TIME FOR THE SYMPHONY RIGHT AWAY.

START WITH YOUR OWN LIVES. AFTER GRADUATION, FORM SOME PERSONAL COMMITMENTS TO YOURSELF AND KEEP THEM AS FAITHFULLY AS YOU WOULD FOR A CLIENT. MAYBE THE COMMITMENT IS TO READ A BOOK A MONTH THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PROFESSIONAL WORK, OR TO LEARN TO PLAY THE PIANO, OR TO USE YOUR PASSPORT AND SEE A WONDER OF THIS WORLD, OR BRUSH UP ON A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. GET OUT AND SEE A GOOD MOVIE. BETTER YET, VIEW A PERFORMANCE OR TWO HERE AT LINCOLN CENTER. AND RECOGNIZE THAT VERY FEW BREAKTHROUGHS IN LIFE ARE ACCOMPLISHED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AND 5.

ALL OF THESE EXAMPLES COME UNDER THE HEADING OF LISTENING TO THE HUMAN SYMPHONY. AND THAT IS FINE. THAT IS MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE EVER DO. BUT YOU ARE NOT MOST PEOPLE. YOU ARE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST PEOPLE OF YOUR GENERATION. COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S LEADING LAW SCHOOLS INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CITIES, AT A TIME WHEN YOUR COUNTRY AND THIS PALNET NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER.

YOUR DESTINY AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BECOME A LEADING PLAYER IN THE SYMPHONY. THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW.

WHAT WILL YOU DO? WILL YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE SYMPHONY THROUGH LAW AND YOUR PRO BONO WORK? WILL IT HAPPEN IN POLITICS? WILL IT OCCUR IN CIVIC LIFE? THROUGH YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS? OR, WILL YOU DO IT THROUGH VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS -- THE BOARDS YOU SERVE ON, YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AS A VOLUNTEER? WILL IT BE A CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR OWN CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO SECULAR CHARITIES, OR THROUGH THE SUPPORT YOU LEND TO YOUR RELIGIOUS FAITH? OR, WILL YOU DECIDE, AS DID I, NOT TO PRACTICE LAW AT ALL, BUT TO ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING FULL-TIME FOR A VARIETY OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WHOSE PURPOSE IS PUBLIC SERVICE. OR, TO JOIN THE RANKS OF GOVERNMENT, AS IMPORTANT AND NOBLE A CALLING TODAY AS WHEN PRESIDENT KENNEDY SUMMONED HIS GENERATION TO ITS SERVICE.

SOME OF YOU WILL BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXERCISE MANY OF THESE OPTIONS. AND TO GLANCE AT THE HEADLINES ON ANY GIVEN DAY DEMONSTRATES THE CRYING NEED FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE…

• FIFTY MILLION REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PEOPLE WAGE A DAILY BATTLE TO SURVIVE.
• TWO BILLION PEOPLE LIVE ON LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY.
• TERRORISM AND RELIGIOUS HATRED POSE AN APOCALYPTIC THREAT.

WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE…

• ONLY 8% OF THE SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONTESTED IN 2002 --- AND WE'LL CALL IT AN ELECTION.
• FIFTY MILLION AMERICANS HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
• TOO MANY BUSINESSES LIKE ENRON, ARTHUR ANDERSON AND THEIR ILK, HAVE ENGAGED IN MISREPRESENTATION AND DECEIT.
• AND, WHERE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO PERFORM DISGRACEFULLY FOR OUR CHILDREN.
• LITTLE HAS CHANGED ABOUT THEM SINCE A CLASSIC REPORT WAS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN 1983.
• THE REPORT WAS ENTITLED "A NATION AT RISK" AND IT NOTED "IF AN UNFRIENDLY POWER HAD IMPOSED AMERICA'S PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS UPON US IN THEIR CURRENT STATE, WE WOULD HAVE REGARDED IT AS AN ACT OF WAR." WE LIVE IN A STATE….
• WHERE THREE MEN DECIDE USUALLY MONTHS LATE ON A $90 BILLION BUDGET AFFECTING 17 MILLION PEOPLE, A BUDGET THAT OUR ELECTED ASSEMBLYMEN AND STATE SENATORS DO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, LET ALONE DEBATE - AND WE CALL THIS A PRODUCT OF DEMOCRACY.

AND, WE LIVE IN A CITY….

• THAT RALLIED FAMOUSLY IN THE FACE OF THE WORST DISASTER ON AMERICAN SOIL, BUT NOW CONFRONTS YEARS OF FISCAL STRESS THAT THREATEN TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE POOR MORE THAN ANY OTHER OF OUR CITIZENS.

SO THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF FIGHTS TO BE FOUGHT AND WRONGS TO BE RIGHTED. FORTUNATELY, THERE IS ALSO NO SHORTAGE OF WONDERFUL CAUSES TO BE ADVANCED AND INSTITUTIONS TO BE EXPANDED AND ENRICHED.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND GREATEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT YOU ARE SITTING IN RIGHT NOW IS A TRIBUTE TO THE POWER OF COMMITTED PEOPLE. LINCOLN CENTER IS THE LARGEST FACILITY OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD. DURING THE COURSE OF A YEAR ON OUR SIXTEEN ACRE CAMPUS, NINE CONSTITUENT COMPANIES ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE OVER OF SIX MILLION PEOPLE, SUPPORTED BY A STAFF OF EIGHT THOUSAND. AND, THE LINCOLN CENTER INSTITUTE, THE JULLIARD SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET AND THE PERFORMING ARTS LIBRARY EDUCATE AND TRAIN THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.

OVER THE YEARS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARTISTS HAVE PERFORMED WORKS THAT HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND HAVE BROUGHT THE WORKS OF LIVING ARTISTS TO AUDIENCES FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND, OVER THE YEARS, PROPERTY VALUES AROUND LINCOLN CENTER HAVE ZOOMED, AS HAS THE DESIRABILITY OF LIVING AND WORKING IN ITS VICINITY. AND THIS UNIQUE RESOURCE ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF A PREVIOUS GENERATION. THEIR SENSE OF DISCOVERY, THEIR VISION AND THEIR KEEN SENSE OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY LED THEM TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME AND THEIR RESOURCES TO BUILDING THIS INSTITUTION.

AND NOW THE DEDICATION OF A NEW GENERATION WILL GIVE LINCOLN CENTER THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL RENEWAL IT NEEDS TO KEEP CONTRIBUTING THE FINEST ART IN THE WORLD TO A NEW GENERATION OF AUDIENCES FROM A NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS. AND THAT IS THE WAY THE HUMAN SYMPHONY WORKS. I BESEECH YOU TO JOIN IT.

AS LAWYERS, YOUR POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT SYMPHONY ARE BOUNDLESS. AND YOUR PARTICIPATION IS THE BEST INSURANCE AGAINST THE KIND OF MID-LIFE CRISIS AND LOST OPPORTUNITY THAT JULIUS ROSENWALD, THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF SEARS AND ROEBUCK AND RENOWNED PHILANTHROPIST INVOKED IN THESE MEMORABLE WORDS.

SHALL WE DEVOTE THE FEW PRECIOUS DAYS OF OUR EXISTENCE ONLY TO BUYING AND SELLING, ONLY TO COMPARING SALES WITH THE SALES OF THE SAME DAY THE YEAR BEFORE, ONLY TO SHUFFLING OUR FEET IN THE DANCE, ONLY TO MATCHING LITTLE PICTURE CARDS SO AS TO GROUP TOGETHER THREE JACKS OR ACES OR KINGS, ONLY TO SEEK PLEASURES AND FIGHT TAXES, AND WHEN THE END COMES TO LEAVE AS LITTLE TAXABLE AN ESTATE AS POSSIBLE AS THE FINAL TRIUMPH AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR LIVES? SURELY THERE IS SOMETHING FINER AND BETTER IN LIFE, SOMETHING THAT DIGNIFIES IT AND STAMPS IT WITH AT LEAST SOME LITTLE TOUCH OF THE DIVINE.

MY FRIENDS, IT IS UNSELFISH EFFORT, HELPFULNESS TO OTHERS THAT ENNOBLES LIFE, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT IT DOES FOR OTHERS, BUT MORE WHAT IT DOES FOR OURSELVES. IN THIS SPIRIT, WE SHOULD GIVE NOT GRUDGINGLY, NOT NIGGARDLY, BUT GLADLY, GENEROUSLY, EAGERLY, LOVINGLY, JOYFULLY, INDEED WITH THE SUPREMEST PLEASURE THAT LIFE CAN FURNISH.

MY FELLOW COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES, I WISH FOR YOU THE ENORMOUS SATISFACTION THAT COMES WITH FEEDING THE HUNGRY, HEALING THE SICK, TRAINING THE UNEMPLOYED, SEEKING SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ADVANCING NOBLE CAUSES IN THE MANY FORMS THAT YOU WILL FIND THEM.

ALL OF US ASSOCIATED WITH LINCOLN CENTER OFFER OUR WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO YOU, THE EXTRAORDINARY CLASS OF 2002.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.