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Happy Thanksgiving!
The U.S. has had many early observances of giving thanks, but it was not permanently made a national holiday until President Abraham Lincoln's proclamation in 1863. Even though the nation was in the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln observed that there were still many things for which to be thankful.
Since the original proclamation by President Lincoln and an act of Congress cementing the official date to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday starting in 1942, Thanksgiving has been a time for families and friends to get together to enjoy themselves with a great meal, the start of the holiday shopping season, and game watching on TV. While enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, like many of you, I will reflect on its underpinnings and pause to give thanks.
At the Law Center, we also have many blessings that are important to acknowledge and for which we are very thankful. We are thankful for the progress we have made toward securing the funding for a new law school building and for all who have contributed to that effort.
We are thankful for the Law Center's powerhouse faculty, who are excellent teachers who continue to educate the next generation of lawyers. With top-notch academic credentials and transformative legal scholarship, the faculty shapes the debate and discussion of globally and nationally significant issues. The faculty has continued to increase publications to almost 150 books, book chapters, and articles over the past year, and over the past three years, 10 faculty members have published in top 30 law reviews, sometimes multiple times. Two faculty members have secured prestigious Fulbright Awards to do research and teaching in Australia and Europe.
We are thankful for the Law Center's engaged and well-credentialed student body. The first-year students have a median LSAT of 160 and UGPA of 3.61. This is the highest median UGPA in at least the past 32 years, which is as far back as our records go and the highest median LSAT in five years. The first year class is also the most diverse in the law school’s history with more women than men and with more than 46.3 percent who are from underrepresented backgrounds.
We are thankful for the Law Center's innovative clinics and academic centers and institutes which work (with our students) to transform the world through their research and advocacy and help serve some of the most underserved members of the Houston community.
We are thankful for the Law Center's hard working and dedicated staff who ensure the Law Center runs smoothly and professionally to support students and faculty.
We are thankful for the Law Center's alumni who are world leaders in the legal community and society who through their legal practice represent clients and advocate for socially and economically important issues. Our alumni also give back to the Law Center with their financial contributions, time spent mentoring students, and commitment to hiring our students; this paves the way for the future generation of Law Center graduates. I am personally very thankful and very blessed to serve as your dean for almost 4 ½ years.
For all these blessings, we are grateful and give thanks.
Click here to listen to Dean Baynes discuss Thanksgiving on the Law Center's Briefcase radio program.
Sincerely,
Leonard M. Baynes
Dean and Professor of Law
University of Houston Law Center |
