In Brief
Emory Law Launches Inaugural Summer Abroad Program
E
mory Law offered students a first this summer — the opportunity to participate in its first study abroad program in Budapest. The program began in May with courses being taught at Central European University (ceu) in Budapest, an international post-graduate institution specializing in the field of humanities and social sciences. “The Summer Program in Budapest offers law students a unique opportunity,” said Emory Law Dean David Partlett. “Students will have the benefit of attending classes with students from Central European University and will make new connections with their counterparts from across central and Eastern Europe. “In today’s global marketplace, this level of exposure to studying international law will help prepare students for more than practice. It will give them a solid foundation for dealing with international business and human rights issues impacting the European Union.” Emory Law Professors Peter Hay, Johan Van der Vyver, and Tibor Varady will serve as instructors, along with law professors from Florida State University and ceu. Law students participating in the program will join students enrolled at ceu, though courses will be taught in English. Students have the option of completing four or six hours of coursework in a variety of international law courses, including “The Environment of International Business Transactions” and “International Human Rights.” Learn more at www.law.emory.edu/budapest.
Freer Receives University Scholar/ Teacher Award Richard D. Freer, Robert Howell Hall Professor Law, received the University Scholar/Teacher Award at the Emory University Commencement ceremony on May 12. The Scholar/Teacher Award, given on behalf of the United Methodist Church Board of Higher Education and Ministry, is presented to one Emory University professor each year who has excelled as a classroom teacher, shown unusual concern for students, and made significant contributions to the scholarly life of the university. Only one other law professor has received this award — the late Harold J. Berman in 1992. In addition to the Scholar/Teacher Award, Professor Freer was honored by the Class of 2008 as this year’s Most Outstanding Professor, an award he has received seven times in his 25-year teaching career at Emory. He also was named Professor of the Year by the Black Law Students Association for 2007– 08.
ADR Society Hosts Local Elementary School
T
he Alternative Dispute Resolution (adr) Society hosted a group of twenty-seven fourth- and fifth-graders in March to discuss peer mediation and the importance of conflict resolution. Ola Elementary School in McDonough recently introduced its own peer mediation program, and school counselor Tracey Glenn decided students could learn more about the mediation process from Emory Law’s adr Society. Emory Law students William D’Elia 08l, Brooke Emery 08l,
Meg Leary 10l, Chris Meek 08l, and Samantha Stilp 10l conducted a mock mediation to show the elementary school students how lawyers and other professionals engage in alternative dispute resolution. Elementary school students had the opportunity to take the skills they observed and practice in small groups with the help of adr Society members. The program ended with a tour of Emory Law. “We received great feedback from the elementary school students and the school counselors,” said Brooke
Emery 08l, director of the adr Society. “The counselors expressed interest in making this an annual event with their students.”
summer 2008
3