alumni news years. First, selection of staff was based almost entirely on writing ability, with minimal regard for grades or class rank. Second, the Journal would be interdisciplinary, striving to include not only viewpoints from academics but also from policymakers and professionals in relevant fields. One issue each year would arise from a symposium that brought these experts together. The founders also hoped the Journal would “nurture camaraderie and intellectual dialogue between majority and minority law students,” says Rita Bigras, L’91. To that end, they encouraged students of color to apply to the Journal and submit articles for publication. Finally, authors were encouraged to write articles in their own voice, and editors did not remove those personal touches. “I think something that was instrumental in perpetuating the life of the Journal was making it something that students wanted to do,” says Scott Long, L’91, managing editor of the first issue. “It’s interesting work, and it’s going to attract people. I’m sure it’s a resume builder – and maybe that’s why some people do it – but it’s so much more than that.” ‘What we were hoping for’ Just six weeks passed from their first meeting in the spring of 1990 to the day the founding five received faculty approval for the Journal. During that time, they crafted a five-year plan to sustain the publication. When the
Cover story The face of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy has changed several times since its founding.
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Volumes 1 and 2 Summer ’91 through Spring ’93
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Volumes 3 - 5 Fall ’93 through Spring ’96
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Volumes 6 - 16 Fall ’96 through Spring ’07
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Starting with Volume 17 Fall ’07 through the present
a strong suggestion of matching funds from the law school – to launch the publication. They staked out space on the fifth floor of the library formerly dedicated to storing book dummies. And they secured a furniture donation from the Wichita law firm at which Long had interned. The first issue focused on environmental equity and the notion that pollution follows the path of least resistance. For example, polluting factories are often located in poverty pockets where people need the jobs created by the factories and therefore lack bargaining power to fight for their health. In keeping with their brief history of boldness, Jay Kramer, L’11 the Journal founders invited Donald Elliot, thengeneral counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency, to deliver the keynote address at the symposium in the spring of 1991. He accepted their offer. The resulting publication was used at a meeting of the International Monetary Fund to talk about employment issues, the cost of environmental cleanup and its
“Not only have I dramatically improved my research and writing ability, but I have also met friends and colleagues that I will certainly work with and stay in contact with after law school.” — question of funding arose, the founders walked to Strong Hall, met with a top administrator and walked out with the promise of $10,000 over two years – and
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