Fall 2005

DEAN’S MESSAGE

Dear Alumni and Friends,

capacity to innovate in matters of government, the College of Law is also in unusual physical proximity to the key institutions of state government and law — the Oregon Capitol and the Oregon Supreme Court. As this issue illustrates, Willamette faculty and students have been crossing the street that literally and figuratively separates law and government and have mastered and improved both. The alumni profiled in this issue are some of the latest exemplars. They have served the public well, and we are proud to call them our own.

As we begin the 122nd year in the history of the College of Law, we have every reason to anticipate a great year ahead. For the third consecutive year, our Office of Admission broke all previous records. In a year in which applications to law schools nationally and regionally declined, applications to Willamette increased by 23 percent over the previous year to reach the highest number (1,554) in the school’s history. Continuing our relentless pursuit of excellence, we decided to decrease rather than increase the number of admission offers, thus producing the most selective entering class in the school’s history — 145 bright, enthusiastic, eagerto-learn students. Another record is the percentage of women students —54 percent. This is the first year in which the number of women students has exceeded that of men. The previous high was 48 percent in 2001 and 1997.

One of the people who more than any other has helped strengthen Willamette’s ties with state government is Associate Dean and Oregon Law Commission Director David R. Kenagy (profiled on p. 16). But, of course, David has done much more than that for Willamette. He came to Willamette in 1991 for a position that in his words had a very short and simple job description: to “help the dean.” Not only did he help the dean who hired him, he has helped every dean thereafter, especially myself. More importantly, he has helped Willamette University and the College of Law and its students become stronger and aim higher, even as his own physical strength was beginning to decline. David is not one to let adversity impede his service of noble causes. With admiration and affection, I am pleased to dedicate this issue of the Willamette Lawyer to David Kenagy in honor of his myriad contributions to the College of Law.

Joining us in welcoming the new students are the two latest additions to the faculty, W. Warren Binford and Paul Diller. Professor Binford (profiled on p. 9) directs the Clinical Law Program, while Professor Diller (profiled on p. 8) teaches Property and State and Local Government.

With my best wishes,

Law and Government is the theme of this issue. From its inception, the College of Law has had a unique relationship with government. Located in the capital of a state known for its proclivity and

Symeon C. Symeonides Dean and Professor of Law

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