South Carolina Law Schools

School of law University of soUth Carolina Prestigious Lectures Link usc Law with gLobaL issues, thought, and research. spring 2007 April 2007 Dear Alumni and Friends: I ’m writing to share some of the highlights of what has been an especially exciting month. The photographs with this letter are from our outstanding lecture series, each of which emphasizes one of our many strengths. First was the Barnes Symposium, which continued its tradition of bringing together outstanding participants from across the world. This year’s symposium focused on a topic of special concern: How does legal change relate to social change, especially when religious belief informs both? The richness of the discussion is evident from even a partial list of participants: military attorneys from the United States and India, journalists from Indonesia and the United States, and academics from five continents. Next was the Knowlton Lecture delivered by Professor Eric Kandel of Columbia University. Kandel, the 2000 winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, drew on his research into the molecular mechanisms of memory to provide a thought-provoking lecture subtitled “Memory and the Biological Basis of Individuality.” The final lecture in our trilogy of programs was the Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Lecture by Professor Alexander Capron, former director of the Department of Ethics, Trade, Human Rights, and Health Law at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Capron discussed “Ethical Challenges in Preparing for a Pandemic,” going beyond the usual discussion of anticipation of a pandemic and focusing on moral issues likely to arise in such a scenario. Complementing these faculty-organized events was the Law Review’s symposium on commercial speech. Like the other three events, this symposium brought to campus a distinguished group of participants. The symposium opened with comments by S.C. Chief Justice Jean Toal, who used an S.C. case to explain the origins of the commercial speech doctrine. Other participants focused on a fascinating range of topics, both practical and theoretical. More information about each of the programs is available on the School of Law’s Web site (www.law.sc.edu). Especially important, though, is the fact that each lecture demonstrates how closely our school collaborates with other University colleagues. The Barnes Symposium links us with international programs throughout the University and focuses on broad questions of law and morality. The Knowlton Lecture, cosponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, links us with the liberal arts, this year asking critical questions about how each of us creates a personal identity. The Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Lecture collaborates with the health sciences division to consider the legal implications of law and issues in health care. The Law Review symposium was cosponsored by the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies. Even more important is the fact that each of our programs was open to the public—and especially to our alumni and friends. The best way to keep up with events at your alma mater is through our Web site. To provide an additional source of information, we are developing an electronic newsletter. If you’re interested, please take advantage of the notice in this issue of Legal Times and send us your e-mail address (lawalum@sc.edu) so we can keep you informed of events at the law school. You’ll also see that we’re already looking forward to our next academic year, with plans to celebrate our 140th birthday this fall. I hope that you’ll always feel comfortable returning to the School of Law, whether it’s for all or part of a formal program or just for a visit. Sincerely, Walter F Pratt Jr., Dean . Educational Foundation Distinguished Professor of Law 2 FRONT COVER PHOTO: Alexander Capron, former director of ethics, trade, human rights, and health law at the World Health Organization, was the featured speaker at the USC law school’s annual Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Lecture. His topic, “Ethical Challenges in Preparing for a Pandemic,” attracted many people to the law school and prompted a podcast of the lecture from the law school Web site, www.law.sc.edu. 1 BARNES SymPOSiUm 1 Discussing how legal change relates to social change were: maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar, Judge Advocate General, indian Army, New Dehli; Col. David Gordon, U.S. Army War College; Lt. Col. Kevin Govern, U.S.m.A. West Point; Professor David Linnan, USC School of Law; Lt. Col. William Farrell, m.C.A.S. Beaufort, S.C.; Col. Daniel L. Rubini, JAG, U.S. Army (retired); and Rudolph C. Barnes Jr. 2 maggie Gallagher, syndicated columnist and president of the institute for marriage and Public Policy, participates in a panel discussion, “Society, Religion, and Secular Law.” 3 Albie Sachs from the South African Constitutional Court in Johannesburg reflects on conflicted societies and legal development. KNOWLTON LECTURE 4 Nobel Prize–winning scientist Dr. Eric Kandel lectured on a new biology of the mind drawing from his research into the biological foundations of memory and cognition. 5 The Barnes family, shown here, made the event possible through a generous endowment in memory of Rudolph C. Barnes (1917–1995). JOHNSON & JOHNSON HEALTHCARE LECTURE 6 Johnson & Johnson lecturer Dr. Alexander Capron; lecture chair, Professor Jacqueline Fox; Johnson & Johnson government affairs director George irving; and USC Provost mark Becker. 7 Johnson & Johnson lecture attendees ask questions about pandemic preparedness. 2 3 4 5 6 7 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAiD Permit #766 Columbia, SC University of soUth Carolina School of law ColUMBia, sC 29208 The University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Institution. 07020 University Publications 4/07 School of Law ElEctronic nEwslEttEr Hear about our life and times, and tell us about your life and times. Reconnect with former classmates, and make plans to attend our reunions and other exciting events. Find out what’s going on with fellow School of Law alumni, student organizations, and student, faculty, and staff honors and distinctions. E-mail lawalum@sc.edu with your contact information, and we will send you a monthly bulletin. Announcing the University of South Carolina University of south carolina School of Law The University of South Carolina School of Law is celebrating its 140th birthday in October. Don’t miss our celebration. october 2007 information and details to follow.