Santa Clara University

Alumni Weekend 2003

by Larry Sokoloff '92 

September is reunion time for law alumni. The 2003 Law Alumni Weekend brought back graduates, families, and friends for a weekend of celebration, fundraising, and nostalgia. Here are a few highlights of some of the events and gatherings that took place between Sept. 11 and 13.

Justice Edward Panelli Golf Classic

Always a popular event, the fifth annual golf tournament drew more than 100 alumni and a dozen volunteers to the Cinnabar Hills Golf Course in the foothills of South San Jose. The popular fundraiser included lunch, dinner, and a silent auction. About $15,000 was raised for scholarships and a student emergency loan program at the event.

"It's great," said Randy Gard B.S. '81, J.D. '90. "It's like golfing with a lot of your best friends." Brian Shetler '92, who also golfed in the previous year's tourney, said, "It's always nice to come out and get a good game under the sun with people you know."

Benefit for Justice

The Public Interest Resource Center held its ninth annual dinner and auction on Friday, September 13. Approximately $14,000 was raised at the event in the Arts and Sciences Building, which was attended by about 450 people.

"The Benefit for Justice was spectacular," said Christy Lee, a third-year law student who chaired the benefit. "Everyone had a lot of fun at the benefit, and were glad to know that it was raising money for a great cause."

Among the more notable items auctioned off was a lunch with attorney Johnnie Cochran and SCU law Professor Gerald Uelmen, both of whom were on O.J. Simpson's criminal defense trial team. The lunch will be held when Cochran visits the campus in the spring. First-year law students Broderick Brown and David Randall posted the winning bid of $1,275.

A November dinner for 15 at the home of Professor Cynthia Mertens, with preparation help by Dean Donald Polden and Associate Dean Mary Emery, was auctioned for $700, while a dinner with Professor Bradley Joondeph and his wife brought in $1,000.

Dean Donald Polden (second from right) with members of the class of 1953 (left to right), Don Richardson, Joe Greco, and Tony Oliver.

The money raised at the event goes toward public interest endowment programs, including scholarships, summer fellowships, and debt repayment assistance to graduates practicing public interest law.

Gala Evening

On Saturday evening, Sept. 13, about 100 alums and guests gathered in Benson Center for the gala. The evening began with wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Dean Donald Polden was the evening's keynote speaker. He told the audience that he believes the School of Law has met three goals of legal education with considerable success. Those goals, he said, are "inspiring competence and social conscience in each generation of graduates, fostering respect for and adherence to the rule of law, and continually improving the legal profession."

Polden added, "I pledge to you that I, as dean of your law school, will continue to pursue these fundamental and essential goals as I do my work here."

New Dean Donald Polden was the keynote speaker at the gala event.

The dean also honored the six newly inducted members of the Ruffo Golden Gavel Society. Established in 2000 and named for Albert Ruffo '36, the Society honors those who graduated from the law school 50 or more years ago. The spotlight was on the class of 1953, celebrating its 50th reunion. Class members included Robert Lagomarsino, a former state senator and Republican congressman from Ventura.

Patrick O'Laughlin '73 led a tribute to the late B.T. Collins '73 for the class's 30-year reunion.

"I enjoyed the reunion activities very much," said Tony Oliver '53, a shareholder in the Los Angeles law firm of Parker, Milliken, Clark, O'Hara and Samuelian, where he practices labor and employment law. Oliver, who spoke at the dinner, added, "It was fun to see and be with other practitioners that I had not seen for many years and to meet those who are following in our footsteps."