Dear Friends,

As I have mentioned in past messages, Santa Clara Law is a Reggio-inspired relational learning community. What does that look like in action? It means appreciating that all members of our community are educators, including students, staff, faculty, and alumni. It is embracing dynamic reciprocity, active listening, reflective dialogue, and the co-construction of understanding and research among all community members. It is an interconnected experience that values all walks of life, treats every human being with equal dignity and respect, and collaboratively works to create a hope-filled future. 

Over the past few days alone, there have been awe-inspiring law school gatherings that have further strengthened our communal relationships, all built upon our common creed of service to others. 

We had the privilege of hosting author, scholar, and public intellectual Dr. Sherry Turkle alongside Professor David Yosifon for a compelling conversation about her newest book, Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines. Dr. Turkle’s book examines human relationships with chatbots and the effects these relationships have at all stages of life, from early childhood to parenthood to mourning. It was a timely, insightful, and thought-provoking dialogue, which encouraged us all to appreciate our sacred interpersonal human relationships, now more than ever.

 

Those relationships were also lifted up at last weekend’s Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center’s annual extravaganza. Throughout the evening, there were expressions of praise for the incredible Lynette Parker who retired after a life of tremendous service to her clients and students, gratitude for the entire Center team of faculty, advisory board members, staff, students, alumni, university partners, donors, sponsors, and volunteers, and resolve to continue the Center's vital work in the face of challenging times. As the poet Toi Derrecotte beautifully reminds us: “Joy is an act of resistance,” and the entire Center community brought great joy to their celebration of their relational commitment to justice. 

That commitment was also exemplified by our Center for Social Justice and our student organizations, who led our annual Pro Bono Week, through which our students participated in volunteer opportunities in service of organizations such as the International Rescue Committee and Silicon Valley Second Harvest Food Bank. This was a great follow up to our LAS team’s Service Day over the Fall Break, with the team packaging an incredible 471 meals at Martha’s Kitchen. Thank you to Professor Evangeline Abriel and Janelle Atangan for your leadership in relational service. We are incredibly proud of our students, who in the past year alone have dedicated more than 51,000 hours of pro bono work for our community.

We are rounding out the week on another joyous note at Charney Hall, with our teams facing off in a friendly pumpkin decorating contest. If you are on campus, please stop by and see the amazing creativity of our educators and staff in the Atrium! Thank you to the Law Student Services team for orchestrating this fun, community building effort. 

I am always grateful to be part of such a wonderful community. I recently spoke with the brilliant and visionary Dean of St. Mary's University School of Law, Patricia Roberts for the Aspen Leading Edge Podcast to discuss how we are innovating for the common good at Santa Clara Law by building a relational community. 

With warm regards and great gratitude,   

 

Michael J. Kaufman
Dean and Professor of Law
Santa Clara University School of Law