Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology

T H E R E C O R D

Vol. No. XXXI, No. 1
August 18, 1997

FROM DEAN PERRITT

In late April, I made a decision to join the Chicago-Kent legal community as dean. Chicago-Kent is an exciting place, and I want to tell you why I decided to come here. I received my bachelor's degree in engineering from MIT, my law degree from Georgetown (beginning in Georgetown's part-time program), spent five years in Washington working on the White House staff and as Deputy Under Secretary of Labor (and later, on another President's transition team), five years as a corporate labor lawyer and fifteen years as a law professor at Villanova. I have written more than a dozen books and four dozen law review articles, many of them about information technology and law, some about dispute resolution, and several about labor and employment law. I have been fortunate to have an unusually broad range of experience as a lawyer, as a policy maker, and as a teacher. From my experience, I know how law is used in the classroom, in the courtroom and in cabinet-level policy making. Although the skills demanded in each setting are different, similar creativity is required in all three contexts to confront social and technological change. I also know how university-based law schools generate new ideas for these settings. Those multiple perspectives all reinforce my perception that Chicago-Kent is a great place for you and for me to be right now.

Chicago-Kent has a long tradition of tying the theoretical to the practical, of linking theoretical scholarship and good teaching to preparation in the skills of law practice and other real world activities. We take our identity as a professional school seriously. Not only is our faculty outstanding in terms of creativity and theoretical force, but our legal writing program, our law offices clinical program, and our use of computers in the classroom are models for the rest of the country. Our commitment to professionalism and professional skills is recognized by the profession. This year the American Bar Association gave Chicago-Kent a national award for its Professionalism Day.

One of the great things about Law as a profession is its diversity. You can be creative and fulfilled in a wide variety of ways. You can learn from many different experiences in law school and afterwards. Chicago-Kent embraces that diversity in personal styles, future plans, and current activities. Chicago-Kent has always been ahead of its time, equipping its students for the future of the profession, building practical skills on a foundation of established doctrine and new legal ideas.

These traditions naturally lead to three new initiatives for my first year as dean. The first involves an Institute for Law, Science and Technology--a joint venture between Chicago-Kent and other units of IIT. The Institute facilitates real world use of theories originating in the laboratory and the law school seminar. It concerns itself with the intersections of law, science and technology, exploring the social, ethical and legal implications of, for example: cloning and other uses of new biotechnologies; the implications of the Internet's indifference to geography for a world in which legal systems always have been built within geographic boundaries; the capability of society from South Chicago to the Amazon Valley to deal with threats to the environment through sustainable development and other new concepts. The Institute makes it easier for you to benefit from the expertise of IIT faculty outside the law school, in the engineering departments, in the Stuart School of Business, in the world-famous Institute for Design. The first program in this initiative will be held on December 5 at the Law School, concerning the impact of new reproductive technologies, marking the anniversary of the first test tube baby.

The second initiative involves globalization. It ties together faculty members, policy makers, business executives, labor leaders and public interest advocates in exploring new roles for international law and international institutions in expanding trade, managing inter-ethnic conflict, and promoting human rights and environmental protection. Synthesizing the unique qualities of the Law School's international faculty, its LLM program in international and comparative law, and its stewardship of the Library of International Relations, this initiative will be launched by a major program on September 19, featuring an address by Presidential envoy Richard C. Holbrooke on "Collective Security as a Foundation for Trade: NATO, the U.N., and Peace Enforcement in Bosnia and Cyprus," followed by a major symposium on China's accession to the WTO on November 6-7. In the Spring, we expect activities relating to international labor and environmental standards, and to the policy and legal problems raised by immigration and refugees.

The third initiative extends Chicago-Kent's historical excellence in understanding the relationship between law and computers. It deals with the challenges to traditional legal doctrine and institutions represented by the Internet and other computer technologies ranging from digital signatures to criminal liability half-way around the world for something someone puts on his Web page in Illinois. It also deals with new concepts of government implemented through the Internet. This initiative is sponsoring a major conference in Washington on October 8, aimed at helping representatives from Europe, the United States and Asia agree on criteria for government deference to private self-regulation of the Internet.

All of these initiatives involve law students. The initiatives symbolize our commitment to professional excellence and intellectual depth. You are the targets of that commitment and will benefit from it throughout your careers, in solo practice, in a big firm, in public interest work, in business, in government; as a prosecutor or plaintiff, defense counsel or judge. It's going to be a busy and exciting fall. I welcome your energy and your involvement.

I look forward to working with you. Together we can continue Chicago-Kent's tradition of blazing new trails into the profession, and of stimulating new legal thinking to serve the best aspirations of society.

FROM ASSISTANT DEAN STEPHEN SOWLE

Welcome to Chicago-Kent! You chose a terrific law school and we are pleased that you are joining our community. I will have several roles in your new life. My title is Assistant Dean for Academic Administration and Student Affairs, which means that my fingers are in several pies. I work with the Registrar's office on the scheduling and administration of your courses and the maintenance of your academic records. I work with the Student Affairs office on orientation, academic and personal counseling of students, and related matters. Finally, I work with Career Services on making sure that you are provided with the best career counseling services possible. Beyond these specific duties, my job is to make sure that your life at the law school remains as free from administrative hassles as possible. But questions and problems undoubtedly will arise for some of you. If you think I can be of help, please call me at 906-5130, come by my office (Room 320C), or e-mail me (SSOWLE). If I can't help you, I'll point you in the right direction. My door is open without appointment, so long as I am not otherwise occupied when you drop by. I wish you the best of luck at the start of an exciting year.

FROM THE REGISTRAR

The Registrar's office welcomes you. We look forward to meeting and serving you throughout your legal studies at Chicago-Kent. Feel free to visit our office, room 220, and introduce yourself. Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The primary function of the Registrar's office is to maintain your academic records. To better serve you, it is important that our records remain accurate and current. Please take a moment this week to return the Change in Personal Information sheet included in your orientation packet. We will be sending you lots of important information in the years to come; we want to make sure that no one is excluded. Hope to see you soon!

FROM THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SERVICES

Welcome 1Ls! Feeling excited? Nervous? Confused? A little of everything? Can't quite believe you're really finally here? If you are experiencing any of these feelings or have questions you would like answered -- come see me, Ellen Berger, the Director for Student Services. I can be found in Room 546. My telephone number is 906-5272, and my e-mail address is EBERGER.

I can assist you with all matters of student concern, including academic difficulties, personal issues, and making a successful transition to law school. Students with disabilities should contact me to arrange any necessary accommodations. If something is worrying you, don't suffer in silence. I am here to help relieve the stress that comes with adjusting to law school.

By the way, you don't have to have a problem to come see me. Just drop in and introduce yourself! As usual, Chicago-Kent has admitted an interesting and talented group of students. I look forward to getting to know you.

FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE & CLE

FALL 1997 SEMESTER BUILDING AND INFORMATION CENTER (LIBRARY) HOURS

The new hours for the Fall semester will begin on MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1997. Copies of the new schedule may be picked up at the security desk in the front lobby, from the racks next to the bulletin board in the third floor cafeteria, and in the racks on the concourse level.

FROM THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID

If you are receiving a Federal Perkins loan for the 1997-98 academic year as indicated on your award letter, it is required that you sign a promissory note for each disbursement. Proceeds for the Federal Perkins loan cannot be posted into your student account without a completed financial aid file and a signed promissory note.

Promissory notes will be available for you to sign in room 570. The dates and times are listed below for your convenience. A representative from the Financial Aid Office will be present to answer any questions. Please bring your driver's license and names and addresses of three references.

Day	Time`	Room
Monday, August 25	8:30-1:00pm 2:00-5:00pm	570
Tuesday, August 26	8:30-1:00pm 2:00-5:00pm	570

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Financial Aid Office by sending an email to finaid.kentlaw.edu, call (312) 906-5180, or stop by Suite 230.

FROM CAREER SERVICES

A Special Welcome to First-Year Students!

The Career Services Office is delighted to welcome you to Chicago-Kent. We look forward to meeting you and working with you as you begin your legal education.

Career services offices at laws schools throughout the country do not provide career counseling services to first-year students before November 1^st to comply with the requirements of the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education (law school accrediting organizations), as well as the National Association for Law Placement standards. The National Association of Law Placement Principles and Standards state that first-year students and prospective employers should not initiate contact with one another before December 1^st.

These provisions were developed to insure that during the first few months of law school, first-year students concentrate on their legal studies rather than on the job search process. There is one exception -- evening students seeking non-legal employment may visit the Career Services Office before November 1^st

In late October and early November, we will offer a series of programs designed specifically for first-year students. The dates of the programs will be announced in the Record. The programs will tell you about our services and address the realities of the job market, how to structure a summer job search, and how to write a legal resume and cover letters.

First-year students are encouraged to attend informational programs offered by our office and by student organizations this fall on a variety of topics. Watch the Record for program subject matter and times.

The Career Services staff wishes you success as you begin your legal studies!

Stephanie Rever Chu-- Executive Director of Career Services

Charis Runnels--Resource Manager

Dana Beaird--Administrative Manager

Barbara Clemmer--Administrative Assistant

LaJuanna Williams--Resource Coordinator

Kim Reynolds--Career Strategist

Debbi Gutman--Career Strategist

Careerline Newsletter

Graduation may seem a long way off right now, but don't forget you'll be working in the legal profession before you know it! To keep up-to-date with employment trends, read advice from career strategists, know about career services programs and other vital information, get in the habit of reading Careerline, the Career Services Office newsletter. A special orientation issue is in your orientation materials.

During the 1997-98 academic year Careerline will be published six times. This year is also the debut of an evening edition of Careerline that will supplement each issue with articles of particular interest to evening students.

The first issue will be available on Monday, August 25. It includes advice to 1Ls from upperclass students, a quiz about networking, interviews with successful graduates about their job searches, answers to the most frequently asked question from each class, an article about mock interviews, and much, much more!

Pick up your copy on Monday either in the Concourse, on the 3^rd floor Spak bulletin board, or outside or inside the Career Services Office. Don't miss it!

CHECK IT OUT... NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION CENTER

Welcome to the Information Center

The Information Center Staff would like to welcome new Chicago-Kent students and welcome back all returning students.

The "hub" of the Information Center is the Service Desk located at the 9^th floor main entrance. Circulation and reference are located at the Service Desk. Reference librarians are available for assistance during most hours that the Information Center is open. Stop by the 9^th floor Service Desk and say hello! While you are there, pick up a copy of the Information Center Newsletter.

Orientation Week Tours

The Information Center will provide tours of the libraries during orientation week. A schedule of tour times has been included in your orientation packet. If you have any questions, please stop by the Service Desk on the 9^th floor.

Fall Information Center Hours

Starting Monday, Aug. 18, 1997:

Monday through Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

7:45 a.m. - 11.00 p.m.
7:45 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Special Labor Day Weekend Hours:

Friday, August 29
Saturday, August 30
Sunday, August 31
Monday, September 1

7:45 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
CLOSED
CLOSED
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

FROM SERVING OUR SOCIETY (SOS)

Serving Our Society (SOS) would like to welcome everyone back to school and extend a special welcome to the entering 1L class. SOS is here to help anyone interested in volunteering at a public interest agency obtain a placement that will provide you with a meaningful experience. In addition, after you have completed 50 hours of work, you will receive Chicago/Kent's Certificate of Appreciation for your pro bono work.

If you are interested in volunteering, or just want to discuss possible volunteer opportunities or career possibilities in the public interest field, please stop by our office and talk to one of our counselors: Ann Celine O'Hallaren (3L) or Carolyn Buntin (2L). Our office is located in room 686. We will list our weekly office hours for the semester in next week's Record.

NEWS FROM THE CENTER FOR LAW AND COMPUTERS (CLC)

Welcome to Chicago-Kent! You have just begun your legal career in the most advanced law school facility in the United States. During the first week of school we will be introducing you to many features of our computer network.

Questions about KENTNET

You already have an account on KENTNET, the Chicago-Kent student file server. During the introductory sessions this week, we will give you your login name and initial password. On Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22, CLC Lab Manager Melissa Mooney will be available in Lab 700 during Open Lab periods to answer your questions about computing, word processing, and using the building's technology.

Many questions can be answered by looking in the Technology Guide, which you will receive during your introductory session. The CLC has also created guides for using specific applications and features called HelpDocs. Look for HelpDocs in Lab 700 or the CLC's offices on the seventh floor. In addition, all the HelpDocs are available on Chicago-Kent's Intranet server, http://ck.kentlaw.edu. Follow the links to the Computer Support Forum.

If you ever have a problem with a KENTNET application, or just have a question, please send an Email message to HELPDESK. HELPDESK is monitored daily by members of the Computer Law Association and CLC staff members.

Printing on KENTNET

Chicago-Kent provides high-quality laser printers in all the labs for student use. Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw printing is automatically routed to the Document Center on the ninth floor. You must pay for Document Center printouts when you pick them up.

You receive 400 free pages of printing for the Fall, 1997 semester. If you go over 400 pages, you will be charged 5¢ per page. The Fall, 1997 printing balance runs through January 6th. You will receive another 400 pages of printing for the Spring semester.

You can check your current printing balance at any time. Look under KENTNET NETWORK SERVICES | FALL 1996 STUDENT PRINTER ACCOUNT BALANCES. Printer balances can be paid at the Bursar's office; your balance must be paid in full for you to receive your next semester's free pages.

The Record

Read this semester's issues of The Record online at http://ck.kentlaw.edu/record using any web browser. You can find an online version on Kentnet, under NEWS | THE RECORD, which is available both inside the building and through the dial-in system.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Justinian Society of Lawyers Scholarships

The Justinian Society of Lawyers will award scholarships to Italian-American law students who demonstrate financial need, Italian ancestry and academic achievement.

There is no formal application procedure. Interested students should submit a written narrative emphasizing the three above-mentioned criteria, along with an official transcript of law school grades, to Mr. Richard B. Caifano, Attorney at Law, 20 N. Clark St., Suite 725, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. All requests must be received by Mr. Caifano no later than September 5, 1997. The scholarships will be awarded at the annual installation dinner on September 24, 1997.

SPECIAL NOTICES

DISCOUNTED SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Students, faculty or staff who wish a discounted subscription to The Wall Street Journal can sign up on a sheet posted on the door of Office No. 829. One year = $88; half-year = $45; and 15 weeks = $29. Subscription requests will be sent in weekly for the first three weeks of classes. Discounted subscriptions for Barron's are also available: One year = $72.50; half-year = $37; and 15 weeks = $25. Requests can be E-Mailed to Prof. Hablutzel (PHABLUTZ): include your name, address where the issues are to be sent (normally where you are living), expected month and year of graduation, phone number and E-Mail address, and for what term you want the subscription. The publisher will bill you directly.

NOTES FROM THE BOOKSTORE

Welcome first year students! After the rush please take the time to check out other items in the store, such as study aids, hornbooks, gifts and clothing items.