Message from the Dean I am a proud graduate of Grambling State University. Before being named dean of North Carolina Central University School of Law (the “Law School”), my only connection to the school was watching the Eagles play my Tigers in the Celebration Bowl. Being appointed as the dean of one of the six HBCU law schools was a dream come true for me. Deaning in the Age of Coronavirus has been challenging. I have dealt with what I call “the four Ps” – pandemic, police misconduct, protests, and political upheaval. That said, I have been heartened by three more. BROWNE C. LEWIS
The Four Ps COVID caused us to change the way that we deliver legal education and the manner in which we interact with one another. It has been especially taxing for our first year students. Most of those students were forced to finish their college journey online and to start law school remotely. All of our students had to endure a compressed fall semester and a spring semester without the benefit of spring break. Through it all, the faculty and staff came together to ensure that the nest was protected and that our legal eagles had everything they needed to take flight. Our alumni offered our students financial support, mentorship, and employment opportunities.
DEAN NCCU School of Law
The punches kept coming and the pain was exacerbated by the police killings of unarmed Black people. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd were like an unholy trinity that crashed down on young people who were already reeling from the impact of a global pandemic. During that time, the only support we could give our students was empathy. We acknowledged their hurt and let them know that we were also in pain. I watched as deans of other law schools issued statements condemning the police killings. As the dean of a law school created to foster segregation and commissioned to educate African Americans, I felt that issuing a statement denouncing systemic racism would be an inadequate gesture. Instead, I worked with our faculty to create the Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiative (SJREI). SJREI is designed to explore ways to address issues of injustice and racism that go beyond the criminal justice system. Like many young people across the country, our students joined the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement to protest racial injustice in this country. My maternal instinct kicked in and I cautioned our students to wear their masks, practice social distancing and do other things to stay safe when they participated in the protests. However, I did not do anything to discourage them from engaging in peaceful protests. After being isolated from each other because of the global pandemic, the students used the protests as opportunities to come together for an important purpose. Their willingness to be advocates for the voiceless made me proud. The faculty and I teach our students that they can make a difference because Black lawyers matter.
VOLUME 23 • SPRING 2021
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