SUMMER WEEKLY
9 i4e Id an~adg
One hundred and three years of editorial freedom
taps its own as
Law School dean
By James M. Nash
DAILY EDITOR IN CHIEF
Just two years after becoming a full profes-
sor, Jeffrey Sean Lehman is at the helm of the
University's Law School,
the latest step in his
"storybook career."
Lehman's appointment
as the Law School's 14th
dean hinges on approval
from the University Board
of Regents in May.
At 37 the youngest dean
of the Law School this cen- -
tury, Lehman replaces cur- Lehman
rent Dean Lee Bollinger. After 21 years on the
Law School faculty - the last seven as dean -
Bollinger is leaving in June to become provost
of Dartmouth College.
Bollinger's position will be difficult to fill,
but the chair of the committee that recommended
candidates for dean expressed confidence that
Lehman will grow into his new role.
"He is a very accomplished fellow - a fine
scholar and one of the top graduates of the Law
School," said Law Prof. Theodore St. Antoine,
chair of the advisory search committee. "He is
young, but he has a wonderful range of experi-
ence. His is a storybook career for a young law
school graduate."
Several candidates, including two finalists
for the position, withdrew their names from
consideration.
The advisory committee presented an
unranked list of candidates to University Presi-
dent James J. Duderstadt and Provost Gilbert R.
Whitaker Jr., who have forwarded Lehman's
name to the regents for approval. Lehman has
already accepted the offer.
Kay Dawson, Whitaker's assistant, said the
administration will not disclose Lehman's sal-
ary until he is officially hired as dean. Bollinger
earns $172,500 to Lehman's current $90,000.
Lehman works under a nine-month contract.
As dean, Lehman will preside over the law
school ranked No. 8 in the nation by U.S. News
& World Report. The school has about 1,200
students and 90 faculty members.
Lehman joined the Law School in 1987 as
an assistant professor. He was awarded tenure
in 1992.
Lehman is also on the faculty of the
University's Institute of Public Policy Studies,
blurring the line between traditional law prac-
tice and the social sciences. Lehman said he
intends to make such an interdisciplinary ap-
proach a hallmark of his tenure.
"Over the course of the past 25 years, the
Law School has moved aggressively to blend
more fully into the life of the University,"
Lehman stated in an e-mail message from the
See DEAN, Page 2
Aby Guisewite delivers the commencement addri
Cathy provide
By Rebecca Detken
DAILY STAFF REPORTER
Even though rain and 40-degree tempera-
tures did not create an ideal setting for gradua-
tion day, LSA graduates, their families, friends
a d umbrellas filled almost half of Michigan
Sdium.
Despite much of the concern surrounding
the choice of cartoonist Cathy Guisewite to
speak at graduation, she proved to be a success-
ful choice for the ceremony. Her humorous
anecdotes kept a soaked audience's spirits up.
Guisewite began her speech with a feminist
view by focusing in on the portrayal of women
and men in commercials.
"Did you ever notice that in commercials the
*n will be doing one thing and the women will
be doing six?" she asked.
Many students felt the speech's opening
focus was inappropriate.
"I think that the beginning of her speech
Speaking to RaCkham graduates,-
aDOUGLAS KNE/Daily S e k n
ess at LSA graduation Saturday afternoon. Archer ecCourages vorteering
e f By Patricia Montgomery same office and I see people capable of solving
s co m ic relief DAILY STAFF REPORTER problems - people like yourselves, he said
For many Rackham graduates and degree Archer added that Detroit is just a micro-
alienated a lot of the audience," said Amy Cox, recipients, April 30 marked a day for out with cosm for the rest of the new world order.
a political science graduate. "It would have the old and in with the new. Before he became mayor of Detroit, Archer
been more appropriate if she had brought it into "Let the future begin," said Detroit Mayor had a varied career.
her speech later." Dennis Archer, commencement speaker at Rack- He served 15 years as a trial lawyer before
Ian McCulloch, a communication graduate, ham graduation exercises in Hill Auditorium. he was appointed to the Michigan Supreme
said, "Some parts of her speech got to be a little Although he spoke about the future, Archer Court in 1985. Archer was the second African
overly feminist, but she covered them well with said he is not sure what it will hold. American to sit on the bench in Michigan's
her humor." "I do not, however, know what the future history.
The rest of Guisewite's speech was better holds, but I do know that a future without a He also held leadership positions with the
received as the humor became more universal. vision, whether it is the future of a city or the National Bar Association, the State Bar of Michi-
Her speech focused on a variety of topics, to future of an individual's life, is no future at all," gan and the Wolverine Bar Association.
which most people could relate. Archer said. At Saturday's commencement, Archer re-
Guisewite said in the speech that there is a He said his vision for world success includes ceived an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
moment in everyone's life where they find their enlisting the entire world to lend a hand. Archer began his speech by borrowing two
calling. During his speech Archer urged the audi- lines from Ralph Waldo Emerson. "Spartans,
Recalling the turning point in her own life, ence to not just hold a paying job but to also help stoics, heroes, saints and gods give a short and
she recounted the story of her final on others. positive speech," he said.
"Ulysses" while at the University. She dis- Archer outlined the problems facing Detroit Regardless of his achievements and his dedi-
covered her gift for creative writing when she and urged students to become a part of the cation to charitable organizations, Archer con-
got an A- on the final, even though she had solution. tends he is neither a hero nor a saint.
See CATHY, Page 2 "I am not afraid because I look out from the See ARCHER, Page 2