USD President's Report 2007

HIBISCUS Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa -sinensis

SCHOOL OF LAW

The School of Law has made significant progress in a number of areas this past academic year, with a central focus on improving the student experience.

We augment our students' educational experience by bringing distinguished speakers to campus. Within the past year, we have been visited by both U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. In Spring 2007, we hosted a spirited debate on presidential war powers between USO School of Law Professor Mike Ramsey and University of California , Berkeley, Boa It Hall Professor John Yoo, the architect of the Patriot Act and author of the controversial "torture memo." The following month, we welcomed noted consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader,

Hibiscus is chosen on campus to soften the look of buildings, and to attract birds and butterflies. The plant grows well in the globe's warmest regions; in Southern California, hibiscus often blooms year round. There are nearly 20 different varieties of this large plant on campus, ranging in color from white to red to yellow to cream to pleasing combinations and patterns of each of those hues. In the early days of the university, the owner of a nursery at the foot of the hill from Alcal

who spoke to a standing-room-only crowd on the topic of "Challenging Corporate Power and Building Democracy." We concluded the 2006-07 academic year with a commencement address by Justice Alan Page of the Minnesota Supreme Court, also known to sports fans as a National Football League Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings. Today, Justice Page's work includes enhancing the opportunities for minority youth to pursue their college education . The school recently secured a $250,000 contribution specifically earmarked for enhancing student services. This past summer, we began a multi-phased facilities renovation, which began with a major expansion and renovation of the school's Career Services Center. Not only did this improve the facilities for students seeking information about career opportunities; it also provid- ed space for the increased staff we have added to facilitate students' job searches. The law school's large classrooms were rewired, and the furniture was replaced with ergonomic seating. In addition, classroom tables were equipped with pop-up electrical and data jacks. These renovations will continue through 2009. Of course, excellent teaching remains the core of a USO Law School education, and we continue to focus on this longstanding strength. But our increased attention to other aspects of the student experience has already returned substantial benefit to our students and promises to accelerate the progress of our nationally recognized law school.