Monday March 10, 2008

When I first considered the idea of having UDM School of Law undertake a national tour to assist veterans with their federal disability benefits, I didn’t really think through the impact that such a tour would have on my schedule as Dean. Now, one month into the tour, I’m starting to realize the enormity of what we’ve started.

I have not visited every city with our students, but I have had the opportunity to join our students so far in San Antonio, Houston, and Orlando. And I cannot begin to express how proud I have been of these students. I have seen them doing presentations to veterans in various parts of the country. I have seen them doing interviews with TV and newspaper reporters. I have seen them interacting with attorneys from leading law firms around the nation.

And they’ve been great at everything! But what has really impressed me is the intensity and caring that I have seen our students bring to their work with veterans. I have seen our students meet veterans ranging in age from their early 20s to their late 80s. They have had a wide range of stories, experiences, and problems. But each time our students have done a wonderful job in listening to their stories, in empathizing with their problems, and in asking the necessary questions to get the information needed so that these veterans can be helped.

Of course, at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law we care a lot about training our students to be effective and successful attorneys. But what I have also witnessed on the road has been a series of students who are learning to use their training in ways that can really help those in need. I have seen our students touched deeply by the very human stories they have encountered. I have seen their determination to play a part in trying to help veterans who have done so much to help us all. I have watched as they realize the tools that a legal education gives them to make a difference. While I am proud of our UDM School of Law students for many reasons, the humanity and dedication to helping those in need that I have witnessed as they make their way across several states is a special source of pride and satisfaction for me as Dean.

We call our national veterans tour “Project SALUTE,” and in that spirit I want to salute the students who have participated during these first few weeks: Matthew Smith, Mark Vanneste, Alex Mitrakas, Brad Erickson, Liz Holmes, Tony Karman, Andrew Calcutt, and Scott Spokojny.