Campus Friends

Even Squirrels Eat Breakfast

Early this morning as I walked towards Robertson Hall, I saw a few squirrels running around. All of a sudden, they climbed the tree and perched themselves as seen here, like twin statues. I had to stop and take their picture. Your chances of seeing squirrels on campus are pretty high considering the amount of trees and grass around. I figured, what are the changes of seeing two situated so symmetrically? In any case, it made me smile. Squirrels have time to run around and exercise. They also take time to sit down and eat breakfast. Maybe there is something we as students can learn from the little ones that share this campus with us.

By Stephanie Hartman

The Real World

What looks like row upon row of empty, uncomfortable, plastic chairs to the average passer-by is something exceedingly more symbolic to the 119 members of the Regent Law Class of 2011.

This time tomorrow 119 Juris Doctor degrees will have been conferred, 119 names announced, 119 tassels turned, and 119 of Regent Law’s alumni will be plunging head-first into that all too imminent realm allusively referred to as “the real world.”

But what were the last three (or more) years of law school for these 119 men and women if not reality?

Sleepless nights and countless hours spent poring through cases, preparing briefs, and identifying fact patterns were not figments of their imaginations. And what is more real than the exultation that accompanies a passing grade, competition win, appointment to a desired internship, understanding of a concept previously considered impossible to grasp, or a study break long overdue?

The confusion, stress, prayers, elation, caffeine jolts and tears of angst and joy of 119 students and their families, friends, and professors could not have been more real—and are exactly what compose the so-called real world.

So tomorrow 119 real Regent Law students will become real Regent Law alumni to the soundtrack of snapping flash bulbs, explosive applause, “Pomp and Circumstance,” and the real beating of their real hearts, as they sit in really uncomfortable plastic chairs.

This is real life in the real world.


By Molly Eccles

The Home Stretch

While the Regent University Library typically boasts extended hours in the final weeks of a semester to ensure students have access to the resources they need for finals prep, Easter fell later than usual this year. Thus, the library was closed and therefore empty for the bulk of the weekend. Most students took advantage of this rather uncharacteristic closure just prior to finals as an excuse to take a day off and enjoy the holiday as a much needed break in the middle of exams.

But first thing Monday morning the law library was back to business as usual with every corner bustling with activity (particularly brain activity) as students pull out all the stops that stand between them and summer vacations and internships.

Some students work best individually, some in closed off carrels on the “quiet side” of the library, others at group tables on the “talking side,” and still others in study rooms. For this group of students, however, the comfortable couches and abundant natural lighting of the Law Library Balcony—which overlooks Robertson Hall, the Communications Building, the Student Center, and the fountain—is the opportune study environment on a sunny spring day. Although a year’s worth of work has boiled down to this week they have refused to be intimidated, but instead kick-up their bare feet and embrace the challenge.

With one week of finals down and just a few days left of the 2010-2011 school year, they are holding on to the hope that they are in the home stretch.

By Molly Eccles

Spring has Sprung

With finals looming on the horizon, deadlines for summer internships fast approaching, and graduation regalia not far from the closets of Regent Law 3Ls, it is easy to understand why the stress and tension around Robertson Hall is at an almost tangible level.

Meanwhile, as many across the country are waiting for their April showers to bring May flowers, Virginia Beach is in full bloom – and it is only mid-March. The beautiful pink blossoms illuminating an early spring shower remind our students and faculty that this season of stress and uncertainty is only that - a season.

I think the lesson learned from such settings is depicted by Victorian poet Gerard Manley Hopkins better than any attempt of mine:

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

  It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
  It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generation have trod, have trod, have trod;
  And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
  And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
  There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
  Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs -
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
 World broods with warm breast and with ah! Bright wings.

By Molly Eccles

A Homey Library

Family photos, food baskets, bouquets of fresh flowers, and stuffed animals are not what you would expect to see upon entering a law library (or most any library for that matter). But this is exactly what you find in the Regent Law Library.

Since law students spend countless hours in the library, Regent allows students to reserve study carrels on a per-semester basis. Those students who take advantage of this service have gone a step further than to simply house their books here; they turn their carrels into little pieces of home away from home, filling them with items that give them the comfort and strength that make pressing into their studies less daunting.

Not only that but carrels also serve as places (other than on Facebook that is) for students to leave notes, Bible verses, and gifts in the hopes of encouraging or brightening another’s day, and to get to know each other in a slightly less academic atmosphere.

At $10 per-semester, a study carrel is one of the least expensive, most effective investments Regent Law students make. It’s also an invaluable tool to continue to foster the supportive and caring community by which members of the Regent Law family are so blessed.


By Molly Eccles

Acts 2:42

In Acts 2:42 Luke recalls that the Christians present at Pentecost “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

If you happen (or purpose) to be in Robertson Hall at 12:15 on Thursday afternoons you will find that Regent Law continues in and encourages this beautiful tradition at Law Chapel.

While attendance at Law Chapel is not mandated by the University, law students, staff, and faculty turn out every week to be refreshed by the message preached, the corporate prayer and worship, and the food and fellowship which follows. Those who attend find this an invaluable time to not only forget about tomorrow’s exam, this weekend’s paper presentation, or that ceiling-high stack of LRW (Legal Research and Writing) papers that need grading, but to be reminded of why we do what God has called us to do - and to do it as unto the Lord.

This photo was taken following a recent Law Chapel service. Several members of the Regent Law family - from Dean Brauch, to 1Ls, to part-time GAs - clustered around the Robertson Hall lobby to eat a delicious Chick-fil-A lunch, catch-up, and pray for one another.

So, every once in a while, and in quite the role-reversal, the world of Regent Law seems to stand still while the rest of the world rushes by.

Good thing “every once in a while” comes every Thursday afternoon.


By Molly Eccles

2011 Law Retreat

At the beginning of each spring semester Regent Law cancels classes, closes shop, and takes a much needed half-day retreat. The Annual Student/Faculty Retreat, held earlier this week, is a favorite event amongst attendants.

The morning started off at a local church with a continental breakfast, followed by a time of corporate praise and worship. Professor Mike Schutt spoke on “Drudgery, Footnotes, and Billable Life for Disciples” in what was far from just another lecture, after which alumnus Jonathan Feavel (’94) shared on “The Chief End of Man.” Next, students who felt impressed to give personal testimonies of their time at Regent Law were asked to do so during an open-mic session.

Students and faculty returned to campus to attend a luncheon in the Regent Library Atrium. Voices floating throughout the room carried conversation topics ranging from excitement about summer study abroad programs, to recent competition wins, to personal lives and family, to the retreat itself.

While one morning may not seem like much of a retreat, an overarching sense of peace resonated from one person to the next. And although we are back to business as usual, it feels a little less like business as usual.


By Molly Eccles

Storms

Storms are interesting monsters. They are not always predictable, and even when they are the degree of their intensity can rarely be known until they are in full swing.

Meteorologists predicted that yesterday a major winter blizzard would blow through Virginia Beach. Now, take the words “major” and “blizzard” with a grain of salt, this is after all, Virginia Beach. Regardless, I could not wait to wake up and open my window to a winter wonderland; but I didn’t. Nothing had changed in the weather since I had fallen asleep the night before.

Then, an hour later, the snow began to fall. And in the course of just three hours the entire landscape at Regent was covered with a cold cotton blanket a few inches thick. By 12:30 the University announced it would be closing early, and at 3:00 students, staff, and faculty trudged through the then rain and slush to their cars and homes.

So in only five hours the storm started and departed with little to show for it but a few patches of nearly melted snow.

It was out of just such a patch that the snapdragons accessorizing the entrance of Robertson Hall emerged. Although I have walked by them most every day since they were planted near two months ago they have never stood out quite like they did this morning; as though the bright white snow was sent for no other reason than to highlight their petals.

Doesn’t God use the storms of life to serve the same purpose?


By Molly Eccles

Focused

The students are not the only people around Regent Law who need a break from all of their hard work as the semester and finals draw to a close. Earlier this week the Law School’s faculty and staff came together for a time of food, fellowship and family at the annual Christmas party.

That the food was delicious and fellowship inspiring goes without saying. But if you had walked through Robertson Hall at just the right time you would have heard the voices of these men and women ringing out in praise to God for sending Jesus to Earth. And while it was certainly a joyful noise to the Lord, it should also serve as such to any student who happened to walk by - not just because the combination of their voices radiated a humble strength from the men and a graceful beauty from the women, but because these people with whom God has entrusted so many lives and callings have made it abundantly clear where their priorities lie.

So although the eyes of the people in this picture may be directed at the lyrics on the screen, that is not where they are focused. Their focus is at the foot of the cross.


By Molly Eccles

Study Break

The first week of December brings feelings of joy and whimsy as lights are hung, trees trimmed, and presents hidden from spying eyes. For Regent Law students this serves as the last week of classes for the semester. While this is clearly cause for joy, that sense of euphoria is tainted by the knowledge that finals are just days away. And while the disappearance of law students during these December days has become something akin to a Regent urban legend, you need only know where to look for them: the Law Library.

Carrel after carrel and table after table are home to law students doing whatever is necessary to prepare for their finals. For some that means using an iPod to tune out the world around them, while others seem to let the words of the multiple books and outlines engulfing them produce the same effect. For the unsuspecting subject of this photo it means taking a nap.

Who doesn’t know that feeling of reading several pages of text before realizing you have no idea what any of it was about, or of reading the same line countless times? What about that involuntary response of the head to the body’s depleted energy supply, known as “the nod?” These are the times when you realize that a nap, though seemingly accomplishing nothing, is the most productive thing you can do.

Let’s face it, sometimes the best study tool is a study break.


By Molly Eccles

In and out of season

Life at Regent Law certainly keeps you on your toes. And while students expect this of their professors, most do not anticipate the weather will do the like. Tomorrow’s forecast is predicting highs in the low 50’s. But today, just two days away from Thanksgiving, it is 74 degrees outside. As this is a beach town most consider this unexpected warm front a good excuse to break out the shorts and flip-flops for yet another day before the chill of winter sets in for good.

While this corner of campus conveys the beauty of a Virginia Beach fall, it fails to convey its unpredictability, which is one of my favorite things about living here.

I am from the Southern California desert, and while I am accustomed to such warm days so late in the year, I am typically surrounded by palm trees and tumble weeds. However, there is something invigorating and almost magical about being able to bask in the red and gold leaves that swirl around me, without the fear of a cold gust of wind stealing me back indoors. My friends who spend Thanksgiving in the snow could not agree more.

At the same time, I love that I get to don a scarf and coat once more tomorrow. This is yet another way God is using my life at Regent to teach me to “be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2).


By Molly Eccles

3L Three-peat

Fridays around Regent are pretty quiet, especially with the chill of a Fall morning creeping into the afternoon as the days grow ever shorter with the coming of Winter.

But last Friday was a different story. Last Friday was the Chili Bowl, the culmination of our intramural flag football league. Since this was the 7th installment of the annual game it may not have seemed to be any different than over the past six years. However, this year's game served as a particularly proud one for the Regent Law family as it saw two law teams (3L "The Gong Show" vs. "2L TDs") playing for the title.

The Gong Show, however, had more at stake than this one championship title. Not only did they have the past two titles to defend, but three years of undefeated play. They were not about to let their underclassmen sully their perfect career. Still, the 5-1 2L TDs refused to be intimidated by their opponents' record and were determined to dethrone them.

Hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and family members turned out for the game and tailgate. And in true Regent Law fashion both teams fought hard and refused to give up. But at the end of the day The Gong Show emerged with their title in tact in an all too a propos shut-out (14-0).

This picture describes the 3Ls three-peat and final Chili Bowl better than you could attempt to put into words.


By Molly Eccles

Robertson Hall looks a little different

Over the past eight weeks Robertson Hall has come alive with the sound of "rollie bags" clacking across its marble floor, the smell of coffee wafting through the foyer as COGS' (Council of Graduate Students) Law senators provided our students with a mid-morning snack, and the sight of students ascending and descending the staircase (some more frantically than others) in pursuit of their next class.

But last week was Fall Break here at Regent, leaving Robertson Hall - some may say eerily, others peacefully - quiet. Such times of quiet give those of us who stay behind the chance to consider the success of all of the activity that passes through this beautiful foyer to the classrooms and offices beyond its columns, rails, and walls.

Well, it was during this week of relative inactivity and quiet that we received a piece of much anticipated news when we learned of our record high Virginia State Bar passage rate for the July 2010 exam. 85.7% of our first-time takers passed, placing us among the top three schools in the state. Truly God has honored our dedication to His school.

All of a sudden Robertson Hall just looks a little different, and not simply because Fall Break is now over.


By Molly Eccles

for My glory

I like to think of this photo as one of those happy accidents of art. I just started using a new camera (new to me, anyway). For whatever reason I've been having the most difficult time getting the thing to focus properly. I took this picture, reviewed it on my LCD, and was elated to find that it was perfectly focused on the two people walking down the path with the background ever so slightly blurred. So when I uploaded it I should have been dismayed to find the whole thing out of focus; but I wasn't. I found that it made the sun the focal point of the image. Then the Spirit reminded me that the Son should be the focal point of my every image; that just as I am the apple of His eye, so does He long to be the apple of mine. As Helen Lemmel's beautiful refrain exhorts "Turn your eyes upon Jesus/ Look full in His wonderful face/ And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim/ In the light of His glory and grace."

And then, while examining the different layers of the image, the people on the brick path, the football game and its onlookers, Robertson Hall and Dr. Robertson's house, all encased by the billowing clouds of the passing storm and illuminated by the setting sun, He reminded me that this is why He told Dr. Robertson to build Regent in the first place: "for My glory."

So maybe this was not a happy accident of art afterall; maybe it was a divinely orchestrated one.


By Molly Eccles

Teleconference with the Chief Justice

Regent Jurist-in-Residence Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. made a special appearance during today's chapel via telecommunication from his office in Richmond.

Hassell is the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court. He visits the campus for a week each year to challenge students and spur them on to excellence.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Hassell said today, "Because of my ties to Regent Law and my deep affection for your Dean and your purpose, I feel like I am an alum of this University."

While unable to leave Richmond, he wanted to be present for the announcement of the winner of the Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. Writing Competition, an annual competition named for his Honor.

Soul Food

Every February, the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) hosts the Soul Food Cafe. Readings, dramatizations, music, and special presentations on the cultural heritage of black Americans create a unique night for the community.

But what Black History commemoration would be complete without collard greens, fried chicken, macaroni, and sweet potatoes? BLSA makes sure their guests don't leave hungry. Home-style "southern" fare is abundant.

BLSA sees the annual celebration as a way to unite the many cultures that make up Regent's great community.

A Quiet Moment

Unquestionably one of the busiest people on campus, the Editor-in-Chief of the Regent Law Review is caught in a quiet moment inside his office.

The Law Review publishes two outstanding issues each year and puts on a symposium in the fall bringing nationally recognized guests such as Judge Andrew Napolitano.

This semester, the Law Review is also hosting a special student workshop on how to publish notes and articles.

Break Time

Law students take a lunch break in the Career Services office where there's always hot coffee and helpful study guides on hand.

Honor to Students Who Serve

I am privileged to learn the law surrounded by amazing people. I am so very proud to be associated with Regent students who are driven and sure of their goal, but moreover students who are aware of those around them who are in need. My classmates sharpen me to be full of faith and an excellent advocate.

The students pictured here are part of Regent's pro-bono Civil Litigation Clinic and have all successfully defended their clients this semester. One of the students, Melissa Hudgins, tells a compelling story about the clinic's impact on her life.

But I wanted to take a moment to give each of these students a shout out for the work they do to impact the lives of others.

I see these students quietly slip into the clinic office at all hours of the day and night. I know there are multiple phone calls to be made, request upon request for documents, and paper trails to unwind. And moreover, the work takes place during a busy school semester while personal illness, family concerns, other classes, and job-hunting compete for the student's time.

From getting food-stamps to being compensated for wrongful discharge, the clients that walked through the door of the clinic this semeseter are better off for what these students did for them. That makes our school more than just an hollow institution where academic thoughts bounce from wall to wall. We are an agent for change -- and that's so cool.

Brad, Kristen, Melissa, Jared, Carling (and Shannon, who is not pictured), you are successful advocates and selfless leaders who make Regent a better place to learn and our community a place where justice can be served. Thank You!

Walk Me Home

A Phi Alpha Delta member spends some time in Robertson Hall telling people about an exciting event coming up next week.

Walk Me Home 5K run/walk is the culmination of Focus on the Children, a week of events at Regent celebrating National Adoption Month.

All proceeds from the walk will provide training for foster parents and increase awareness of the 1800 children in Virginia that are waiting to be adopted.

For more information visit www.regent.edu/walkmehome and www.regent.edu/focusonthechildren.