Boston College Law School welcomed back former dean Rev. Robert F. Drinan, S.J., to receive the first Distinguished Service Medal as part of the school's 75th anniversary celebration.
In a ceremony last Monday, Drinan was introduced by current Dean John H. Garvey, who praised his predecessor for his accomplishments in the formative years of the school.
"During his distinguished tenure, we raised our average LSAT score from the 43rd percentile to the 80th percentile," said Garvey. Drinan served as dean from 1956 through 1970. Primarily addressing the students, Drinan encouraged them to think not just beyond a paycheck, but beyond natural borders and look to the growing global world.
"We are independent; we aren't slaves for the government and we don't sing songs for corporations" said Drinan
"If there is one thing that you should concentrate on, my dear law students, it is this International Criminal Code," added Drinan, emphasizing many of the points made in last week's presidential debate by alum Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), BC Law '76. He later assailed the government for selling weapons to foreign nations, urging them to instead support nuclear proliferation.
"We've given you a terrible world," said Drinan, who received the Law School's first Distinguished Service medal. The award was also the first in a series to be given out by the school to alumni over the next three years.
Drinan's record of service was matched in gratitude only by the admiration speakers had for his personal touch with students.
"There was a young man, just out of college, four years in the army, hailing from Philadelphia, and he stopped by Boston College, to see about getting in. He saw Fr. Drinan, talked about grades, ambition, and family, and he got up and said 'you start Monday'," said Garvey.
"He had an eye for legal talent in students, no less in faculty," he added. Personal stories and jokes were the norm in the brief introductions prior to Drinan's emotional plea to the students about their importance in the world.
After serving as a Massachusetts representative in Congress from 1971 through 1981, Drinan joined the faculty at Georgetown University Law Center, where he currently works as a full-time professor at the age of 84.
"His body and mind may be at Georgetown, but I believe his heart and spirit are at Boston College," Garvey said of the energetic Drinan, who has also written eleven books. A priest, dean, lawyer, politician, and human rights activist, Drinan's impeccable array of skills attracted a wide range of prominent guests to the event, including former Massachusetts State Senate President William Bulger.
"It was such a great reception for such a deserving person; he gave us a beautiful reminder about what's important in today's world," said Bulger in the reception following the event, which was held in the East Wing Building of BC Law School.
Drinan's remarks about the need for global aid rang true with the students as well. "I really thought that what was important was the international emphasis," said Renee Latour, BC Law '06.
Latour's class, among others, were asked by Drinan to avoid looking at Law School as merely a way to gain a high-paying cushy job, and look to help the community, be it global or in the cities at home.
"AIDS is probably the worst pestilence and the United States contributes a little but nothing compared to what we should. You will be working in London or Beijing or Nairobi and have an exciting life," said Drinan to the attendees, who numbered so many that a dozen were forced to stand along the side walls.
Drinan took time to congratulate the school on its success. "BC Law is one of the great accomplishments of the Jesuit order in its 450 year history," he said.
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