Dana Lake ‘23
Staff Editor
Kathryn Querner ‘22
Executive Editor
This week, February 8-12, UVA Law is celebrating its 15th annual Diversity Week. The ideals promoted during this week-long event are summed up in the Diversity Pledge:
“As a member of the UVA Law community, I hold that . . . Every person has worth as an individual. Every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of class, color, disability, gender identify, nationality, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. I affirm that prejudice has no place in the UVA Law community—now or ever.”
Diversity Week began as an initiative by Lambda Law Alliance in 2006, in response to an act of hate against two UVA Law students. The incident of intolerance occured at the Foxfield Races—two openly gay UVA Law students were verbally and physically harassed by a fellow student. This high-profile incident drew widespread outrage from the community. Lambda saw an opportunity to draw on the community’s unified shame toward the act of hate, and established Diversity Week as a celebration of and devotion to respecting our differences.
The initiative behind Diversity Week was published as a letter to the editor from Lambda in the Law Weekly, signed by a number of UVA Law professors, students, and student organization chairs.[1] Lambda implored, “If UVA Law gains a reputation for intolerance, we lose valuable insights and perspectives when minority students choose to go elsewhere . . . UVA Law is special. All students ought to share fully in the privilege of participating in its rich traditions and strong sense of community.”[2]
These sentiments remain as salient today as they were then, as core values of love, tolerance, and community are under siege by widespread, hateful, and intolerant political messages. To continue UVA Law’s tradition of rejecting intolerance, Diversity Week offers a number of events to honor and celebrate the diversity within our community.
The week of events started out strong on Monday with the BLSA and WOC’s panel “A Black Lady Courtroom.” Four judges from every level of the judicial system, including a member of Virginia’s Supreme Court, discussed what it means to be a Black woman in the law.
Tuesday continued as the busiest single day of Diversity Week, with three events spread throughout the day: There was a panel on “Perspectives on Diversity in Big Law” at 12:30 p.m., featuring minority attorneys from half a dozen Big Law firms; it was followed by a common read event based around the book “The New Jim Crow” and the experiences of Black criminal law practitioners at 5:00 p.m.; and the day wrapped-up with a Lambda and HLA event at 6:30 p.m. discussing the ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis on the queer community.
Diversity Week’s inaugural keynote takes place on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. with Robert Grey. Grey is the president of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and senior partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth. As the first person of color to serve as chair of the ABA House of Delegates, Grey is a national leader in bringing diversity and inclusivity to the legal profession and every student is encouraged to listen-in on his session.
Thursday’s events include a dinner talk and Q&A on the transition to public interest from private practice. Additionally, there is a focus on diversity in private practice at 5:00 p.m.
Friday concludes with a reading and reflection session at noon, centered around the experiences of minority students here at the Law School. Students have the opportunity to share their reflections with the panel organizers to foster discussions rooted in the everyday reality of being a minority at UVA. Every student is invited to attend and contribute.
In between the spiritual growth, horizon-expansion, and networking, participants have several opportunities for a catered dinner from local restaurants. The first 30 registrants for sessions Tuesday through Friday will be treated to meals from restaurants like Mahana Fresh, Pearl Island, Pachamama Peru, and Mochiko Charlottesville. Check out the brochure emailed on 2/4 for details. Law Students can also grab friends and join in a virtual diversity trivia on Wednesday, hosted by SBA. There are prizes for first and second place and the event will be via Twitch. Finally, there is a free t-shirt for every student who signs the Diversity Pledge. It’s a sharp design, and they are available for pickup in Hunton Andrews Kurth Hall.
This year’s Diversity Week features a wide array of speakers and topics, combined with a variety of accessible panel times and ways to participate. There is a place for every student to get involved this week. Celebrating and respecting diversity is critical to fostering an inclusive and welcoming UVA Law community. To affirm a commitment to diversity, please sign the Diversity Pledge. This year, the Diversity Pledge will be virtual in order to minimize contact and ensure social distancing. Be a part of the tradition and sign at: https://forms.gle/3pDE3vctymuvcsZx6.
Let’s work together to contribute to UVA Law’s efforts to promote respect and diversity.
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dl9uh@virginia.edu
kmq8vf@virginia.edu