Law School's 'Women on the Walls' is a gift 'given in hope'

By Kathleen Rourke

The Cornell Law School recently celebrated the women members of its community by organizing a collection of portraits of women who have made positive changes to their communities through law and social activism. On March 29, the entire collection, "Women on the Walls," was formally presented by Professor Cynthia Farina, one of the organizers, and gratefully accepted by Law Dean Lee E. Teitelbaum on behalf of the law school.

Gitanjali Gutierrez, J.D. '01, speaks during the "Women on the Walls" ceremony in the atrium of Myron Taylor Hall, March 29. Sheryl D. Sinkow

"This gift is given in hope," said Farina during her presentation. "Hope that, as women come to Cornell to learn the law, they will see the faces of these many strong and beautiful women and hear the many different life stories that these images represent and in that seeing and hearing, discover their own strength and beauty and realize that they belong in this place. That this is a place where they, too, can find the power to transform their world."

"This is one of those very happy occasions that expresses the community at Cornell," said Teitelbaum as he accepted the gift. "This event is a reflection of the commitments of an entire community that is deeply attached to the law school and what it symbolizes. The results of Cynthia's imagination and efforts and of the contributors' commitments will be reflected in a permanent expression of the importance of women in law, legal institutions and society."

The collection, soon to grace the walls of Myron Taylor Hall, is the result of a unique collaboration among students, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni. The project was spearheaded by Holden Brooks, J.D. '01, and Farina, with the sponsorship and assistance of the Asian American Law Students Association, the Black Law Students Association, the Cornell Law Students Association, the Environmental Law Society, the Latino-American Law Students Association, the Native American Law Students Association, the Women's Law Coalition, the Dean of Students Office and more than 50 individual student, faculty and alumnae donors. "Women on the Walls" contains portraits and quotes from Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize; Wilma Mankiller, first woman in modern history to lead a major Native American nation; Ida B. Wells-Barnett, a founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and Sandra Day O'Connor, first women justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, among others.

Many of the commentators at the presentation ceremony, presided over by Risa Mish, J.D. '88, Law School director of alumni relations, acknowledged the great strides the Law School had made toward enriching the life of women at the school. Many of them also commented on the fact that the present graduating class is the first comprising over 50 percent women. One alumnae speaker, Yvetter Harmon, J.D. '69, recalled how she was one of only three women students in her class. She urged the future alumnae in the audience to "be aware of the power that their growing numbers in the profession confers and to use it wisely and well." Amy Weissman, J.D. '92, another contributor to the project, sent an e-mail that read in part: "Having such a visible symbol of the changes that have taken place in the law and the tremendous impact that women and minorities have had on our legal system will undoubtedly enhance the experience of those who might otherwise not recognize themselves among the individuals traditionally honored in law school halls."

"In 2001, 'Women on the Walls' tells me something about Cornell's future. The Cornell Law School, like many of us, has not achieved perfection," said Gitanjali Gutierrez, J.D. '01, one of the student speakers. "The portraits are an invitation for women to be part of Cornell Law School's continuing effort to be an inclusive, inspiring and truly welcoming institution for all students."