Contact: Janet Harvey-Clark, MSU College of Law (517) 432-6959, harveycl@law.msu.edu; or Russ White, University Relations, (517) 432-0923, whiterus@msu.edu
08/18/2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. � Michigan State University College of Law (MSU Law), formerly Detroit College of Law (DCL), will hold a Heritage Celebration, on Sunday, Aug. 22, at Comerica Park. The celebration commemorates the former Detroit College of Law, which was located in the area currently serving as the outfield at the Detroit Tigers� stadium.
The event will include a reception for MSU Law and DCL alumni and friends at 10:30 a.m. in the Tiger Club at Comerica Park. Following the reception, there will be a 12:15 p.m. ceremony to unveil a commemorative plaque acknowledging DCL. The plaque will be permanently displayed along the Adams Street side of Comerica Park. Guests will then stay for the 1:05 p.m. baseball game between the Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.
Established in 1891, the Detroit College of Law was the first law school in the Detroit area and remains the oldest, continuously operating independent law school in the nation. Among the 69 students in the first class was Lizzie McSweeny, who in1893 became the first woman to graduate from the school. The first African American graduated in 1894. Since its inception, the college has remained a privately funded institution devoted to professional education in law for people from all walks of life.
A century after its founding, DCL had to make way for Comerica Park. In 1995, the law college affiliated with Michigan State University, and in 1997, MSU Law dedicated its new law building on MSU�s East Lansing campus. The law college and the university strengthened the affiliation in April 2004, resulting in a name change for the college. The Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law became Michigan State University College of Law.
While MSU Law continues to receive no funding from either the state of Michigan or MSU, both the law college and the university have benefited from the affiliation. The law college provides one of the most integrated legal education programs in the nation, offering a full array of interdisciplinary offerings in association with other MSU schools and colleges.
MSU Law and DCL alumni wishing to attend any or all of the celebration events may register online at www.law.msu.edu/alumni