Antonin Scalia Law School

George �鶹��Ƶ Tops Harvard, Yale as Trump Judge Law School Source

ckearney — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:00:15 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ Tops Harvard, Yale as Trump Judge Law School Source ckearney Tue, 03/03/2026 - 11:00

The Antonin Scalia Law School is highlighted. Read more in Bloomberg Law.

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The un-forgotten founder: How George �鶹��Ƶ’s legacy lives on

Sarah Holland — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:21:05 +0000

The un-forgotten founder: How George �鶹��Ƶ’s legacy lives on Sarah Holland Wed, 12/10/2025 - 14:21

“That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society...namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty...pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

The Virginia Declaration of Rights, penned by George �鶹��Ƶ IV, begins with this bold proclamation. It’s a familiar opening: the Declaration of Independence, arguably the more famous document between the two, reads, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

Yet George �鶹��Ƶ’s name isn’t on the Constitution, despite his obvious influence. The first 3-D depiction of him in the United States wasn’t erected until 1996, on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus. He is considered the “Forgotten Founder.”

Now, on George �鶹��Ƶ’s 300th birthday, we come with a question: What is a legacy? What does it mean to be remembered?

Photo by Andani Munkaila/Office of University Branding

George �鶹��Ƶ, the man, was born on December 11, 1725, in present-day Fairfax County, Virginia. His home, Gunston Hall, sits on the Potomac River less than 20 miles southeast of �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus.

From drafting Virginia's first constitution and the Virginia Declaration of Rights to declaring it the “Commonwealth of Virginia” instead of a state, �鶹��Ƶ built the foundation of the place �鶹��Ƶ would first call its home. And his influence extends far beyond the commonwealth’s borders: his Virginia Declaration of Rights is said to have influenced the United States Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, as well as human rights declarations across the globe.

At the “The Un-Forgotten Founder,” an event hosted Dec. 8 by the Law and Economics Center at the Scalia Law School, panelists examined the complicated legacy of a man who, they believe, was unconcerned with how he might be remembered. He did not leave behind troves of primary sources as other founding fathers did; he stayed steadfast in his refusal to sign the Constitution because it did not include a Bill of Rights; he had no alliances or allegiances to any one school of thought.

Much of �鶹��Ƶ’s life is hidden in the gaps between a small pool of primary sources. And in those gaps, we find echoes of a complicated and conflicted legacy: His firm pronouncement of inalienable rights for “all men” and rejection of the international slave trade did not extend to those enslaved people of Gunston Hall, for example.

Intellectual curiosity was one of �鶹��Ƶ’s defining characteristics. And it is in the complexities of �鶹��Ƶ’s life and legacy that we see the echoes of the founding father most strongly. That history becomes a pathway through which students can wrestle with big ideas, ask complex questions, and learn how to sit with contradiction and juxtaposition.

“The limited sources we had on �鶹��Ƶ were an opportunity to use him and his legacy as a teaching tool, to help students learn and engage critically with the complexities of the past,” said George Oberle, director of the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies at �鶹��Ƶ. In fact, the project that formed the foundation for the Center for �鶹��Ƶ Legacies was a student-directed summer project: “The Enslaved Children of George �鶹��Ƶ," which also inspired the Enslaved People of George �鶹��Ƶ installation near his statue on Wilkins Plaza on the Fairfax Campus.

Because this is where the real learning begins for George �鶹��Ƶ students. That insatiable thirst for knowledge, the unwillingness to accept what is simply because that is how it has always been: These same things that motivated �鶹��Ƶ to pen the Virginia Declaration of Rights continue to push our students to new heights. To ask hard questions and to be unafraid of the complexities of the answers is how �鶹��Ƶ prepares its students to tackle the grand challenges of the 21st century.

Much has changed since �鶹��Ƶ’s signature dried on those documents that shaped the future of the United States of America. Stepping into a �鶹��Ƶ classroom in 2025, the tableau unfolds: a commuter student from Fairfax sitting next to an international student, speaking to a U.S. Army veteran with a 20-year career who is working on a presentation with a first-generation college student.

We can’t know what future �鶹��Ƶ envisioned when he penned the opening line in 1776—and who he believed deserved that future. But that’s the thing about legacy and history: Each new generation gets to look at the evidence with a fresh perspective. And with the groundwork laid by �鶹��Ƶ in 1776, �鶹��Ƶ has become a place where “all men” means everyone is given the opportunity to embrace intellectual curiosity and create a legacy of their own.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

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M-VETS advocates for George �鶹��Ƶ alum at Board of Veterans’ hearing

ckearney — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:02:56 +0000

M-VETS advocates for George �鶹��Ƶ alum at Board of Veterans’ hearing ckearney Mon, 10/13/2025 - 12:02

In September, Antonin Scalia Law School’s �鶹��Ƶ Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) advocated for a �鶹��Ƶ alumnus and U.S. Air Force veteran before the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).

Anthony Mancini. Photo provided

The hearing involved a 2019 claim for secondary service-connection for a nerve injury, or radiculopathy, in the client’s right leg, which an administrative law judge heard after five years of litigation with the DVA. Scalia Law student and student advisor Anthony (Tony) Mancini conducted the hearing under the supervision of M-VETS director Timothy M. MacArthur.

M-VETS originally filed the claim on behalf of the alum who had injured her lower back while loading a KC-135 aircraft during Operation Southern Watch in Saudi Arabia. After her discharge from service, the veteran was service-connected for degenerative disc disease of her spine, and with the assistance of M-VETS, the DVA granted service-connection for her left leg radiculopathy but denied it for the right leg. As a result, M-VETS filed a brief before the BVA and requested a personal appearance to argue the matter before the judge.

Due to the lengthy litigation of this issue, many M-VETS student advisors worked on the matter during their time in the clinic.

“This entire process has been an invaluable experience that goes far beyond anything I could have learned in a law school classroom,” said Mancini of the opportunity. “I am proud that I was a part of an organization that works for the people who have selflessly sacrificed in the service of their country.”

MacArthur said Mancini did a great job advocating for the client. He conducted a pre-hearing informal conference with the judge, presented an opening statement, performed a direct examination with our client, and delivered a closing argument.

“At certain points during the hearing, the judge posed questions to Tony regarding the case and evidence presented, and Tony was able to respond to those questions and further our client’s arguments,” said MacArthur. “At an informal post-hearing conference, the judge provided positive feedback to [Mancini] regarding his performance and preparation for the hearing, which was valuable to Tony’s development as a future attorney,”

Regarding the assistance she received from M-VETS, the client stated, “I am truly grateful to Mr. MacArthur and Mr. Mancini for their guidance and for taking my case. Their representation was not only exceptional, but it also reflected the most up-to-date practices of the learning-teaching environment, which gave me great confidence throughout the process. I could not have been more pleased, and I know Tony will go on to become an outstanding lawyer. This meant so much to me and my family.”

M-VETS continues to represent the George �鶹��Ƶ alum while awaiting a decision by the BVA judge on the contested issue.

M-VETS enables students to assist active-duty members of the armed forces, their families, and veterans in a wide variety of administrative, litigation, and nonlitigation matters. This includes appeals of denials of Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and educational claims, representation before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, applications for discharge upgrades or military records correction before the Boards for Correction of Military Records and Discharge Review Boards.

“Being an M-VETS student advisor over the past two semesters has made me a better litigator for the future. For that, I am grateful,” said Mancini, who is working at the U.S. Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims as a judicial intern this fall.

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Scalia Law alumna receives Supreme Court clerkship

ckearney — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 18:37:35 +0000

Scalia Law alumna receives Supreme Court clerkship ckearney Tue, 09/02/2025 - 14:37

�鶹��Ƶ alumna Tiffany H. Bates, JD ’18, has been selected to serve as a clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during the 2026 Term. The prestigious appointment is one of the highest honors in the legal profession and reflects both Bates’s exceptional legal acumen and the growing national reputation of Antonin Scalia Law School’s alumni.

Tiffany H. Bates. Photo provided

Bates currently serves as an associate at boutique law firm Consovoy McCarthy PLLC, where she focuses on constitutional law, administrative law, and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the firm, she clerked for the Honorable Kyle Duncan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

In addition to her legal practice, Bates remains connected to the law school, contributing her time and expertise to Scalia Law’s Supreme Court Clinic and Administrative Law Clinic.

With this appointment, Bates becomes the fifth Scalia Law alum to clerk at the nation’s highest court. This milestone underscores the law school’s dedication to cultivating top legal talent and providing students with pathways to the highest levels of the profession.

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Law student represents combat veteran at Board of Veterans’ appeals hearing

Katarina Benson — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:02:48 +0000

Law student represents combat veteran at Board of Veterans’ appeals hearing Katarina Benson Mon, 06/16/2025 - 17:02

In May, a �鶹��Ƶ law student, working with the �鶹��Ƶ Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS), advocated for a U.S. combat veteran before an administrative law judge at a hearing before the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA).

From left, M-VETS Client Richard Fahlman, Student Advisor Samantha Hargis, and M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur. Photo provided

Founded in 2004, the M-VETS clinic enables Antonin Scalia Law School students to assist veterans, servicemembers, and their dependents with military/veteran/DVA administrative matters, including disability compensation and educational benefits appeals, discharge upgrades, and Boards for Correction of Military Records matters.

This case centered on a veteran’s 2016 claim for an increased rating for a service-connected disability resulting from an improvised explosive device attack in Afghanistan, which led to the veteran’s medical separation from the Army.

Originally, Army veteran Richard Fahlman received a 20% rating for his injury, but based on new medical evidence, M-VETS filed a request in 2019 to increase this rating to 40%. The DVA initially denied the request. Had the 40% rating been approved, Fahlman would have been medically retired and received all the benefits accompanying that status, including much-needed health care. In response to the DVA’s rejection, M-VETS filed a motion alleging a Clear and Unmistakable Error (CUE).

“I’m glad our client reached out to M-VETS, and we could advocate on his behalf at this hearing,” said M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur. “Our position was that the decision review officer had made a CUE error, contradicting federal law and regulatory standards.”

Many Scalia Law students, called student advisors at M-VETS, worked diligently on behalf of the client during case preparations. Student advisor Samantha Hargis was chosen to conduct the hearing under MacArthur’s supervision.

“Working on this matter for our client was an incredible opportunity,” said Hargis, who graduated from George �鶹��Ƶ with a JD in May. “I am deeply grateful to the student advisors who came before me and laid a solid foundation for our argument at the hearing, our client for his commitment and collaboration throughout the process, and my supervising attorney for his invaluable guidance and support.”

“Ms. Hargis did a phenomenal job arguing the motion and presenting evidence during the hearing,” MacArthur said. “Sam conducted a pre-hearing conference with the judge, delivered an opening statement, conducted a direct examination of our client, and delivered an impactful closing, effectively arguing our position.”

MacArthur said the DVA benefits process allows M-VETS student advisors to gain practical experience in a nonadversarial setting, while providing valuable pro bono services to veterans.

“Mr. MacArthur and Ms. Hargis put their heart, time, and soul into developing my defense, and I couldn’t have asked for a better legal team. Without M-VETS, combat veterans like me wouldn’t have a voice,” Fahlman said.

M-VETS continues to work with the veteran while the hearing outcome is pending.

See more work from M-VETS

Adam White slated for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

ckearney — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 19:12:50 +0000

Adam White slated for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting ckearney Wed, 12/04/2024 - 14:12

On November 14, 2024, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Adam J. White to the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). The CPB’s board members are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Members terms run for six years.

Adam J. White. Photo provided

White is the executive director of the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at the Antonin Scalia Law School of �鶹��Ƶ. In addition to his role at Scalia Law, he holds the Laurence Silberman Chair in Constitutional Governance and is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

White is also a Senior Fellow at the Administrative Conference of the United States. In 2021, he was appointed to the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States. Prior to his current roles, White clerked for Judge David Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and practiced constitutional and regulatory law in Washington.

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From the classroom to the courtroom: George �鶹��Ƶ Scalia Law School student assists veteran at hearing

ckearney — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:29:31 +0000

From the classroom to the courtroom: George �鶹��Ƶ Scalia Law School student assists veteran at hearing ckearney Thu, 10/31/2024 - 17:29

M-VETS gave �鶹��Ƶ third-year law student Danny Jenkins the kind of courtroom experience that no classroom could.

From left, M-VETS Director Timothy MacArthur, Student Advisor Danny Jenkins, and Assistant Director Raphael Johnson. Photo provided

Jenkins, a student advisor in the Scalia Law School, played a crucial role in helping a former servicemember take a substantial step toward securing the benefit he was owed.

The �鶹��Ƶ Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) provides free legal services to veterans and servicemembers, making it a unique program in legal education. Since its founding in 2004, it has become a model for similar clinics at law schools across the nation.

“That’s exactly why I wanted to be part of it,” said Jenkins, a 28-year-old Provo, Utah, native. “I’ve always felt indebted to our servicemembers for their sacrifice, and being able to really make a difference in a veteran’s daily life is extremely satisfying and rewarding.”

M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur emphasized the clinic’s collaboration with George �鶹��Ƶ’s Office of Military Services, the Military, Veterans, and Family Initiative, and the Center for Community Mental Health to better support veterans.

M-VETS enables George �鶹��Ƶ law students to assist veterans, servicemembers, and their families with a wide range of litigation and non-litigation matters. Over the past two decades, the clinic has helped hundreds of clients from all five branches of the armed services, offering services like appeals for the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Board of Veterans Appeals for disability and educational benefit claims, and the filing of requests for increases in disability ratings. M-VETS services are available regardless of the veteran’s state of residence.

“Supporting our veterans is incredibly important, not only because of their sacrifices, but also because of the unique challenges they face after service,” MacArthur said. “They’ve served our country, and providing legal support is a way for me to show my gratitude.”

Jenkins, who plans to join the Army JAG Corps after graduating and passing the bar, volunteered to take on a case involving a client M-VETS had represented since 2018. The case stemmed from a claim for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for a DVA home loan, and finally went before a judge on Aug. 23 after nearly six years of litigation.

Jenkins conducted the hearing, arguing for the COE under MacArthur’s supervision, before the DVA’s Board of Veteran Appeals. The client, a Virginia Army National Guard veteran, had been denied the COE because he hadn’t met the required six years of service. During his initial training, the client had injured his right ankle while on active duty, which led to his discharge. Exceptions are allowed for those discharged from service due to a service-connected disability, but the veteran’s discharge papers didn’t indicate an injury-related separation.

Jenkins argued the motion and presented evidence proving that the discharge papers were inaccurate. While M-VETS awaits the ruling from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, it is helping the veteran to correct his records with the Board for Correction of Military Records to reflect a medical retirement.

“The most challenging part of this case was preparing for the hearing,” Jenkins said. “I needed to make sure I had information and research for any potential questions or issues that would arise, which required a tremendous amount of time and effort.”

While Jenkins doesn’t have a personal military background, his grandfather and father-in-law are veterans. Reflecting on the case, he described the experience as “incredibly satisfying,” offering the kind of real-world experience and personal satisfaction that no classroom could ever provide.

“I came to law school to help people, and most of your time in law school is spent in classrooms,” Jenkins said. “This unique opportunity allowed me to step outside the classroom and make a real difference in someone’s life.”

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Jaffer appointed to new Virginia Artificial Intelligence Task Force

ckearney — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 14:37:14 +0000

Jaffer appointed to new Virginia Artificial Intelligence Task Force ckearney Wed, 10/23/2024 - 10:37

Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin has appointed Jamil N. Jaffer, the founder and executive director of the National Security Institute (NSI) at �鶹��Ƶ’s Antonin Scalia Law School, to his new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force, which will work with legislators to regulate rapidly advancing AI technology. Jaffer is one of 10 appointees to the task force, alongside NSI Fellow Zach Graves.

Jamil Jaffer. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

The AI Task Force brings together a group of the most prominent AI experts in the commonwealth to provide advice to policy makers as they work to establish Virginia as a leader in the AI field, while balancing the need to create safeguards that promote responsible technology use. These experts will also provide guidance to state agencies on integrating AI, ensuring that any AI solutions implemented are both efficient and cost effective

“The AI Task Force is a vital component of Virginia’s efforts to lead in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence, providing crucial guidance to policymakers as they balance innovation with responsible technology use,” said Ken Randall, Allison and Dorothy Rouse Dean and �鶹��Ƶ Foundation professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School. “We are confident that his expertise, alongside NSI Fellow Zach Graves and other distinguished members, will significantly contribute to shaping Virginia’s AI future.”

“I look forward to collaborating with the distinguished members of the Task Force to provide actionable insights that promote responsible AI use and drive meaningful advancements in both the public and private sectors,” said Jaffer.

Jaffer is also director of the National Security Law and Policy Program and director of the Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security LLM Program at Scalia Law. He teaches classes on counterterrorism, intelligence, surveillance, cybersecurity, and other national security matters.

He has served as an outside advisor to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and has testified before committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on China, cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and other national security matters.

Jaffer has also appeared as a subject matter expert on a range of national television and radio outlets and various print and online publications.

Also on the task force are John Bailey, founder of Vestigo Partners; Bill Cleveland, former vice mayor, Alexandria; Richard Cullatta, CEO, International Society for Technology in Education; Sam Hammond, senior economist, Foundation for American Innovation; Tim Hwang, Senior Technology Fellow, Institute for Progress; Lori Jennings, founder, Jennings ProSearch; Paige Kowalski, executive vice president, Data Quality Campaign; and Naren Ramakrishnan, professor of engineering, Virginia Tech.

Listen to Jamil Jaffer and George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington discuss the U.S.'s position on the global stage, the power of the American Dream, and more on the Access to Excellence podcast.

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Getting to know BOV Rector Stimson

ckearney — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:48:16 +0000

Getting to know BOV Rector Stimson ckearney Wed, 10/02/2024 - 12:48

In July Charles “Cully” Stimson, JD ‘92, was elected as rector of the �鶹��Ƶ Board of Visitors. A businessman and attorney, Stimson is the deputy director of the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, Senior Legal Fellow, manager of the National Security Law Program, and senior advisor to the president at The Heritage Foundation.

A third-generation naval officer, Stimson formerly served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs. He advised then-Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates and coordinated the Pentagon’s global detention policy and operations, including at Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can read a more complete bio on the Board of Visitors' website.

The George caught up with Stimson to talk about his background, plans as rector, and his love of soccer.

Charles “Cully” Stimson. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Rector is a volunteer position and a time-consuming one. What drew you to this type of public service? What do you hope to accomplish as rector during your two-year term?

I've served my country in uniform for 30 years. I've volunteered for a variety of charities over the years. I like giving back. When my name was put forward, I was honored to serve the commonwealth.

I'm in learning mode right now. Since I've been asked to lead the team, I've probably made a hundred phone calls to every single board member combined. I'm meeting with every single dean of every single college before my first full board meeting. I pledged to the student representatives, who are nonvoting members of the board, that I'll be taking them out for pizza every quarter so they can bring their friends and tell me what's going on. We need to be more involved and informed so we can perform our governance.

As board members, we are fundraisers and cheerleaders and recruiters for the school. You can't be an advocate for a place if you don't know about the place. You either lean in and learn your craft and help make the place a better place for everybody in the community, or you sit back and you're a potted plant. I've never been a potted plant.

You earned a law degree from George �鶹��Ƶ’s Antonin Scalia Law School and taught there as an adjunct for five years. How has your George �鶹��Ƶ law degree served you in your career?

The law school professors I've kept in touch with have helped me think through legal issues, ethical issues, career issues. I thought that those teachers were ahead of their time at the school. They were national treasures, and they've been my friends my whole professional life. And I'm just starting to find out more about those types of gems on the faculty at the undergraduate level and other places at �鶹��Ƶ.

What do you most hope to see the university achieve in your time leading the board?

We're a collegial board, and we're going to remain that way. I'm going to give everyone the opportunity and invite everybody to speak at every board meeting, just like I did when I was a judge. I wanted all the advocates to put their thoughts on the record.

We have a fiduciary duty to act on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia. But more specifically, we have to act in the best interest of �鶹��Ƶ.

George �鶹��Ƶ has continued to grow each year for more than a decade. What makes George �鶹��Ƶ so attractive to so many different types of students?

An education is a credential that should prepare you for the job market. Our students have the benefit of being in a job market mecca. We're affordable. We shed the commuter school mantra a while ago. And we're moving in the direction of a much more vibrant residential campus. You hear the Northern Virginia Technology Council and other people who represent the private sector and the public partnerships say that �鶹��Ƶ is producing the type of graduates they need and they want.

So you have the benefit of the location, and the burden of the location with its cost of living. I hope Richmond knows that. We deserve to attract and retain and pay faculty at a competitive rate. Otherwise, we're going to lose them. You see how many colleges and universities have footprints in Washington, D.C.? We're not just competing against Virginia and Virginia Tech and the rest, we're competing against the globe.

The governor recently released new performance expectations for Virginia’s public universities, including goals that focus on affordability and career development for students, many of which George �鶹��Ƶ is already leading on. With that said, what else should George �鶹��Ƶ do to meet these new performance expectations?

I think we're doing exactly what the governor is challenging us to do. The quest for human capital is a competitive, ever-changing dynamic. We are fulfilling that demand signal. We're big, but we're not so big that we can't move with dispatch to fulfill that growing demand.

Look at what we're doing with [artificial intelligence (AI)], how we're leaning into it and understanding that we have to not only adopt and embrace AI but also figure out the rules and parameters of how we're going to responsibly use that, not only at the research level, but at the teaching level and student level.

What skill would you like to see all George �鶹��Ƶ students graduate with to succeed in the ever-changing work landscape of the future?

Understanding how the government works, from its founding, and having a thorough undergraduate level understanding of what a republic is, what the key moving parts of the Constitution are, what the Federalist Papers say. George �鶹��Ƶ's role in writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Understanding the separation of powers and how it is defined here is unique from anywhere else in the world. And why that's a strength. Understanding the difference between vertical separation of powers and horizontal separation of powers, and how that is the definition of a federalist government. It matters more now than ever. It's irrelevant whether you're Republican or Democrat or independent.

That's on the one end of the spectrum. The other end is, I don't care what your major is, I think you have to have in your toolkit some facility with computer programming. You can equip these young men and women with tools that a lot of other colleges are not equipping their students with.

Soccer is a passion of yours. You captained the team at Kenyon College, and you’re Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the charitable arm of U.S. Soccer. What is it about soccer that appeals to you, and what lessons and values do you find are transferable to your leadership role at George �鶹��Ƶ?

Soccer is the world's best sport, in my opinion. It doesn't matter how big you are, doesn't matter where you're from, doesn't matter how much money you have. It matters how big your heart is and how hard you're willing to work. It has a low to almost no barrier to entry. It's the perfect metaphor for life. How you play on the pitch depends on how much work you put in way ahead of time. How much time you spend alone with your craft, juggling, dribbling, passing against the wall. It requires syncopation and communication and collaboration.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation serves about 120,000 kids in 25 or 30 cities, all of whom are minorities, in underserved neighborhoods, for our Soccer for Success program. We're using soccer to help these kids make healthy choices, become better citizens. Next to being a husband and a father, it's the most meaningful thing I do.

The university’s �鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible fundraising campaign is in full swing, and in one of your first acts as rector, you encouraged your fellow board members to support the university financially. Tell us why this commitment is so important to you.

Because it's called public service and you have to serve the public. We have a great board. We have 16 terrific people. We're all super busy, but we said yes when asked to serve. And yes means capital Y, capital E, capital S. And that means you lean in for the short period of time you're on the board, and you give to your ability and get as much as you can for the school. People on this board have massive Rolodexes. The comprehensive campaign--we have to succeed. It's not an if, it's how big do we surpass it by? You said yes because you believe in the school. And so the best proof of that is to raise money for the school. And that should be an easy sell.

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This content appears in the Spring 2025 print edition of the �鶹��Ƶ Spirit Magazine.

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M-VETS secures honorable discharge for USMC combat veteran

ckearney — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:10:43 +0000

M-VETS secures honorable discharge for USMC combat veteran ckearney Mon, 07/08/2024 - 13:10

The �鶹��Ƶ Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) at �鶹��Ƶ successfully argued a claim before the Naval Discharge Review Board seeking an Honorable conditions discharge for a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran.

The first clinic of its kind at any law school in the United States of America, M-VETS provides free legal representation to active-duty servicemembers, veterans and their dependents while offering law students at the Antonin Scalia Law School the opportunity to receive supervised, practical legal experience by advocating for those who serve or have served in our armed forces.

M-VETS filed the application with a supporting brief and exhibits on behalf of the veteran in 2022 and recently secured an Honorable conditions discharge. The successful application will allow the veteran to access long-overdue medical treatment and Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits.

The veteran served on active duty in the USMC from 2004 to 2007 as a rifleman. During his service, the veteran deployed twice to Iraq; the first deployment occurred in 2005, and the second was to Fallujah from 2006–07, where the veteran earned a Combat Action Ribbon. The veteran suffered from injuries due to combat, which led to self-medication to soothe the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. As a result, the veteran was discharged under Other than Honorable conditions despite both conditions being diagnosed during service. This discharge characterization prevented the veteran from accessing medical treatment and disability benefits.

“I’m glad the veteran reached out to M-VETS, and we were able to assist with this issue,” said M-VETS Director Timothy M. MacArthur. “Our client served honorably in the USMC, and to correct this injustice was a fantastic result.”

MacArthur said that the veteran had not been eligible for disability benefits due to the discharge characterization and has carried the stigma of a discharge with less-than-honorable conditions. “The stigma has been removed, and the veteran can use those hard-earned benefits due to the honorable conditions discharge,” he said.

“Throughout M-VETS’s representation, student advisors Liz Faris and Doug Boyle assisted with the client’s matter. They truly believed in this veteran’s cause, and I appreciate the time and effort they put into this case,” MacArthur said. “Both student advisors did an incredible job, and their hard work paid off.”

“It was a great experience working with this client, and I learned a lot while working on his case,” said Faris, JD ’23. “He fought and sacrificed for this country during his time in the USMC and deserved a discharge designation that reflected his service. I’m so glad that [the board] agreed and that he can now access the resources he deserves.”

M-VETS assists veterans, servicemembers, and their dependents in a variety of civil matters, including uncontested divorces, landlord/tenant matters, consumer protection, and contract disputes, as well as in military/VA administrative matters.

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