regions of the country . As dean of the UND School of Law in the coming year and as a member of our faculty in the years ahead , I will continue to stand strongly against any attempts to impose ideological conformity on students , staff , or faculty , including through restraints on free expression and through compelled or intimidated speech , both in the legal academy and in the legal profession as a whole . And in doing so at UND , I will be relying on President Armacost ’ s firm commitment to the enduring values and principles of traditional academic freedom , and placing trust in him and Provost Eric Link that they will make leadership decisions in a manner that is entirely true to them .
I pursued the privilege of serving as dean because I care deeply about our students , staff , and faculty ; our alumni and friends in the bench and bar ; and carrying forward our law school ’ s long tradition of providing an excellent and affordable legal education . I undertook the deanship with a driving commitment and purpose of serving others , with unswerving dedication to restoring strength to an esteemed public institution whose vitality means so much to the state of North Dakota , my adopted home . In these two years , including throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic , I have sought to offer a good and faithful example of ethical leadership to our students – just as I sought to do when I was their teacher in the classroom and a mentor in
the office - as well as to our staff and faculty . As I approach this upcoming final year as dean , I am fully resolved to continue striving to accomplish these important goals that I set for myself at the beginning , and to have a strong and fulfilling home stretch in this office before I resume the role of “ Professor McGinniss ” that I have loved so well .
22 THE GAVEL