The second is higher education . If we can ’ t have tough conversations in the classroom and on campus , where can we ? We want to model dialogue safely and responsibly . The purpose of any classroom conversation should not be to produce a consensus , but to promote critical thinking . It is better to hear “ You made me think ” instead of “ I agree with you .” Lawyers are leaders in our communities . We are called upon to take roles in government , politics , and business that necessitate navigating difficult conversations . North Dakota ’ s legal community is one in which you will work with the same lawyers again and again . We can and must disagree without being disagreeable . It is essential we develop law students who can effectively handle difficult conversations .
When I led a conflict resolution department at Boise State University , I taught one of 20 freshman foundations courses . Titled “ Navigating Difficult Conversations ,” the course included 100 students , mostly from California and rural Idaho . We learned conflict resolution theory and techniques , and then engaged in a series of difficult conversations on topics ranging from abortion to immigration to gun control to whether golf is a sport . 14 What could go wrong ? The course ranked number one across all courses according to the core learning outcomes . 15 I was most proud of what happened after the last class when 30 or so students wanted to know my personal views on the debate topics . They didn ’ t know by design – my politics were irrelevant ; it was about creating a community that could disagree but do so productively and in a way that enhanced everyone ’ s learning .
UND Law strives to develop students into the best possible lawyers – intellectually , ethically , and emotionally . When we talk about DEIA , wellness , and the First Amendment , our law school is making great strides . Our caring and responsive student affairs office works hard to provide support to students experiencing mental health or other personal challenges . Our 1L orientation includes a heavy emphasis on the importance of personal well-being , and along with our Director of Student Life , Pam Shea , we have instituted weekly mindfulness sessions for our students .
Our percentage of minority students increased from 8 % in 2011 to 17.5 % in 2022 . We do not see DEIA as an either / or proposition – we value excellence and diversity and as access and quality are not in opposition . We want to attract and retain diverse faculty , staff , and students across all racial , ethnic , religious , gender , sexual orientation , and viewpoint dimensions . We are working hard to identify students across North Dakota who can benefit from our scholarships targeting high performing students that we want to keep in our great state .
We support the First Amendment at UND Law . Many groups at UND Law host events that bring impactful speakers to campus . The Federalist Society is doing incredible work supporting the First Amendment . They invite national speakers , create programming that presents multiple viewpoints , and welcome and encourage a meaningful exchange of views . Kudos to student leaders Erica Solberg and Sarah
Matthew J . Bunkers , Ph . D . | 605.390.7243
Belliston and faculty advisor Professor Michael McGinniss . Our faculty are not in the business of telling students what to think ; we develop students who can think for themselves . The distinction is important and meaningful , and I am proud to work at a law school with excellent professors .
At UND Law , we care about DEIA , wellness , and the First Amendment . We have a strong community and are working to make it even stronger . My door is always open to our faculty , staff , students , alumni , and all SBAND members . If I am open to listening , people will share their perspectives and enable us to make improvements for everyone ’ s benefit . We can ’ t fix a problem unless we know it exists , and people won ’ t talk unless they feel confident they will be heard . I want everyone to both be who they are and share openly . Like anything else , with hope , grace , curiosity , and patience , we will continue to improve and deepen our impact . I realize writing on these topics can be controversial , and I warmly welcome your thoughts and comments .
1 . https :// www . americanbar . org / groups / law _ practice / publications / law _ practice _ magazine / 2022 / july-august / how-to-improve-diversityin-the-legal-profession / 2 . https :// www . americanbar . org / groups / young _ lawyers / projects / men-of-color / lawyer-demographics / 3 . Based on our best estimate at UND Law . 4 . https :// www . americanbar . org / news / abanews / aba-news-archives / 2020 / 07 / aba-study-lgbtq-disabled-lawyers / 5 . https :// scholar . harvard . edu / files / msen / files / law-prof-ideology . pdf ; https :// news . gallup . com / poll / 328367 / americans-political-ideologyheld-steady-2020 . aspx 6 . https :// news . bloomberglaw . com / us-law-week / legal-education-needs-a-wellness-reckoning 7 . https :// abovethelaw . com / 2020 / 02 / has-the-legal-profession-had-a-negative-effect-on-your-mental-health / 8 . https :// www . sband . org / page / lawyer _ assist _ prog 9 . https :// www . thefire . org / research-learn / freedom-speech 10 . https :// www . thefire . org / research-learn / 2021-college-free-speech-rankings #:~: text = This % 20year % 2C % 20more % 20than % 20
73 , were % 20not % 20at % 20all % 20clear 11 . https :// fecdsurveyreport . web . unc . edu / wp-content / uploads / sites / 22160 / 2020 / 02 / UNC-Free-Expression-Report . pdf , p . 28 . 12 . https :// www . usatoday . com / story / news / factcheck / 2020 / 09 / 27 / fact-check-ruth-bader-ginsburg-antonin-scalia-were-closefriends / 3518592001 / 13 . No , that is not the definition of a good mediation ! 14 . Yes , golf is a sport ! 15 . The secret to a great class is creating a community in which people feel comfortable to fail , and we can then identify and overcome any barriers to learning .
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