On Thursday, April 3, 1997, the Law School hired its second Dean in the course of one month while, at the same time, demoting one of its current Associate Deans to "1st Year Student". Students rejoiced in the simultaneous hiring/demotion and called for the replacement of all Deans with a new administration of "Student-Deans". Much to their chagrin, however, the move was determined to be predicated by the one day sale of the scholastic services of Associate Dean Williams in the P.A.D. auction several weeks earlier to first year [now second year] student Chris McCarthy. But while the exchange was not permanent, that fact certainly did not stop those that witnessed the switch from having an outrageously good time. The purveyor of all that fun was Mr. McCarthy himself - the "Dean-For-A-Day".
For his first official act as Associate Dean, McCarthy convened an Open Forum with students to discuss current issues of concern to both students and faculty at the Law School. Topics included tuition, financial aid, job opportunities, and pizza (yes, pizza). Former Associate Dean Williams was in attendance and, while sulking because of his untimely demotion, did his best to assist McCarthy in addressing and responding to questions presented by students. For the rest of the day after the meeting, McCarthy manned his new office in the Dean's Administrative Suite attending to the urgent business of the day and submitting a financial aid proposal to the Law School administration, billed as "Tuition Free Education for 2Ls in 1997-98". The Dean's Office has assured McCarthy that the proposal is currently awaiting debate and is resting comfortably in the Office's "special round, container-like file" under Dean Williams' desk.
Meanwhile, Williams attended to his new first year curriculum, suffering a brutal Bacigalian attack in McCarthy's morning's Criminal Law class while trying to recite the elements of conspiracy. As his newly found fellow students jeered and instigated him, Williams' face seem to reflect the not so fond memories of his own first year in law school. However, all was not lost as Williams was able to hold his own and recite enough pertinent information about conspiracy and the relevant case law to subdue Bacigal and his ruthless badgering. But the fun did not end there.
At 1:00, Williams reported to McCarthy's Contracts class where, again, he was called upon - but this time to recite or "Shepherdize" the case of some sailors that had tried to renege on their contract (something he himself was wishing he could do at that point). Williams stood undaunted in the face of mass intellectual "Shepherdization" involving the history behind the rules of contract modification. Nonetheless, he did receive a lesson in humility as he was chided by Shepherd for being dressed too casually and asked to remove his hat during recitation. Beyond that incident the episode was rather painless and Williams escaped further criticism. Despite this fact, after Shepherd allowed him to sit back down, Williams was seen wiping his brow and renewing the commitment to himself never to participate in the P.A.D. Auction again.
As the day came to end, McCarthy's disappointment in the temporary nature of the swap became more and more evident. At about 5pm, McCarthy locked himself in the Dean's Office swearing to administrators in the Suite that he would never come out. However, Campus Security was called in and the conflict was resolved without any violence. As part of the settlement, McCarthy was promised access to the Dean's Office on the 6th Thursday of every month starting in May 1999.
Overall, the day was a huge success. The money used to "buy" Dean Williams was contributed to the Tracy Talifiero Fund and everyone involved had a lot of fun. Interestingly enough, however, the Dean's Office is reporting that Dean Williams has suspiciously arranged for vacation time during next year's P.A.D. Auction.
