Fellow Colorado Law alumni,
Whether you are a Colorado native like me or a newcomer, it is impossible to not be impressed when cresting Davidson Mesa and looking down into Boulder. From that vista, the majestic Flatirons touch the sky and the distinctive red tile roofs of the University of Colorado Boulder form a warm beacon. As every visitor and student to CU Boulder knows, the shortest path to campus is to exit U.S. 36 at Baseline and head west. It is fitting that this path takes such travelers directly to the Wolf Law Building as the outward face of the University of Colorado Boulder. This location is ideal given the essential role the law school plays at CU Boulder.
As the oldest and best-known campus in the University of Colorado System, CU Boulder is home to 30,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students. The academic offerings at CU Boulder have made it one of the most competitive public universities in America, with top-rated programs in physics, geology, aerospace engineering, and ceramics. The Boulder campus and its labs have led discoveries resulting in five Nobel Prizes.
This success has resulted in CU Boulder being a member of an elite group of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). The AAU is a group of 65 elite research universities, all of which are known for offering exceptional undergraduate and graduate programs. The AAU includes many Ivy League schools and some of the highest-ranked public universities in the nation. Even among this select group, CU Boulder stands out, because it is one of the few AAU members without a medical school (as CU鈥檚 medical school is on the Anschutz Medical Campus as part of CU Denver). Instead, it is the strength and reputation of the Law School that has been an essential part of CU Boulder鈥檚 entry and ongoing participation in the AAU.
CU Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano puts it well: 鈥淐U Law is more than a place where students study to earn their degrees. It is deeply intertwined in the fabric of the campus as we strive to become a more just and equitable community that embraces democratic values and the rule of law. Colorado Law faculty, students, and staff enrich our campus and community in countless ways. As we approach the upcoming year, the law school will help us understand individual rights, the role of the Constitution, and our role as citizens in society.鈥�
So while all Colorado Law graduates should be proud of their legal education, that pride should go far beyond the Wolf Law Building, to the amazing university on which it was built.
Michael Carrigan '94