Federalist Society Wins Chapter of the Year
The Federalist Society at the University of Chicago Law School has been named student chapter of the year by the national organization in Washington.
The Federalist Society is an organization of conservatives and libertarians that seeks to promote individual freedom, traditional values, and limited government. It has chapters at every accredited law school in the country, so Chicago students faced strong competition.
Chicago’s chapter was chosen because of its numerous events with high-profile speakers, strong turnouts, and a reputation for hospitality among those speakers, said Brandon Smith, Deputy Director of the Student Division of the national organization.
“The chapter officers are just great people,” Smith said. “They’re engaged and excited about the mission of the Federalist Society and debating these ideas.”
That isn’t surprising to Amy Gardner, Dean of Students at the Law School.
“Our student chapter’s leaders display the kind of professionalism and dedication to debate and inquiry that embody our goals in supporting student organizations, and I am proud for them that their work has been recognized in this important way,” she said.
The student chapter has about 75 members and hosts at least one speaker a week, said Todd Itami, ’13, who is an officer. In fact, this year’s schedule included more than 50 speakers, with federal judges, public officials, and law professors from around the country among them.
“We try to get as many events as possible,” Itami said, noting that only one-third to a half of any given crowd is a member of the group. The school’s environment encourages liberals to attend conservative meetings and vice-versa.
Winning chapter of the year is “great, because it’s really competitive,” Itami added.
The chapter has several events scheduled before the end of the academic year. The highlight will be May 3, when Dallin H. Oaks, ’57, accepts the group’s 2012 Lee Liberman Otis Award. Oaks, a former Chicago law professor, is also the former President of Brigham Young University and an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Otis Award honors distinguished public service of an alumnus or alumna. Otis, ‘83, was the founding director of the Federalist Society and helped start the Chicago chapter. She is now Senior Vice President and Faculty Division Director of the national organization.
For more on the Federalist Society, visit http://federalist.uchicago.edu.