19781219 r-78-24 RESOLUTION NO. R-78-24
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A LAW SCHOOL AS A PART OF
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Virginia did charter and
establish George Mason University to comprehensively serve the
needs of the people of Virginia and more particularly those re-
siding in Northern Virginia; and
WHEREAS, the population of Northern Virginia served by
George Mason University approximates 1,000,000 people; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has in the past wisely
provided for the improvement and growth of George Mason Universit,
and assisted in the creation of new programs to serve the needs
of higher education; and
WHEREAS, in recent years acting upon the requests of the
alumni, students, and the general citizenry of the area, the
Board of Visitors of George Mason University, after an in-depth
study assisted by Dr. Loren Thompson, President Emeritus of
George Mason, and Dr. Michael H. Cardozo, formerly Executive
Director of the American Association of Law Schools, disting
experts in this field, found that:
(a) Law schools located in Virginia can accommodate only
one-half of qualified Virginia applicants.
(b) No law school located in Virginia is within commuting
distance of the residents of Northern Virginia and approximately
800 of them are attending law schools in the District of Columbia
(c) Tuition fees for law schools located in the District of
Columbia are approximately three times that charged to Virginia
residents in State-supported law schools.
(d) Law schools in the District of Columbia cannot ac-
commodate all qualified applicants.
(e) A law school at George Mason University would relieve
much of the pressure on existing State-supported law schools to
admit more Virginia residents.
R-78-24
(f) The market for lawyers is such that approximately one-
half of all members of the Virginia Bar reside in Northern
Virginia.
Accordingly the Board of Visitors determined that a law
school of quality was feasible, and needed at George Mason Univer-
sity to fulfill the obligations entrusted to it under the Master
Plan approved by the General Assembly in 1967; and
WHEREAS, it is now possible for George Mason University to
acquire the International Law School of Arlington, Virginia to
meet the above mentioned demonstrated need for an accredited
law school in Northern Virginia.
WHEREAS, despite the denial of this acquisition by the
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Board of
Visitors is seeking such approval from the General Assembly of
Virginia,
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City of Fairfax
Virginia, that it endorses the acquisition of the International
Law School by George Mason University, and urges the General
Assembly of Virginia to approve the acquisition and the conduct
of a program of legal studies by George Mason University.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be
delivered to each member of the legislature representing Northern
Virginia.
Adopted: December 19, 1978
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
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