NYLS Journal of International and
Comparative Law
Volume 22
Issue 1 Issues 1 & 2
Article 3
2003
Introduction to Faculty Presentation Day Issue
Richard A. Matasar
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Matasar, Richard A. (2003) "Introduction to Faculty Presentation Day Issue," NYLS Journal of International and Comparative Law: Vol.
22 : Iss. 1 , Article 3.
Available at: h6ps://digitalcommons.nyls.edu/journal_of_international_and_comparative_law/vol22/iss1/3
INTRODUCTION
RICHARD
A.
MATASAR*
People
frequently
ask
me
what
faculty
members
do.
I
reply
that
we
teach,
write
and
perform
public
service
-
a
simple,
but
woefully
incomplete
answer.
A
deeper
description,
however,
cannot
be
done
glibly
or
with
clever
phrases.
The challenge
is
to
convey
the
soul
of
a
faculty.
Saying
that
we
are in
the
knowledge
business
sometimes
helps.
It
allows
me
to
convey
that
academic
lawyers
are
always
learning,
that
we
are
seekers
of
information,
and
that
it
is
our
responsibility
to
share
knowledge
with
others.
But
even
this
explanation
fails
to
capture
the
depth
of
the
commitment
that
law
professors
have
to
learning
about
law,
solving
puzzles
(while
sometimes
making
even
greater
puzzles
ap-
pear),
and publishing
their
thoughts
for
others
to
digest,
criticize,
and
alter.
Worse,
however,
is
that
description
is
itself
inadequate.
Passively
describing
a
scholar's
role
cannot
demonstrate
the
process
of
idea
de-
velopment
and
the
painstaking
steps
necessary
to
constructing
a
com-
pelling
argument.
Descriptions
rarely
engage
the
audience
(or
the
reader)
directly;
they
do
not
involve
the
active
participation
of
others.
The
challenge,
therefore,
is
to
show
what
faculty
members
actually
do,
make
the
demonstration
enjoyable,
and
engage
students
and
others
in
the
enterprise.
Through
Faculty
Presentation
Day
on
April
3,
2002,
New
York
Law
School
canceled
classes,
created
a
collaborative
environment
of
ex-
changes
between
faculty
and
students,
and
had
a
full-day
and
evening
devoted
to
showcasing
faculty
(and
some
student
scholars)
presenting
their
scholarship.
The
result
is
this
issue
of
essays.
Faculty
Presentation
Day
began
as
a
challenge
to
the
law
school
faculty:
find
an
interesting
topic,
think
about
it,
share
your
knowledge
through
presentations
and
panel
discussions
with
other
faculty
mem-
bers
and
students,
make
it fun,
and
produce
a
written
essay
(short
on
the
footnotes,
traditional
to
law
review
writing,
but
long
on
ideas).
*
Dean,
President,
&
Professor
of
Law,
New
York
Law
School.
University
of
Pennsylvania,
B.A.
1974;
J.D.
1977.
2
N.Y.L.
SCH.
J
INTL
&
COMP.
L.
[Vol.
22
The
faculty
responded
with
wonderful
topics
and
presentations
and
several
hundred
students
participated
in
the
discussions
that
followed.
When
the
editors
of
this
issue
asked
for
my
introduction
I
paused,
in
part
because
these
essays
speak
for
themselves.
Later,
however,
I
became
convinced
that
an
Introduction
would
be
an
appropriate
fo-
rum
to
explain
the
joys
of
being
a
faculty
member
and
sharing
scholar-
ship
with
others.
I'm
glad
I've
written.
It
allows
me
to
thank
the
student
editors
and
welcome
them
as
colleagues
in
this
labor
of
love.
It
permits
me
to
read
very
interesting
essays
that
are concise,
impor-
tant,
and
exciting
to
read.
It
creates
the
opportunity
to
show
the
breadth
of
critical
thinking
by
New
York
Law
School
faculty
and
stu-
dents.
And,
it
gives
a
real
demonstration,
of
knowledge
building
at
work.
This
is
what
faculty
members
do.
Engage
and
join
in
the
fun!
