17.1 Homecoming Cane Parade
Each fall at the Homecoming football game, thousands of fans watch in mystified amusement as a herd of students rushes across the football field carrying canes. The mystery deepens when the group reaches the north goalpost and the canes are thrown into the air. Some of the fans may have heard an announcement that the students are Law School seniors and that tradition holds that, if they catch their canes, they will win their first cases. But even those fans have little or no idea of the origin of this somewhat unusual tradition.
In fact, the origin seems lost in the mists of time. Most believe that it began with the arrival of the now-legendary Professor William Herbert Page from Ohio State University Law School during World War I. Some research suggests that a cane parade tradition may have existed at Ohio and was simply transplanted here. In the centennial history of the UW Law School written in 1968 by Scott Van Alstyne (68 Wis. L.R 329), Page is quoted as denying that he had anything to do with the origin of the parade. He suggested that it already existed here when he arrived.
Regardless, the cane parade and Herbie Page became inseparably linked during the 1930's. In the early years, the entire Law faculty accompanied the senior class and the parade took place between halves of the game. By the 1930’s, the class voted on a faculty escort, an election regularly won by Prof. Page!
By the time George Young became dean in 1958, custom dictated that the Dean should lead the parade. Each dean has established his own ground rules for the parade. Cliff Thompson may have been responsible for a modification of the old tradition: it is now said that, if the cane hangs up on the crossbar, the senior's first case will be settled to the satisfaction of both sides!
All third-year students are encouraged to participate in this event (see also http://www.law.wisc.edu/about/lore/cane.htm.
17.2 Professional Rivalries
17.2.1 Dean’s Cup: Law v. Medicine
Each fall, the faculty, staff, and students of the Schools of Law and Medicine compete in a series of events, the goal being to score the most points and take the Dean’s Cup. The Dean's Cup at Wisconsin owes its beginning to several students taking Spring Break in Florida in 1995. Tim Stewart '97 liked the idea of a "friendly" competition but added a charitable intent. The first competition was held in the fall of 1995 and, with a great deal of work, yielded about $1,000 for local charities.
17.3 Legal Educational Opportunity Banquet
Each spring, current students in the Legal Educational Opportunity (LEO) Program organize a banquet honoring the accomplishments of the LEO program. Alumni from more than 30 classes join with current students, faculty and friends to hear a noted speaker and to present awards. As the numbers of students and alumni have increased, this banquet has become one of the Law School’s largest and most impressive celebrations. Sponsorship of the event rotates between the Asian Pacific American and South Asian Law Students Association (APALSA/SALSA), the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA) the Latino Law Students Association (LLSA) and the Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA). All students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome at the LEO Banquet.
17.4 Law Revue
For more than 30 years, Law Revue (the performance, not the legal journal), has poked fun at legal education and the legal profession. A student-organized activity, this show is presented each spring and combines musical parodies, sketches and stand-up comedy. To join in the fun, aspiring singers, actors, writers, musicians, and lawyers should watch for e-mails and promotional posters during the fall semester and early in the spring semester.
17.5 Graduation
Law School spring graduation events are designed to honor graduates and their families, and to celebrate their accomplishments. Any student who graduates in December or August may choose to participate in the May ceremonies also.
At the December graduation, the law school holds a luncheon following the ceremony. For the most pertinent information regarding future graduations, please check the law school’s web site.