May 2003 Commencement Exercises, Reception and Speaker's Remarks

Remarks of Speakers

Photograph: Graduates in procession to Lee Arena.
Graduates in procession to Lee Arena.
Photograph: John Kemp addressing the graduates.
John Kemp addressing the graduates.

Washburn University School of Law held its 98th Commencement on May 17, 2003 at Lee Arena in Petro Allied Health Center on the Washburn University campus to recognize the Class of 2003. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) was conferred upon approximately 130 students during the ceremony. The J.D. is the first earned law degree indicating graduation from a law school with three years of post-baccalaureate study. Prior to the commencement exercises, graduates were led in procession by the Kansas City St. Andrews Pipes and Drums outside Petro and into Lee Arena.

John D. Kemp, Class of 1974 and Principal, Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville, gave the commencement address.

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was awarded to John Kemp in conjuntion with the graduation exercises. The citation on Mr. Kemp's degree reads

Be it known, that inasmuch as honorary degrees are awarded to men and women who, because of scholarly contributions, meritorious public service, or other noteworthy achievements, have come into universal high regard, the Board of Regents of Washburn University does therefore confer upon John D. Kemp the degree of doctor of law with all the rights, privileges, and insignia pertaining thereto. In testimony whereof, this diploma is issued with the signatures of the President and Chair of the Board of Regents and the seal of the University affixed at Topeka, Kansas on this 17th day of May 2003.

During commencement, each graduate in the Class of 2003 was presented and called to the stage by name by Associate Dean Allen Easley. Faculty assisted with hooding the graduate, and each graduate was personally congratulated by Washburn University President Jerry Farley, Washburn Board of Regents Chair Charles T. Engel, and Washburn Law School Dean Dennis Honabach. Washburn Law School Association President Bernard A. Bianchino presented each graduate with a commemorative paperweight on behalf of the Assocation to mark the occasion.

Following the program, graduates, their families, and other attendees joined faculty and staff for a reception at the Bradbury Thompson Center.

Composite photograph: Graduates with family, friends, and each other enjoy the reception at Bradbury Thompson Center.Graduates with family, friends, and each other enjoy the reception at Bradbury Thompson Center.

Senior Address Eric Robert Bidwell 2003 Class President

Welcome. My classmates and I want to thank everyone for joining us for this most important day. Obviously none of us would be where we are today without all of you, our family, our friends, and members of the law school faculty.

In preparation for this day, this speech, I compiled a large number of famous quotes and lines that solidify what being a lawyer is all about. One small problem, we are not lawyers, the truth is, up until today at least, we're just a group of overworked law students. Regardless, whether all of us go on to become lawyers or not, one thing is for sure about the members of this graduating class. All of us are leaders, leaders who are looking for an opportunity to lead.

Whether it be an individual being mistreated because of their sexual orientation, or a family business on main street in rural Kansas being run out town by corporate business, we can help.

When there is an elderly person, with no family, in need of assistance, we will be there to help.

When someone needs to coach the local soccer team, one of us will help.

And most of all, on tax day, when uncle sam is trying to get in your pockets, for a reasonable fee -- we will be there to help.

Welcome to Washburn Law School Association Bernard A. Bianchino

Good afternoon. This is a great day for Washburn and a great day for each of you. The Washburn Law School Class of 2003 is the last graduating class of our first century, and the first group of new members of the Washburn Law School Association of our second century.

As you contemplate your achievements and prepare to receive your diploma I would ask each of you to remember that this is your commencement day.

Today you leave the university community and commence your career as a Washburn lawyer. That also means that today you become a member of the Washburn Law School Association…a fellowship of Washburn law school graduates whose accomplishments define the values, character and prestige of this great law school.

You enter the practice of law knowing that Washburn law graduates sitting at commencements through the years…just as you…have distinguished themselves in virtually every discipline of the law. They have entered private, corporate and government practice. They have become professors, administrators and executives. They practice virtually every type of law from civil trial practice, to criminal practice to family practice.

And, today you pass into that fellowship.

As a personal note, none of you can imagine where your degree will take you. As I look back almost 30 years to my commencement ceremony…I can attest that not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the breath and depth of experiences that would be opened to me because of my Washburn law degree.

As the president of the Washburn Law School Association it is with great pleasure and the fondest wish of every success that I welcome you to our association. As you file by the stage today you will first receive your degree then I will hand you a Washburn Law School Association medallion that we hope you will proudly display in your office.

And, as you progress in your practice I would ask that you remember the law school, the resulting opportunities that have opened to you and actively participate in association functions.

You will begin to define our second century as those before you have defined our first!

Thank you.

Remarks By the Dean Dennis R. Honabach

Let me begin by joining Dean Easley, President Bidwell and President Bianchino in welcoming everyone to today's glorious ceremony.

If you are following closely - waiting for the big moment - you undoubtedly have noticed that we are at that part of the program listed as "remarks by the dean." I am willing to wager that listening to me speak is not why you are here.

Indeed, you might wonder why we have the dean speak. After all, - you must be thinking - if I had any thing important to say to you, to the graduates - surely I would have said it by now!

And you are quite correct so I will be brief.

There are three subjects I thought I might discuss. First, I might share some inspirational thoughts. To attempt to do so is a real temptation - for me or for any academician. What law professor or dean doesn't dream of sending off students with some stirring words echoing somewhere in their brains!

Relax, that's not what I intend to attempt. In a few minutes - when you hear our commencement speaker - you will understand why.

The second subject I might take on is to remind you - the members of the graduating class - that a commencement is more than just a time for celebration. It is also a time for gratitude. It is a time to acknowledge that you could not have made this long journey alone. Take the time to recognize the contributions of all who have made your journey possible - the faculty and the staff of the law school; your friends, and, most importantly, your loved ones - your spouses, partners, parents and children. They have been with you every step of the way.

Finally - and most importantly I do want to thank you.

The last few years have been a period of great change for you. In some sense it is for every law student. When you arrived, we spoke of helping you learn "how to think like a lawyer" - an inelegant and ungrammatical attempt to capture in a single phrase what is indeed an art form that all good lawyers share. The process of learning how to think as lawyers - is difficult. It can be trying on friends and brutal on relationships. Few of us can honestly say that we made it through law school without experiencing some moments of deep frustration - and even anger.

In that sense you have shared during the last few years an experience about which you can reminisce and even joke in future years with graduates of any law school from virtually any era.

That the pain of making that change is a common aspect of the law school experience - however - makes it no less painful.

But you have experienced uncommon change as well. You began at the law school in the final year of one dean and then completed your studies during the beginning years of another. During your time here you have witnessed more change than is normal. We have started up new centers of excellence. We have implemented a new grading curve. We have revamped some of our courses and dedicated our new courtroom teaching facility. Each of those changes - whether good or bad - have upset your routines at precisely the time that you probably most likely longed for some certainty in your life. That's not an experience most law students must endure.

Even more significantly, the world outside Washburn Law - the real world as we are so fond of saying - changed dramatically twenty-one months ago on that horrific September morning as we witnessed in disbelief the evil that strong-minded men and women can bring about when passion overwhelms reason - when a rule of law gives way to the rule of brute force.

In the months since 9/11 your lives have changed in many ways - some of which you may not even be conscious. You have watched as classmates, friends and loved ones have been called up for active duty in our armed forces. Some of you have experienced fear that arises from in someway you are different from the rest of us and thus was automatically suspect in a country suddenly at risk. Many of you have felt the pain of an economy that continues to be buffeted by domestic and foreign shocks.

Indeed many of you can probably hardly remember the feeling of exuberance we shared in the go-go years of the dot.com era.

Yes, these past few years have been a time of great change. And change - as we know - is uncomfortable. Indeed - except to newborns.

Yet despite all of this change, you have acted as professionals. You have acted with the level of civility and thoughtfulness that one should expect of a professional. You have made the members of our staff and our faculty feel appreciated for their efforts.

And for that I want to simply say thank you!!!

Before I introduce our speaker allow me a closing thought. As you know, this coming September the School of Law will begin its second century of operation. You are the last class to graduate during our first century. The alumni who have gone before you have established a enviable record of achievement.

But you get to write the final chapter. When you gather again at some future reunion and look back on what you have accomplished in your careers, you - I am confident - will have set a mark that will challenge all that follow in your steps. And for that I thank you as well.

Simply remember - you are a Washburn Law lawyer. You are a part of one of the great traditions of legal profession. Be proud of your lineage!

On behalf of the faculty and staff, I congratulate you on all that you have accomplished. We wish you success and satisfaction in all that you do!

Introduction of the Speaker Dean Dennis R. Honabach

It is one of the great traditions at our law school that the members of the graduating class select their commencement speaker. Today they have chosen a truly exceptional individual to address them.

It is my honor and privilege to introduce this year's commencement speaker, John D. Kemp. Mr. Kemp is a 1974 graduate of the Washburn University School of Law.

Mr. Kemp is a principal in the firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville P.C., in which he represents the interests of clients in government relations, professional management services and legal representation in areas of health care, rehabilitation, disability and tax. Mr. Kemp received his A.B. from Georgetown University in 1971.

Mr. Kemp has served as chief executive officer of the United Cerebral Palsy Association and VSA Arts (formerly Very Special Arts) and continues in that capacity for Half the Planet Foundation as well as for Disability Providers of America. He served as General Counsel and Vice-President-Development for the National Easter Seal Society. He previously managed a law firm that advised companies on state and federal civil rights, employment and education laws and policies regarding persons with disabilities.

In 1991 Mr. Kemp was inducted into the Horatio Alger's Association of Distinguished Americans, an honor extended to singularly accomplished individuals in recognition of their achievements in the face of extraordinary challenges. He is also a recipient of the special tribute award by the Dole Foundation for the Employment of People with Disabilities.

In 1997 the School of Law honored Mr. Kemp as the school's Distinguished Alumni Fellow.

So far what I have shared with you the public record. As you will soon learn, there is much more to the man than his public record. I met John a year ago at an alumni event in D.C. That evening I met many wonderful Washburn alums, but John was special. His charm, his wit, his smile, his spirit set him apart. I immediately felt as if I had known him for a long time. And I wished I had. As I told him the next time we met in Washington, he was one of those rare individuals we all have meet once or twice in a lifetime that make us regret that somehow our paths had not crossed earlier. We would all consider ourselves blessed if we had one or two friends like John.

In a few minutes you too will understand just what makes John D. Kemp such a special individual. All of us at Washburn are proud to call him one of our own; you should be especially proud that you selected him to be your commencement speaker. You could not have a more appropriate individual to deliver the final commencement address of this law schools glorious first century.

I am pleased to turn the podium over to Mr. Kemp.

Commencement Address John D. Kemp

Photograph: John Kemp.President Farley, Dean Honabach, Distinguished graduates, faculty, staff, my family [wife, Sam; parents John/Joan Kemp; Dr Thomas & Kathy Lehmann and daughter Lally; Dr Cal Ray & Mary Harding; Mr. and Mrs. Dave & Beth Cicha and daughter Christine; Stephanie McCowan and Stephen Hoff], and friends [Dave Tripp and Sam Schuetz].

What an honor to be asked by you, the Law students to be your Commencement Speaker. Thank you.

Twenty nine years ago, somehow and by the grace of God, I sat in your place, proud of achieving one of the most difficult challenges I'd ever faced - graduating from Washburn University School of Law. And, I was simultaneously satisfied, terrified, and anxious about leaving this safety net and starting my professional life, competing, earning, living on my own! I remember sitting right where you are today. Enjoy the moment - you've earned it.

Washburn University is my family, and it's your family, too! In your short time here, you've sadly have lost members and gained some through births, and marriages, relationships and adoptions. Our family will grow as Washburn extends its reach throughout the United States and worldwide.

So, let me start my reaching each of you in some small, yet politically correct way -

Distinguished graduates, faculty, staff, friends, parents, persons with disabilities, people of class, no class people, people of color, colorful people, people of height, the vertically constrained, people of hair, the differently coifed, the optically challenged, the temporarily sighted, the insightful, the out-of-sight, the out-of-towners, the Eurocentrics, the Afrocentrics, the Afrocentrics with Eurailpasses, the eccentrically inclined, the sexually disinclined, people of sex, sexy people, sexist pigs, animal companions, friends of the earth, friends of the boss, the temporarily employed, the differently employed, the differently employed, the differently optioned, people with options, people with options, people with stock options, the divestiturists, the deconstructionists, the home constructionists, the homeboys, the homeless, the temporarily housed at home, and god save us, the permanently housed at home!

Service and Advocacy

Since graduating from Washburn Law in 1974, I have spent most of my professional time working in management, as General Counsel with National Easter Seals and as the Chief Executive Officer of large national and international disability organizations. I was lucky. Through that service, I became a volunteer board member of Independent Sector, the national unifying voice for philanthropy and volunteerism in America.

While the nonprofit sector has been rocked by bad behavior over the past 13 years, tarnishing meaningful public service for many of us who have served, the role of charity remains noble and purposeful, a distinguishing feature of American society. No other country's citizens and corporations give such a substantial portion of their "disposable income" and "earnings" to non-profits to do "good". Non-government organizations educate, employ, train, salvage, resurrect, enable, empower, dignify, sanctify, even save human lives all around us everyday. I'm certain, while you've been at Washburn Law, that nearly all of you have given your time in service to a non-profit, some of you have given your money, and some of you have even worked for non-profits. To work as an attorney in service to others gives you opportunities to engage corporate and tax law; contracts and compliance concerns; human resources, pensions and benefits problems; bonds and other long-term debt instruments; marketing, communications and fund-raising; and my love, legislative and regulatory affairs. Throughout, you operate with an overlay of emotion, speaking for the politically powerless, the voiceless, the voteless. This is the business of nonprofits, always with a heart.

Alan Bergman, President and CEO of the Brain Injury Association of America said once, "An advocate is never satisfied with the status quo." Each of you is now an advocate, and each of you will have many different ways to serve. I'm asking you and I'm telling you…don't waste your time just playing in the sandbox of life - commit to making something good - and productive - and meaningful happen every day - and then do it!

Heroes

How did you get to this point in your lives? Who was it that gave you your sense of self - and purpose - and mission to want to pursue a role of "advocate" in life? Who are your role models; who are your heroes? I'm sure they're watching you today.

My father is my hero, and he is here today. I feel confident that my sisters would agree, we were raised by a man who will be canonized a Saint some day. Really. Our natural mother passed away three months after my younger sister, Mary, was born, leaving my Dad to raise us three children. Kathy, my older sister, was then 5, and I was 15 months old and born without arms below the elbows and legs below my knees. At age 32 my Dad restarted his life - with 3 young children, two Master's Degrees, a deep Catholic faith, and without his partner. He committed then to a life of public service and advocacy, of quality parenting and of love, and of improving the lives of people with disabilities, my life, our lives. When he decided not to seek re-election to the City Council of Prairie Village, Kansas in 2001, in his 83rd year, he completed 60 consecutive years of public service, from a county public roads worker and to his service as the Kansas Secretary of Transportation for 8 years in the '80's. He used his wisdom, charm and very good fortune to find and marry our Stepmother - our Mother, Joan, in 1970. Thank you for being here, and I love you very much. My Dad now has Parkinson's, and he addresses all the challenges it brings with all the skills he has acquired, managing it and not letting it ever defeat him.

My point in telling you about our father is certainly to show you our pride - and to ask you to reflect for just a moment on the persons who have meant the most to you in your journey here. We all need someone sometime in our lives; and someone will need you. Be there for them.

I was given the gift of love and self-worth, by virtue of the way I was raised, in inclusive school settings from K through L School, by virtue of who raised us and with two incredible sisters, who've married two remarkable men. My disability has given me both insight and perspective on human behavior. A simple social "handshake" with me has sent ordinary people into states of confusion. I know I must guide people at these times. Let me go a little deeper, please.

Just as there is a recognized culture for women, for African Americans, for Hispanic Americans, for Asian Americans and for Native Americans, there is a newly recognized culture of disability. And while much of culture is passed down through families, churches and synagogues, and social organizations for other groups, for people with disabilities, 85% of whom acquired their disabilities after birth, unlike me, we "acquire" our disability culture from each other, through peers and mentors with disabilities, but not necessarily our families.

Let me try to define Disability Culture, especially if you accept the premise that women have a culture, African-Americans have a culture, Hispanic-Americans have a culture, and so on.

What are the core values of a Disability Culture?

  1. An heightened acceptance of human differences - whether social, racial, economic, class.
  2. Interdependence is an essential part of our lives.
  3. Disability humor - the ability to find something absurdly hilarious in almost anything, however dire.
  4. The ability to read others' attitudes and conflicts in order to sort out, fill in the gaps and grasp the latent meaning in contradictory social messages.

In his first book, Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Daniel Goleman states that research is proving that violence prevention programs are far more effective when they teach a core of emotional competencies: impulse control, managing anger, and finding creative solutions to social predicaments.

High IQ, it is estimated, is attributable to only 20% of life's success, leaving fully 80% of success attributed to emotional intelligence - the ability to rein impulse; to read another's innermost feelings; and to handle relationships smoothly.

Aristotle said: "It is a rare skill to be angry

When these are all aligned, you can be angry.

All of us must act civilly with each other, regardless of the source of our frustrations, the cause of our concerns, or the messages we receive. The Rules of Professional Conduct governing attorneys don't start at 8:30am and stop at 6pm; these rules that that I have sworn - and you will swear - to uphold, apply 24/7/365. As Michael Egan, Dollar Car Rental President & CEO stated, "....Understand that the most destructive power you hold is the ability to destroy yourself. Preserve your own dignity, health and welfare."

Rules of civil society apply to all citizens every hour of every day. That's what I learned from my Dad - and from Washburn Law School and - from choosing the profession of law.

For almost all of us with disabilities, over the past 50 years, we've seen wholesale shifts in public policy and public perceptions towards people with disabilities. For his lifelong work on our behalf, we owe deep thanks to Senator Bob Dole, a most distinguished alumni and good friend of mine, really. The sole responsibility for "fitting in", "keeping up" and "doing things just like everyone else" (those are air quotes for those not keeping up here!) more properly shifted off of me and us, the people with disabilities, to the responsibility of those who build our physical environments and who can create accessible technologies and appreciate the concepts of full inclusion and acceptance of ALL. You don't necessarily seek universal access until you need it and can't have it.

While my Dad taught me well the notion of personal responsibility, he also taught me to place responsibility squarely upon those who denied me my right to equality. When I returned home crying about poor treatment and teasing, he would ask me, "Who has the handicap here, John? Is it you who were born and live with your disability, or is it those who won't accept you because of it?" I was given perspective as to why human behavior could be so insensitive, and I felt some pity and sorrow and concern for those who just couldn't accept me for who I am, with my disability. It gave me, hopefully, an open mind about all people.

So, what's my message today?

  1. You are responsible for what you do, just as I am.
  2. Your reputation is the most important asset you have. Protect it!
  3. When you commit to doing something, see it all the way through. Or don't commit to it all.
  4. It takes years to build up trust, and it takes only a minute's worth of stupidity to destroy it. Be wise.
  5. Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. If you whine excessively about how unfair you think life is, people will stop listening.
  6. You cannot make someone love you; you should live like you have to earn it every day.
  7. Exceed people's expectations of you and for you and not by placing the threshold too conveniently low!
  8. My Dad's Rule of Equal Splitting Between Two People: One person divides "it" and the other has first choice!
  9. You are not your work. Maintain balance in your life. As my wife Sam shows me, laugh and smile and enjoy what you have today!
  10. Find happiness and contentment in your life, as I've been most fortunate to find with my wife, Sam. And, find fulfillment in your professional work as an advocate, wherever that may take you.

I'm most privileged to be with you on this - one of the most important days in your lives. You have everything in front of you. Said Herb Boeckmann, an outstanding corporate leader, "If you don't give your very best, you are compromising your values, compromising your efforts, and compromising your time." Today, we celebrate you achieving your goal of graduating from Washburn Law School! Congratulations!

And, thank you for this honor of being with you today!!