campaign update Building upon a legacy of law The new William O. douglas Chair in Constitutional Law and American Jurisprudence will serve to inspire scholars and citizens. Members of the governing boards and Whitman alumni have been considering for many years how to memorialize the outstanding teaching of constitutional law at Whitman. The constitutional law class- es of Chester Maxey, Robert Fluno, cur- rent Provost and Dean of the Faculty Timothy Kaufman-osborn and Robert Withycombe are legendary among genera- tions of students. The Now Is the Time Campaign has brought forth such an opportunity. A group of anonymous donors has issued a challenge: more than $1 million to match gifts from other alumni and friends to fund a new chair in the Politics Depart- ment. The Williamo. Douglas Chair in Constitutionallaw and American Juris- prudence will help further a distinguished legacy of teaching and learning in consti- tutional law at Whitman and bear the name ofWilliam O. Douglas ’20, the lon- gest-serving associate justice in theu.S. Supreme Court Justice William o. Douglas ’20 majored in English and economics at Whitman. Supreme Court’s history (Douglas served he was a member of the debate team and was class president in his senior year. from 1939 to 1975). The chair also will provide an opportu- nity to recognize the contributions of the late Robert Fluno, who taught at Whitman from 1952 to 1982. During his illustrious 30-year teaching career, he inspired many students to careers in law and lives of ac- tive citizenship. “Among Whitman alumni, Fluno is re- membered for his courses in American government and democratic theory, but he is especially remembered for his demand- ing and stimulating course in constitu- tional law,” Kaufman-osborn said. “His course in constitutional law gave genera- tions of students outstanding preparation for their later work in graduate schools, law programs and in positions of profes- sional and public service.” To honor this legacy, the Whitman College Board of Trustees plans to name the late professor robert Fluno was an inspirational mentor to generations of Whitman students. he also served as the first honorary Douglas Chair. as chair of the social sciences division and of the political science department. 6 Whitman Magazine
Whitman Magazine July 2012
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