Congresswoman Beatty Delivers Commencement for Capital University Law School’s Class of 2019
COLUMBUS, OH – Over the weekend, on May 19th, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-3) was on hand for the 2019 Commencement Ceremony of Capital University Law School to give the commencement address.
Before a crowd of more than 500 people—Capital University faculty and staff, family, friends, and constituents—Beatty urged the graduates to use their degree for the greater good. "Some people will make things happen. Others will simply watch what is happening. And still others will look up and say, ‘what just happened?'" She continued, "I want to impress on you the need to go out and make positive change happen."
Beatty joins an illustrious list of past Capital University Law School commencement speakers, including Michael Coleman, former Mayor of Columbus; Ted Strickland, former Governor of the State of Ohio; Janet Jackson, former CEO and President of United Way of Central Ohio; and The Honorable Algenon Marbley, Judge for the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Ohio.
Closing out the commencement, Beatty highlighted the important role each graduate will have on the future of America. "We are entering a time when attorneys are not only involved in disputes between persons or corporations, but also the rights of consumers. We are now faced with national policy issues affecting millions of people. Lawsuits will determine everything from the cost of prescription drugs, use of personal data, access to the ballot box, environmental safeguards, and immigration reform, to name a few." Beatty concluded, "It will be lawyers who will be integral to the ultimate decision—maybe that will be one of you. It will be legal minds on the courts who will make positive change happen—maybe that too will be one of you."
As part of the commencement ceremony, Beatty also received an honorary Juris Doctor from Capital University for her decades-long work in and around the legal profession and at all levels of government.
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