Still, We Meet
- Irma Herrera
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 11
This is my second time back since graduating from the University of Notre Dame Law School four-plus decades ago. Recently, I attended the first-ever Affinity Alumni Reunion Weekend sponsored by the three student organizations: Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA), Black Law Student Association (BLSA) and Hispanic Law Student Association (HLSA), which in our day was known as La Raza Law Students. BLSA and La Raza shared an office in the law school's lower level, where Black and Chicano students often hung out between classes. There was no APALSA during my time at ND Law because my class had only one Asian student, Dr. Trai Le, a whip-smart, middle-aged woman from Vietnam who had come to the United States with her spouse and young children as a refugee. Dr. Le had already been a law professor and Dean of the law school in Hue, a city that was heavily bombed during the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam War. Dr. Le went on to become a Law Professor at Notre Dame.
These organizations, whose very existence the Trump Administration seeks to eliminate, claiming their existence is "divisive," continue to play an essential role in the lives of students and alumni. Special thanks to Ava Moreno, President of HLSA, the HSLA community, and ND Law School's Director of Dignity, Solidarity & Subsidiarity, Max Gaston. A Notre Dame Law graduate, Max previously worked as a civil rights attorney with the ACLU in Florida and in other roles advancing justice. The hard work of APALSA, BLSA, and HLSA is reflected in the successful programs presented and the connections made across groups and generations.
I had the privilege of serving as one of the lunchtime speakers during Affinity Alumni Weekend at an event sponsored by HLSA. Three Chicanas were in my class, and I convinced them to come for the weekend. Vicky Mendoza is the Executive Director of VARN (Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevadans) and Hon. Martha Vazquez, the first woman appointed to the federal bench in New Mexico. We were joined by classmate and dear friend Patricia Dunn, whom I anointed as Hispanic-adjacent since we had been housemates during law school. Although I’ve seen these four friends numerous times over the decades, it was our first time together since graduating in the late 1970s. Each of us had the opportunity to connect with students and share our experiences of surviving law school and the challenges in our lives and legal careers.
I presented a small excerpt of my one-woman show, Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name? as part of the HLSA lunchtime program. The short scene I selected was set at Notre Dame. This was followed by a Fireside Chat about my career as a civil rights lawyer, journalist, and playwright/performer. While all the weekend activities were informative, the Saturday morning brunch titled Stronger Together: A Conversation Between APALSA, BLSA, and HLSA Alumni was especially illuminating. Panelists broadly represented positions held by lawyers at major law firms, in-house, social justice advocacy, criminal defense, and philanthropy. There were several overriding messages: hard work is key, especially because Black and Latino lawyers still encounter skepticism about our intelligence and abilities (just 'sayin). Asian lawyers contend with other sterotypes although they are not viewed as less capable. Lawyers from all these ethnic and racial groups still find that, all too often, we are the only ones who look like us in the room. Another overarching theme was the importance of mentorship and networking and paying it forward by supporting students with financial support when possible and by introductions that can lead to job opportunities and other experiences that provide growth and advancement.
I attended Notre Dame Law School thanks to a diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) program called affirmative action back then. That I was admitted with lower LSAT scores than other classmates didn’t make me unqualified or not merit admission. By taking a broader look, including past academic accomplishments and life experiences, the admissions committee assumed I could complete law school and successfully join the legal profession. I strongly advocate for all programs in schools and employment that look beyond standardized test scores and grades in determining who is "qualified" and "merits" admission or a chance at a job or promotion.
As these DEI programs are attacked and dismantled, those yelling the loudest about merit are among the least qualified persons to have reached the high positions they hold. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, claims we must have “the best and brightest in every position possible, color blind and merit-based.” As a result of the Signalgate Scandal, we can see firsthand that those currently holding these posts to keep our nation safe are, in fact, extraordinarily poorly qualified for their positions. Can anyone doubt that they received these appointments as rewards for their blind loyalty to Donald Trump and for their willingness to abide by and amplify his lies no matter how bold and nonsensical?
This is why DEI was created, as captured so clearly in the cartoon below.
When you compare the experiences and credentials of cabinet officers who previously held these posts in both Republican and Democratic Administrations, the differences speak volumes. While an Executive Order declared DEI dead, many schools, law firms, and corporations remain committed to programs that expand opportunities. They recognize the importance of developing leaders who serve communities and a diverse base of customers and constituents. They reject the belief that the default for competence, the so-called "merit," is being white and well-connected to people in power.
Notre Dame’s campus is as beautiful as ever and has many more buildings than my last visit over a decade ago. My early morning walk around the two lakes was invigorating; at slightly below 40 degrees with a light wind, it was a tad bit colder than the milder Bay Area mornings I'm used to. I enjoyed meeting students and other alumni, and students expressed great appreciation for the candid conversations about the challenges of studying and practicing law.
The first woman to graduate from Notre Dame Law School (1970) was Graciela “Grace” Olivárez, a lifelong advocate for the Hispanic community and those in poverty. Grace Olivárez first met Notre Dame's President, Father Ted Hesburgh, when Father Hesburgh was Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights. Olivárez testified numerous times before the Commission, often chastizing them for not doing enough to address Mexican-American civil rights concerns. Grace, a self-educated advocate who had not graduated high school, impressed Father Hesburgh with her intelligence and knowledge, and he encouraged her to consider becoming a lawyer. He arranged her admission to Notre Dame Law School. After graduation, she continued advancing civil rights and economic access in her various appointed posts and as a law professor. One of the weekend activities was the annual HLSA Graciela Olivárez Banquet, which we attended.
As educational opportunities expanded in this country, thanks to affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, folks like me and my Chicana classmates became lawyers. A law degree equipped me to join with others in the community to challenge systems of oppression that relegated us to second-class status. This is why DEI programs are targeted. Our ancestors have endured this and much worse, so keep faith and remember: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." ~Dr. ML King.
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