University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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The Sunflower Tradition For 15 or 20 years after the University was established in 1883, none of the graduates wore caps and gowns for gradu- ation ceremonies. At the turn of the century, a sales person offered to rent seniors caps and gowns. At that time, the School of Law was in the basement of the Old Main Building. No one thought to send a message downstairs and invite even a few law seniors to the meeting. A committee of faculty and seniors met and because they had not been invited to the orig- inal meeting and had not been consulted on the advisability of this step, law students refused to wear caps and gowns. Perhaps foreshadowing later events, they then formulated the reason to uphold their decision. This was, that caps and gowns at such a time were tradition to, and rep- resentative of, academic school and not the professional school. Granted, even though judges had worn wigs and gowns for centuries, it was worn for a pur- pose entirely distinct from the purpose of the proposed. The faculty met with the President, and at the meeting a decision was reached that the law students must conform to the wishes of the senior class or they must wear a significant insignia at exercises. It was not in a spirit of conciliation or in appreciation of the dignity of the occasion that the sunflower was chosen as the distinctive insignia. It was agreed, however, that the senior law students would wear white suits. Once more, reasons were advanced to justify the choice of the flower. The sunflower, genus Heliautbus, belongs to a family with world- wide distribution. So, also do lawyers. As the sunflower always keeps its face turned to the sun, the lawyer turns to the light of justice. The Sunflower Ceremony used to be held once during the year, on Commencement Day. As the School of Law student popula- tion grew, it was decided to have two exercises during the year. one in November for the December graduates and anoth- er in May for the May and August graduates. Originally, the sunflower was pinned on each senior by his or her best friend. Today the Associate Dean or Assistant Dean assumes the responsibility.

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Legend ofthe Peregrinus The Latin word peregrinus is an adjuctive meaning traveled from a foreign place. It is pro- nounced with a short u and by accenting the long i , that is Pair-ah-GRINE-us, rhyming with minus. The symbol of the Law School known as the Peregrinus, however, is pro- nounced in an entirely different manner which will be explained later in this narrative. Ancient Rome allowed much of its conquered territories to retain local laws. Roman citi- zens, on the other hand, were subject to the law of Rome, regardless of where they went or with whom they dealt. Commerce sprang up between the Romans and the territories, creating serious legal problems. What body of law would apply to a contract between a Roman and a person of one of the terri- tories? To deal with this diffi- culty, Rome sent traveling judges, Praetors Peregrinus, on circuit tours through the ter- ritories. Their iob was not to apply any formal body of law, but was to see that justice was done in each case according to the dictates of conscience. This is one of the important roots of the law of Equity. W. S. Simkins began teaching in the Law Department at the University of Texas in September 1899. He had been a Colonel in the Confederate Army, and had practiced law for several years in Dallas. His main course was Equity, for juniors. In the Autumn of 1900, junior law student Jim L. McCall made a lasting name for himself as one of the all time great centers on the University of Te.xas football team. It is not surprising that, in the process, he was absent from a few of his Equity classes and missed Judge Simkins ' explanation of the Praetors Peregrinus. It was early December in the basement ofthe east v«ng ofthe Old Main Building, where the Law School was then located, and the Equity class was in ses- sion. Jim McCall was present, but probably apprehensive, for Judge Simkins was conducting an oral quiz to review material covered in his fall lectures. In another part of the room, next to a blackboard, sat Russell R. Savage and Scott W. Key, both junior law students. Mr. McCall, what was the Pregrinus? asked ludge Simkins. Judge, I don ' t know, unless it was some kind of animal, replied McCall. A wave of laughter swept the class. With sudden inspiration, Russell Savage whispered to Scott Key, I will draw a picture of it! Savage had a natural tal- ent for drawing. He found a piece of chalk and began deftly sketching on the blackboard a creature in his imagination. Scott Key kept watch on Judge Simkins, who did not notice them. The completed drawing was about three feet long and twenty inches high. It depicted a four- footed animal with a piebald coat of short fur, rather slender legs, and The Peregrinus writ- ten beneath it. Over the years, the physical characteristics of the beast have developed tradi- tional meanings. The sharp beak fights injustice and probes for truth. The boxing gloves on the rear feet represent the law ' s power to strike down those who stand against it; the worker ' s boots on the front feet symbol- ize the protection accorded the common man. The bushy tail stands ready to brush aside deception and any legal techni- calities which obstruct equity. The arched back shows a readi- ness to spring forward to do jus- tice, while the hind quarters are those of a dog - man ' s best friend. This work of art remained on the blackboard for several days and was the subject of much joking in which the students used a variety of pronuncia- tions. It was from this banter that the current usage descend- ed. Today, when speaking of this creature, the word is almost universally sounded as pair-ah- grin-OOS. This unorthodox pronunciation has mistakenly been attributed to Judge Simkins; in reality, he always spoke the word in the correct Latin. 2 - Legend ofthe Peregrinus

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Fall Ceremony Saul Mar% ' in Meyer Spring Ceremony Alex Barlow lack Willard Burke HI OAa™ Am ' Kav Morris Lisa Lizettle Barrcra Susan Young Burlazzi leimfcBflti Doctor of Jurisprudence i.iit T.n lor Morris Doctor of Jurisprudence Michael Coyle Barrett Stephen Wayne Burnett Mtrdiftk Amy Miclielle Armstrong H..hinrjrolcNava Amy Marie Adams Michael Benjamin Bateman John Christian Burnside lobCyo Kristi Lou Ayala Nelson Henr) ' Nease Andrew Allan Adams MichaellawrenceBaum Erie Thomas Butler J H ,to Steven Drew Baker Sonya Lynn Palmer Virginia Lynn Adams Ronald Everett Ba e Mae Rene Butler M MSb Christina G. Bartholomew Mollie McDade Phelan Liza Marie Aguilar Stephen Andrew Beck Von William Byer ■ IJnaaMm David Edward Burns Darla Regnery Sarah Meredith Akhtar Kimberly Shannon Beckham Jay Gilbert Caballcro 7 taLW Richard Gregg Byrd lulia Dawn Rice Gar) ' Earl Alfred Eddy Ramiro Beltran Ramiro Canales % Lesley Elizabeth Daiglc Kandace W, Richardson Brandon Trent Allen Hector Andre Beltran Eduardo Oscar Cantu r» Thomas Houston Daniel Blaine Andrew Russell Jeffrey Roberts Allen Bryce Fdvvard Benjel Heather Lvnn Capell Bra,J, I« Jennifer Lynne Doerrte Dena Gail Russell Aaron Chadric Allrcd Elisa Karen Herman Perry lonathan Carroll Bn.Di Dennis William Donley, Jr. Tamar.i Helaine Scner Edward Sweeney Ames Lisagave Annmane Biersay Brian Matthew Catalano ty Frederick Ross 1-ischcr ShalmiMi.nnn Paul Matthew Anderson lohn Milton Black lohn Gardner Cavcrlee taKlEdM Arkady Frckhtman Marl. 1 liii.hipl,., S|M,k ' , Alex.uulei Savage Andrade Michael lames Bloeh William Lance Cawthon imfeBtoo Sandy Lynn Godscy l,a.l ,i h sv,,,,r. Aliu.i Kalhlccn Anjrae Nathan E ekiel Bowden Peter James Cazamias ( m. Eugene C. Grace, Jr. MaishallJa.kWcUli Baii ara lean Anionic -anesvi 1 vnn Bovd Sheani D. Chanmugam 1 1 1 Kalherine Alide Havely lohn Edward Williams Susan Jane Arenella Jeiuiiler Rene Hraiinen Jennifer Elixabeth Chapman 1 MwCr Edna Castillo Hernandez Nicole Rebecca Woods Merle Reginald Arnold 111 Lisa Chavarna ■ I«n8r j Valerie Ann Hicks Moiz Aman Zahiruddin Sarah Kingsley Aubrey Robin Anneiie Hiooks I-lung Chiang 1 S2 Tonnyre Thomas (oe Robert Christian Kowert Master of Law Paul Bret Baer Vanessa Patrice Bailey Isaac Brown 111 Kevin William Brown William Gordon Childs -t fniilvS, Choii )oc Russell Langley Maria Del Carmen Ojesto- Skardon Francis Baker Paul lonalhon Brown Sallie AnneChMslian-i:arnal Roy Thomas Loaiza Martinez- Porcayo Doris Balderrama Stuart Bradley Brown Jr lae-Won Chung Florcncio Lopez Shannon Wade Bangle Mary Yvonne Bunn Scott Wayne Clark 4 - Fall Sunflower Ceremony