WMU-Cooley Law School offers ethical leadership class

GRAND RAPIDS Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum announced collaborative efforts to offer WMU-Cooley law students and WMU students "Leadership in Times of Crisis," at the Gerald R. Ford Museum's new DeVos Learning Center. The class was developed to educate and inspire students to adopt the ethical leadership standards exhibited by President Ford throughout his life.

"We live in an era of politicians, not statesmen," said Victoria Vuletich, WMU-Cooley Law School professor. "Too many leaders on both sides of the aisle view the office they hold as a vehicle to fulfill their personal aspirations instead of an opportunity to serve the nation and its citizens. This crisis of leadership drove us to create an ethical leadership class at a time when it is most needed."

The class, taught by WMU and WMU-Cooley faculty, will offer students the opportunity evaluate the rights and duties of the major stakeholders when making decisions, to distinguish between legal and ethical obligations and create a personal approach for ethical decision-making.

Topics discussed will include: the Nixon pardon, the last days of the Vietnam War and the New York City bankruptcy. Students will have direct access to historical sources at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, including the reports coming from Ford's commanders in Vietnam and his personal thoughts about the pardon in his handwritten notes.

The class consists of three sessions approximately three to four hours each. The sessions will be held Saturday mornings Sept. 17, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12. There are also a limited number of spots for members of the community to register for the course; they are not eligible to receive class credit unless already enrolled at WMU-Cooley Law School or WMU.

Published: Mon, Aug 01, 2016