HLS International Law Program Healthy

To the editors:

In an otherwise excellent article about my town hall meeting with students, The Crimson mischaracterized what I said about international legal studies at Harvard Law School ( News, “Kagan Meets With Law Students,” April 25 ).

I said that the departures of Joseph Weiler and Anne-Marie Slaughter had created certain gaps in our curriculum, which we would make it a priority to fill. I did not say or suggest, because it would be absurd to say or suggest, that the international program was “languishing” (to use The Crimson’s word). Harvard’s international and comparative law faculty is the strongest in the nation; the range of courses and activities we offer relating to these fields has no equal in legal education; and Bill Alford, our Associate Dean for the Graduate Program and International Legal Studies, provides extraordinary leadership.

ELENA KAGAN

April 26, 2003

The writer is professor of law and dean-designate of Harvard Law School.