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Law School Admissions Dean Janice Austin hugs the new interim dean, Renee Post, after Austin announced she was stepping down. [Anna Grafton/The Daily Pennsylvanian]

Law School Admissions Dean Janice Austin said farewell to Penn at a ceremony in her honor yesterday.

Over 70 students and faculty members of the Law School came together to share their regret at losing Austin and reflect on how she changed the school in her almost nine years as dean.

Austin leaves to take on the position of Admissions Dean at Dickinson College, where she will "create something very special," according to Dean of Students Gary Clinton.

The reaction to Austin's departure prompted tears, hugs and frustration from students at losing both a integral voice for minorities in admissions and also a person they came to know intimately.

"I don't think people truly see how great the loss is," Black Law Student Association President David Love said. "Her commitment to diversity and African Americans is just unparalleled."

Because the Law School began the year with only four male black students out of a class of 340, according to Love, diversity was a pressing problem that Love now feels is even more urgent as Austin leaves.

"It's as if we're an endangered species," Love said. "Black lawyers have certain needs and responsibilities that have to be addressed."

Austin found students who "might not necessarily fit the perfect profile" of an average law student, creating a "vibrant, diverse, interesting" community of students, said Jelani Lawson, a second-year law student.

"That's why I like this place, that's why it's special," Lawson said. "There is going to be something missing... I'm not sure there's going to be an attempt to replace it."

Yet, according to Law School Dean Michael Fitts, "the School overall has the highest [percentage of diversity] of any major university in the country."

"We have a number of minority faculty," Fitts said, and the School finds it "very important to have diversity in the faculty, administrative staff and student body."

The Law School's student body is made up of about 8 percent black students according to Fitts.

"We're roughly comparable to the central university," he said.

However, it was not only black students who found Austin to be especially supportive -- other minority students were equally affected by her presence.

Austin has been "incredibly unwavering in her commitment to people...[and] effectively gauged the importance of diversity," said Julius Towers, president of Lambda Law, which works to resolve issues facing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the Law School community.

Although the University has already begun a nationwide search for a replacement for Austin, students expressed the hope that the administration would find someone who would continue the initiative taken by Austin -- looking past test scores and essays and focusing on "what lies beyond the numbers," as Lawson put it.

"While numbers are important, numbers do not make a good attorney at the end of the day," Towers said.

Austin was applauded with a standing ovation for her commitment to diversity, and she reflected on her work to understand applicants on a more personal level.

"I don't read books, I read short stories," Austin said. "Thousands and thousands of applications."

"This has been a wonderful ride," she added.

Leaving Renee Post, formerly assistant dean of admissions, as the interim dean, Austin said she is confident that Post "is going to be terrific."

Yet, for minority students, the battle to maintain a voice in admissions will continue.

"We have a lot of work to do," Lawson said.

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