Law students took a break from studying on Thursday to celebrate and honor a former canine graduate.
Cumberland School of Law hosted its annual Rascal Day event to celebrate the life of Rascal, a stray dog who first attended class when Cumberland was located in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1933. Rascal sat outside the window of the law classroom and quickly became part of the Cumberland family.
When the freshman class that Rascal had become a part of graduated in 1937, Rascal too walked across the stage and the school awarded him a “Doctor of Canine Jurisprudence” degree.
In 1940, Rascal died and was buried underneath the law classroom window.
When the school moved to Birmingham in 1961, Rascal’s tombstone and dirt from his grave were moved to the Samford University campus. Today, Rascal lies just west of Cumberland’s Robinson Hall.
Every year before final exams in the spring, Cumberland students honor Rascal with a jazz parade and eulogy given by a professor. In addition to Wednesday’s events, dogs were given treats and toys while students enjoyed a free lunch.
Cumberland Student Bar Association President Denzel Okinedo said he looks forward to the celebration every year and already plans to come back and attend after graduating next month. “Law school can be stressful, so we try to offer things that can kind of take your minds off of studying for exams. This is kind of one of the hallmark events.”
“It’s a cool event that we use to commemorate him," Okinedo said.