Publisher's Notebook

Whenever we have written a story on law school placement or new associate hiring, for the past 26 years, we’ve always called Rob Kaplan, dean of career services, at the William & Mary law school to find out the scoop there. He’s always returned our calls, given us straight info and been a pleasure to work with.

Kaplan has made a move, reports the school. As of May 10, he is now Associate Dean for Externships, Judicial Clerkships, and Public Service Initiatives and Legal Writing Instructor.

Dean Davison Douglas reported that Kaplan now will be a writing instructor W&M’s new Legal Skills program, which will be headed by Meredith Aden, a new member of the faculty. Kaplan also will work to place students in externships, clerkships and public service programs.

Let me say two things: Thanks, Rob, for all your help over the years. And best of luck in the new program. We’ll be calling sometime in the future to find out how it’s going.

The College of Knowledge down in Williamsburg has many traditions — the Yule Log ceremony at Christmas and Charter Day in February, among others.

But for sheer joy, you can’t match the day that William & Mary seniors get to ring the Wren Bell.

Here’s how it works: After completing the very last class on the last day of classes, seniors make their way to the Wren Building, the original, iconic building at the front of campus.

There is a little door in the wall on the second floor that looks like it serves a dumbwaiter. But no, it is historic (like most things at W&M) — it was used in days past by the little guy who rang the bell at the top of Wren. Each senior gets to give the rope a good yank and that joyful clanging up high is his or her statement that school’s out, forever. (Apologies to Alice Cooper).

Today is the day. It’s the last day of classes for the Class of 2012, so if you’re down in the ‘Burg, you’ll know why there are bells in the air.

Check out the YouTube video supplied by the school and you’ll get the idea.

It’s finals week down at the College of Knowledge in Williamsburg.

And William & Mary’s main library, Earl Gregg Swem Library, has announced that it will remain open for 125 straight hours this week.

So what are the stressed-out students doing? A number of them have, well, moved into Swem. “Campus Overload,” a blog from the Washington Post, quotes a student-run publication that said some students have set up make-shift tents and have cots in the library. There was a small stampede last Sunday afternoon when the library opened for the duration; students were loaded down with bedding, clothes, and, oh yes, books and study materials.

Ever clever, some of the new Swem residents have set up a Twitter feed called #OccupySwem, detailing life in the stacks.

The College of William & Mary’s long nightmare of having no mascot came to an end today.

The Tribe’s new mascot is…the griffin. It’s a critter that’s half eagle and half lion. Symbolizes boldness and courage, according to the word on the street.

W&M President Taylor Reveley filmed a video for YouTube that was included in the college’s Web site announcement.

Reveley, who unveiled the new mascot at a ceremony this afternoon, said, “With its arrival, we now have a mascot that unites strength with intelligence, recalls our royal origins, and speaks to our deep roots in American history.” Whew! No pressure on you, birdie-lion boy.

Personally, I voted for the phoenix in an online preference poll, but the griffin is fine. How this mythical creature meshes with the Native Americanesque “Tribe” remains a mystery, though.

Still, it could have been worse. As noted in an earlier post in this notebook, the contenders included a pug-ugly pug and a king and queen combo with a king who looked a bit like a refugee from a burger commercial.

Part of Reveley’s mission was to find something “that looks good on a T-shirt.” The griffin fills the bill. One imagines that the next order of business will be naming said mascot, and another online poll and round of exuberant expectation awaits.

Note to W&M: Just don’t call him “Merv.”

Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday announced the winners of the annual Outstanding Faculty Awards, given by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.

One of the 12 recipients for 2010 is William & Mary law professor Paul Marcus (right).

Marcus has been at the College since 1992, after serving as dean at the University of Arizona and practicing in L.A. He been putting his mark on the school and the community ever since.

For the OFA, he gained the full support of Dean Davison Douglas and numerous colleagues and former students. Marcus was the first recipient of the Kelly Chair in Teaching Excellence at W&M, and in 2006, he earned the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the College’s highest honor for service.

Among other community activities, he founded the Law and Literature program at the Central Virginia Regional Jail, and he handles numerous pro bono appointments on the side. The Williamsburg chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters tapped him as “Volunteer of the Year” in 2004.

Hats off.

The College of William and Mary has been in the hunt for a new mascot since February.

This morning the school announced the five finalists for mascot, the creature that bounces around the sports field, urging the team to victory and alternately delighting and scaring small children.

W&M alums will rest easy in knowing that the five finalists are nowhere near as dumb as the finalists for Richmond’s new baseball team, “The Flying Squirrels.” In fact, the W&M choices all are pretty good, except for the “Pug.” More on him later. The five, with drawings available for viewing at the W&M Web site, are:

* The Griffin. According to the Daily Press, a mythical critter with the head of an eagle and and the body of a lion. Symbolizes boldness and courage, always good.

* The King and the Queen. Ol’ Bill and Mary theirselves. A pair of mascots, as it were. Will work so long as the king doesn’t look like that bozo in the Burger King commercials.

* The Phoenix. Rising from the ashes. The school has used this indomitable bird as a symbol on several occasions during its long history of fits and starts. Never dies.

* The Pug. Okay, I don’t get this one. William and Mary apparently owned pugs, but it’s ugly. Will definitely frighten children.

* The Wren. A play on the name of Sir Christopher Wren, the English architect who designed the iconic Wren Building, “the oldest academic building in continuous use in America.” You have to know that fact, and agree to trot it out when appropriate, in order to graduate. Plus, wrens apparently nest all over campus.

The school is taking a survey, available through this link, until Jan. 7. Personally, I like the phoenix or maybe the king and queen (with the Burger King caveat), although the griffin and even the wren would work. Any thoughts?