Following a summer of renovations to modernize the meeting space for Queen’s Law students, the Mary Alice Murray Student Lounge was officially reopened on Oct. 5.

In opening remarks, Law Students’ Society President Gabriella Zappulla, Law’27, reflected on key moments she lived in the lounge — from deciding to choose Queen’s Law on Welcome Day and meeting friends to making game plans and celebrating successes. “Those moments are why having a dedicated space for students to spend time outside of their studies is so important,” she said. “To students, a student lounge is an important part of the law school.”

Planned in response to student feedback, the renovations include new flooring, furniture, audiovisual equipment, and enhancements designed to keep the lounge dedicated to law students and events.

“Renewing this space would not have been possible without the generosity of our alumni and friends,” said Dean Colleen M. Flood. “I want to recognize in particular the classes of Law’84, Law’95, and Law’00, who dedicated their class giving campaigns to the student lounge renovation. Their collective support, alongside the generosity of many individual donors, has helped ensure that this space can continue serving generations of Queen’s Law students.”

Thanking financial supporters and all Queen’s Law community members involved with the project, Zappulla said, “You have revitalized what is, in many ways, the heart of the student experience at Queen’s Law, and created a welcoming space for students to gather, connect, and build community for years to come.”

Students, faculty, staff, and Geraldine Tepper, Law’60, gathered not only to celebrate the renewed space, but also to honour the history and legacy it carries. Mary Alice Murray, Law’60, for whom the lounge was named in 1997, and Tepper were the first two women to graduate from Queen’s Law and remained lifelong friends. Murray returned in 1962 as Registrar of Law, leaving a mark on scores of students until retiring in 1980.

Noting that many alumni continue to tell her how meaningful Murray was to them, Flood recalled Tepper once saying of her classmate’s appointment as Registrar, “you could say we gave the school our class treasure.” Flood added, “Geraldine, Queen’s Law remains incredibly grateful that you did.”

As for having the student meeting place named for Murray, Tepper, now in her 65th year of practice, said, “That would be very important to Mary Alice. She was the soul of the law school. If a student had a problem, they would go to see her. You could talk to her about anything and when you left, it would all be better. If a student didn’t have money, she would give it to them out of her own personal finances and never expect to be paid back.”  

In 1984, alumni, friends, and associates established the Mary Alice Murray Memorial Bursary to continue her legacy of supporting students.

By Lisa Graham