James Liggins James Liggins Leads Student Groups in the Quest for Diversity It has been said that early musical experiences cultivate leadership ability, and student James Liggins, Jr., is living proof. Liggins has been appearing in front of groups since childhood. A lifelong musician and member of Church of God Pentecostal in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he grew up with opportunities to perform and speak publicly. At the age of 12, he began playing the organ for church services, and by 15, he was directing the choir. Despite a demanding schedule as a top student, Wolverine Student Bar Association (WSBA) president and MSU-DCL teaching assistant, Liggins, who just finished his second year at the college, has returned home every weekend—about 90 miles from campus—to rehearse the choir and fulfill his Sunday responsibilities. “Music is a balancing, calming, focusing point for me,” he says. “It keeps me grounded, helps keep things in perspective and allows me to devote time to my spiritual well-being.” Liggins participated in national mock trial competitions for three years during high school. Upon arriving at MSU-DCL, he joined the Frederick Douglass Moot Court program sponsored by the National Black Law Students Association. Recently the college’s two teams, coached by alumni Lucius Vassar, ’01, and Cylenthia Miller, ’96, advanced to the national level, and Liggins’s team was awarded Best Brief. The event marked the first time in the school’s history that both Frederick Douglass teams participated in the final competition. This fall Liggins will trade his WSBA position for the top leadership spot in the Student Bar Association. “I have a sincere desire to help students,” he says. Carrying on a commitment fulfilled in the WSBA, Liggins will continue to champion diversity, which he explains “isn’t just race.” His vision for the organization includes supporting all students and advocating for programs that help non-traditional students of all descriptions. A political science major from the University of Michigan, Liggins came to MSU-DCL because of its proximity to home, its Big Ten connection and its strong support of diversity. “The administration and faculty are deeply concerned about all students, and the school’s students understand diversity,” he says. “Students are learning how to deal in a diverse legal community, and that makes the academic program better.” In the next year, Liggins will take on additional life-altering challenges. First, he’ll marry his “intended”—Jyllian Cunningham—whom he has known most of his life. After graduation in the spring of 2003, he’d like to secure a position with a law firm or corporation.