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The Daily OrangeSU law professor dies after long-term illness
By Daniel Bortz
Posted: 11/18/08, 1:52 AM EST Section: News
Donna Arzt, a professor at Syracuse University's College of Law, died Saturday after a long-term illness. She suffered from multiple system atrophy, a rare disease that affects movement and blood pressure, among other body functions, SU professors said.
Arzt, 53, taught at SU for more than 20 years. She received her bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in American Studies, her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School and her master's in comparative constitutional law from Columbia University School of Law.
Before coming to Syracuse, she practiced public interest law in Boston and served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Massachusetts. She began teaching at SU in September of 1988, specializing in human rights and international law.
In an effort to help the families of victims in Pan Am Flight 103, Arzt founded and directed the Lockerbie Trial Families Project at SU. She assembled a team of students to translate the transcripts of the court proceedings so that the families - many of which did not have access to the court records - could follow the trial, said Christian Day, an associate dean and professor at the College of Law.
"They would receive the trial transcripts, and then they would work pretty much through the day and night to get them to the families," Day said. "Her work really helped the families, and it served as a major resource for the lawyers to bring the terrorists to justice."
Day said Arzt's passion for international human rights translated into the classroom, and inspired a number of her students to enter into international law.
"Her commitment to human rights and international law is something that will continue here," Day said.
"People will remember her for her generous personality," Day added. "She was a warm, gentle person. She was committed to her staff, and she was somebody whose passion for teaching was respected and admired by all who came in contact with her."
Arlene Kanter, a law professor at SU who worked alongside Arzt, said her colleague of 20 years kept in touch with the families of the Pan Am victims for years after the trial ended.
Arzt, 53, taught at SU for more than 20 years. She received her bachelor's degree from Brandeis University in American Studies, her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School and her master's in comparative constitutional law from Columbia University School of Law.
Before coming to Syracuse, she practiced public interest law in Boston and served as an assistant attorney general for the state of Massachusetts. She began teaching at SU in September of 1988, specializing in human rights and international law.
In an effort to help the families of victims in Pan Am Flight 103, Arzt founded and directed the Lockerbie Trial Families Project at SU. She assembled a team of students to translate the transcripts of the court proceedings so that the families - many of which did not have access to the court records - could follow the trial, said Christian Day, an associate dean and professor at the College of Law.
"They would receive the trial transcripts, and then they would work pretty much through the day and night to get them to the families," Day said. "Her work really helped the families, and it served as a major resource for the lawyers to bring the terrorists to justice."
Day said Arzt's passion for international human rights translated into the classroom, and inspired a number of her students to enter into international law.
"Her commitment to human rights and international law is something that will continue here," Day said.
"People will remember her for her generous personality," Day added. "She was a warm, gentle person. She was committed to her staff, and she was somebody whose passion for teaching was respected and admired by all who came in contact with her."
Arlene Kanter, a law professor at SU who worked alongside Arzt, said her colleague of 20 years kept in touch with the families of the Pan Am victims for years after the trial ended.
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