Extensive time and energy has gone into understanding and reconciling with the history of Serranus Hastings. As stated in a September 2020 report of Chancellor and Dean David Faigman, “Our founder, Serranus Clinton Hastings, promoted and financed Indian hunting expeditions in the 1850s in the Eden and Round Valleys of Northern California. These expeditions resulted in the deaths or dislocation of 100s of Yuki Indians, and the enrichment of Serranus Hastings, who took possession of large parts of these lands. He later became the first Chief Justice of the State’s Supreme Court and, in 1878, founded the first law school in the state, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.” College representatives have met with members of the Round Valley Indian Tribes (RVIT) and are working to establish a long-standing trust and relationship. Under the leadership of an advisory board, the College is implementing several initiatives to build partnerships with the RVIT and Yuki tribe to restore justice to those living decedents impacted by our founding Dean.
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