Law School Community Thaws Out at 2026 Spring Carnival
On Friday, April 3, as North Grounds was swaddled with the nicest weather we have seen since September, the First Year Council (FYC) held its 2026 Spring Carnival. Students emerged from their climate-controlled caves to celebrate the new season and the approaching close of the 2025–2026 academic year.
The fun, festivities, and fine temperatures even brought out several of the Law School’s families and furry friends. With the laughter of young children and the campaigns of Paw Review hopefuls in the air, one couldn’t help but be moved by the wholesome atmosphere.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Law School event without a little adversariality. The carnival featured not one, but two long-awaited softball matchups. Early in the evening, the University of Virginia School of Law chapters of the Federalist Society (FedSoc) and the American Constitution Society (ACS) faced off, engaging one another on the field, rather than in a forum of civil discussion. ACS took the final victory before both teams rejoined the spectating revellers for some live music and warm food from the Got Dumplings truck.
Later, champions of the 1L class faced the goliath of the North Grounds Softball League (NGSL). Despite a valiant effort on NGSL’s part (and some questionable officiating from certain Student Bar Association executives who shall remain nameless), the 1Ls’ youthful energy and pent-up anger over recruiting timelines were simply too overpowering. Against all odds, the next generation of amateur softball greats managed to have their cake and eat it, too.
If tension across the aisle and between classes wasn’t enough, the carnival also featured the much-anticipated “Pie-A-Professor” event. Lucky students selected via raffle got the opportunity to work out their academic frustrations by smashing tins full of whipped cream into the faces of some of the Law School’s favorite faculty and staff. The victims—Kevin Cope, David Lowance ’98, Saikrishna Prakash, Megan Durkee ’15, and Gregg Strauss—were great sports about the whole ordeal, and some seemed to enjoy it as much, if not more, than the students themselves.
Coloring the atmosphere of the evening were the stellar live music performances of Max Ruby ’28 and The Learned Hands, the latter comprised of vocalist Linnéa Selendy ’28, bassist Camden Harris ’28, keyboardist Noah Montemarano ’28, drummer Nash Smith ’28, and electric guitarist Sam Markowitz ’28. Both acts showed incredible talent. Ruby’s one-man performance was more acoustic and featured some 90s songs along with some modern hits. The Learned Hands’ set also spanned several decades, with songs ranging from Fleetwood Mac classics to some highly nostalgic early-aughts favorites.
Across cultures, the coming of spring holds great significance. It signifies new beginning and growth, but also persistence through challenging times. As the end of the semester draws near, every member of the Law School community—student or otherwise—can relate to these concepts in some way. Though the past few months have thrown plenty of trials and tribulations at us all, seeing how people came out on Friday to sing together, challenge one another, and cheer each other on, it became clear that the newly arrived warmth is radiating not only from the sun above, but from the heart of this community.