Syracuse Law Unveils The Robert E. Dineen L’66 Student Commons
Generous legacy gift creates a welcoming communal space for students
Caroline Reff
October 28, 2026
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Students at Syracuse University College of Law often spend more time in Dineen Hall than in their own homes over the course of their law school education. In addition to classes, there are countless hours reading in the library, meeting with study groups, attending office hours, practicing oral arguments, and, whenever possible, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or finding a few minutes to socialize with their classmates.
It was with that in mind that Syracuse Law recently established a dedicated space within Dineen Hall where students can find a few minutes to step away from the demands of law school thanks to a generous gift from the late Robert E. Dineen Jr. L’66.
Students, family join ribbon cutting
On Sept. 25, Dean Terence J. Lau L’98 welcomed students, alumni, and guests into the Robert E. Dineen Jr. Class of 1966 Student Commons, located on the ground floor of Dineen Hall. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony marked the occasion, which included Jeanne Olivier, Bob Dineen’s widow; Marina Blasi L’27, president of the Student Bar Association; and Annie Pratt L’29, Caitlin Becker L’27, and Cyzar Arca L’28, this year’s recipients of established Dineen family scholarships.
The formal ribbon cutting for the Robert E. Dineen Jr. Class of 1966 Student Commons, featuring Jeanne Olivier, Bob Dineen’s widow, Dean Terence Lau L'98 and this year’s recipients of established …
“Students, this space is yours,” remarked Lau at the event. “Use it. Make it your home, and know it comes from an Orange lawyer whose belief in your success outlasted his own time here. That belief lives on in all of us who believe in you and your future, just as Bob did.”
Generations of generosity
Bob Dineen died in 2024 at the age of 84, but his certainty in the “transformational power” of the College of Law continues to be felt through the building that bears his family’s name.
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Bob Dineen L'66 and Marc Malfitano '74, L'78 come back to Dineen Hall for Syracuse Law Commencement in 2016.
As a student, Bob Dineen embraced the law school experience, graduating at the top of his class. He went on to have a distinguished legal career as a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP, a leading international law firm. Through it all, he always made time to give back, serving nearly a decade on the Syracuse University Board of Trustees and also on the College of Law’s Board of Advisors.
The Dineen family has a long history of commitment to Syracuse Law, beginning more than a century ago with Robert Emmet Dineen L’1924, H’66, and Carolyn Bareham Dineen L’1932. In 2010, their children, Bob Dineen, the Hon. Carolyn Dineen King, and the late Kathryn Wriston, gave a gift to make the construction of a new law school building — Dineen Hall — possible. The Dineen family’s generosity also extends to scholarships, including the Robert E. and Carolyn Bareham Dineen Scholarship, which continues to help dozens of students attend Syracuse Law; and the Robert E. Dineen Jr. Scholarship, further supporting future generations of Syracuse Law students.
Lau and other law school leaders worked closely with Olivier, as well as student leadership to find the best way to honor Bob Dineen’s wishes. The end result was not only a thoughtfully designed space where hard working law students could find respite, comfort, and relaxation, but also an enduring gesture of Bob Dineen’s generosity that will continue to add to his family’s legacy and benefit Syracuse Law students for decades to come.
Jeanne Olivier, Bob Dineen’s widow, came back to Dineen Hall for the dedication of the Robert E. Dineen Jr. Class of 1966 Student Commons.
“Syracuse Law was always special to Bob and his family. He never tried to draw attention to himself. He was just a generous person who invested in young people and was truly committed to the law school. I believe Bob would have been happy to know that his gift was making such a meaningful difference in the student experience, knowing it was being used to support a need that mattered to him.”
Jeanne Olivier, Bob Dineen’s widow
A space for relaxation, wellness, and acceptance
The Student Commons now occupies part of the ground floor space that once held only student lockers. While the locker area remains, the other half of the space is now multi-purpose to fit the many way students want to use it, from studying and socializing to simply taking a break. According to Lau, what students really wanted was “a space to catch their breath,” and “a place to gather for social interaction and communal networking.”
Leadership listened, and today students have their own space furnished with various types of seating and conversation areas to gather around the television, play video games, or socialize in small groups. A highlight is a new kitchenette with refrigerators, a sink, and four microwaves that allow busy law students to store and prepare food and even share a meal without having to leave the building.
A distinctive aspect of the space is that the text of Article 1, Section 11, of the New York State Constitution, commonly known as the Equal Protection Clause, is written outside the Student Commons. This was chosen purposefully as an outward sign to all students that the Syracuse Law community welcomes and protects all regardless of who they are, where they come from, what they look like, or what they believe.
Students have been enjoying the relaxing space and all its amenities since the space has opened, meant to make even the hardest days of law school a little bit lighter.
“I hope years from now, students will not only remember the late nights spent studying for exams or the many demands that are a necessary part of a law school education. I am confident they will also remember this space built especially for them, where they enjoyed a few moments of laughter – or quiet – and the comfort and community that helped them make the most of their time at Syracuse Law.”
