Harvard Law Section 6 Selects Air Tortan Name

Students in the Cambridge classroom finalized their chosen identity during a fall 2026 voting process.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Law

Harvard Law Section 6 Selects Air Tortan Name

Live Poll

Do you believe traditions like naming sections help foster a sense of community for students?

In October 2026, students in Harvard Law School Section 6 officially selected Air Tortan as their formal section name. The decision followed a series of pitches and a vote overseen by former section members.

Why it matters

The naming ritual acts as a community reinforcement effort designed to foster a sense of shared identity among law students. This tradition is a cornerstone of the daily homeroom sessions that bring the group together.

Section 6 includes a daily 20-minute meeting known as homeroom, which serves as a consistent scheduling anchor for students. Professor Jon Hanson is currently in his 23rd year of leading the section.

The players

Jon Hanson

He is a professor at Harvard Law School who has led Section 6 for 23 years.

The details

Students presented various name pitches using slide decks to their peers before casting votes to determine the winner. Former section members participated in the selection event by serving as official poll watchers to ensure the process remained orderly.

Fall 2026: Section 6 conducted the name selection process.
October 2026: The formal announcement of the winning name occurred.

Political Context

Opponents of such naming rituals often argue that competitive naming processes can foster exclusionary cliques rather than inclusive environments. Critics suggest that prioritizing specific section identities may inadvertently detract from the broader institutional culture at Harvard Law School.

The naming process establishes a permanent identity for the class throughout their legal studies in Cambridge. Residents and legal professionals can expect this cohort to use the Air Tortan designation during official school functions.

The takeaway

Naming rituals are common strategies for building cohesion in academic and professional groups. Participants in such processes often find that the shared experience strengthens their connections to classmates and mentors alike.