Campus Life News Archives - Page 12 of 29

The Urban Harvest and Stetson Law partner on sustainable vegetable garden

Elise Pickett of The Urban Harvest led an educational event on the Gulfport campus for students and faculty.

Stetson University College of Law and The Urban Harvest broke ground in October for six raised garden beds on the Gulfport campus to bring fresh vegetables to the community.

“I hope the garden will provide students a way to connect with the earth and an opportunity to learn,” said Stetson Law environmental advocacy professor Lance Long.

“This garden serves as a way to educate and provide heathy nutritious food to our community,” said Elise Pickett, owner of The Urban Harvest. “Spinach loses 90 percent of its vitamin C within 24 hours of harvest. By growing produce where you actually live, you are able to harvest and eat super fresh veggies that actually contain the nutrients we expect them to have.”

The vegetable garden at Stetson Law is the brainchild of law alumna Leah Johnson, who pitched the idea to school officials while she was a student at Stetson. During the summer, Stetson allocated money to construct the garden and install irrigation. Stetson student leaders with the Food Law Society and Go Green Committee volunteered to help with the project.

“Gardening is proven to reduce stress and depression, improve brain health, and is a fantastic form of low impact exercise,” said Pickett, who donated seeds for the garden as well as labor.

The Urban Harvest conducted a free workshop on Oct. 15, part of an ongoing series for the Stetson Law community on how to build a vegetable garden from the ground up. Seedlings were planted on Oct. 29 with a projected harvest date in December. The fresh vegetables will be sold at a local food cooperative.

Dali Museum director encourages creative thinking at Student Leadership Development Committee luncheon

By Rachel Wise

The Student Leadership Development Committee hosted the second luncheon of the year on Oct. 17 with Dr. Hank Hine, executive director at the Dali Museum and co-director of the Dali’s Innovation Lab.

The Dali’s Innovation Lab is a program that offers enrichment courses which explore leadership development, skill building, ideation, and women’s empowerment using creativity, problem solving and innovation. As a founder of the program, Dr. Hine presented problem-solving strategies to help Stetson students further their academics and future careers through creative thinking.

“You can have creativity without innovation, but you can’t have innovation without creativity,” he said. “That’s why we created the Innovation Labs: to use art to solve real world problems.”

Dr. Hine encouraged the students to approach a problem in four steps: 1) clarify the challenge, 2) generate ideas, 3) develop solutions, and 4) implement actions; and to use creative thinking in the intermediate stages.

“Artists have to reinvent themselves and their medium again and again in order to find a complete and fresh vision of that world,” he said. “Take whatever problem you have and invert it. If you turn it over, you can see it in a new way.”

Dr. Hine received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Brown University. After graduation, he founded the Limestone Press and Hine Editions, a publishing house that specialized in artist books and museum catalogues. Before coming to the Dali Museum in 2002, he served as director of the research and publishing institute GraphicStudio at the University of South Florida.

Stetson University College of Law opens new Veterans Law Institute facility in Gulfport, Florida

Architectural rendering of Stetson's new Veterans Law Institute courtesy JAH architects. — Architectural rendering of Stetson’s new Veterans Law Institute courtesy JAH architects.

On a beautiful fall day in Gulfport, Florida, Stetson University College of Law cut the ribbon on its new Veterans Law Institute facility, housing its Veterans Advocacy Clinic, on the corner of 13th Ave. S. and 62nd St. S. Click here for photos.

The American Legion Post 125 presented at Stetson's Veterans Law Institute grand opening. — The American Legion Post 125 presented at Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute grand opening.

Stetson Law Interim Dean Kristen Adams introduced the program of speakers on Oct. 29, including Stetson University President Wendy Libby, Chief Judge Robert Davis and Judge Michael Allen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Department of Veterans Affairs Acting General Counsel Catherine Mitrano, Judge Raphael Steinhardt J.D. ’63, and Stetson Law student Robert Kilmartin.

Stetson’s new veteran-friendly facility has lighting and environmental details designed to make the space accessible, inviting and comfortable for veteran clients and students.

Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic provides complimentary legal assistance for veterans whose disability compensation claims were denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs. To date, Stetson has helped veterans recover more than $14 million in back and future payments.

To learn more about the Veterans Law Institute and Veterans Advocacy Clinic, visit stetson.edu/law/veterans, call 727-562-7324, or email [email protected].

Conference of Western Attorneys General meets on Gulfport campus

Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced the conference.

The Conference of Western Attorneys General met on Stetson’s Gulfport campus on Oct. 4-5 for their 2018 Sports Betting Seminar.

The two-day conference drew attorneys general from across the U.S.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi J.D.’ 90, Florida’s first female attorney general, introduced the program.

Stetson University College of Law announces grand opening of expanded Veterans Law Institute in Gulfport

Stetson University College of Law announces the grand opening of its expanded Veterans Law Institute, designed entirely as a veteran-friendly facility housing the Veterans Advocacy Clinic. The ribbon-cutting for the new facility will take place at 9 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, on Stetson’s Gulfport campus, at 1401 61st St. S.

Chief Judge Robert Davis and Judge Michael Allen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Judge Raphael Steinhardt J.D. ’63, and Stetson University President Wendy B. Libby will speak immediately following the ribbon-cutting. Stetson Law Interim Dean and Professor of Law Kristen Adams will introduce the program.

Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute includes the Veterans Advocacy Clinic, providing free legal assistance for veterans whose disability compensation claims were denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs. To date, Stetson has helped veterans recover more than $14 million in back and future payments. The new facility at Stetson Law will accommodate more students serving veterans in the community.

“Creating an environment where veterans, both clients and law students, suffering from the wounds of war can participate in the Veterans Law Institute to their full potential is the primary purpose of this space,” said Veterans Law Institute director, Professor Stacey-Rae Simcox. Professor Simcox also serves as the newly elected president of the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium, which helps law schools around the country launch new clinics by offering guidance and technical assistance.

Professor Simcox explained that typical fluorescent lighting fixtures can trigger traumatic brain injury symptoms like severe headaches, and the new space was designed with special lighting for veteran clients.

“Paying attention to the details, like lighting, sound, and environment makes this new space an inviting one that takes into account the wellness of all of our students, veteran and non-veteran alike. It also provides a place where our clients feel safe and secure.”

The opening of the Veterans Law Institute will coincide with the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims convening to hear oral arguments on Stetson Law’s Gulfport campus in the Great Hall on Monday, Oct. 29, at 12 p.m. and at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 12 p.m.

Visit stetson.edu/law/vliopening for more information.

Stetson’s LL.M. in International Law celebrates 20 years

LL.M. alumni traveled from around the world for the 20th birthday of the program. (L-R): Hernando Contreras, Velaine Paryzek, Patricia Paola Sierra, Angela Frazzeta, Juan Carlos Jimenez Leal. — LL.M. alumni traveled from around the world for the 20th birthday of the program. (L-R): Hernando Contreras LL.M. ’13, Patricia Paola Sierra LL.M. ’13, Velaine Paryzek, Angela Frazzeta LL.M. ’13, Juan Carlos Jiménez Leal LL.M. ’13.

Stetson University College of Law hosted a celebration of the 20th year of the LL.M. in International Law program on Friday, Sept. 14, with alumni from across the globe.

Dozens of LL.M. alumni participated in the celebration, which included a reception in the Mann Lounge and sunset toast in the iconic tower on Stetson’s Gulfport campus.

The LL.M. in International Law is an intensive one-year course that leads to an advanced legal degree in international law. To learn more, visit https://www.stetson.edu/law/international/llm/.

Stetson hosts Fall Open House on Nov. 3

Stetson University College of Law is hosting its Fall Open House from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 3, on the Gulfport campus, 1401 61st St. S.

Future full-time and part-time law students can engage with the Stetson Law community through informative Q&A sessions, a simulated law class and an admissions and scholarship strategy session with faculty, staff and students. The day will also include campus tours, an information fair and a complimentary lunch.

To register, visit https://www.stetson.edu/fallopenhouse.

For more information, call 727-562-7802 or email [email protected].

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs presents on Wet Hands, Dirty Feet Learning at the Foreman Biodiversity Lecture

Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs presented on the topic of “Wet Hands, Dirty Feet Learning” at the Foreman Biodiversity Lecture on Sept. 25 in Gulfport.

“‘Dirty Hands, Wet Feet Learning’ teaches us what is going on in the world and helps us make the right decisions,” said Jacobs, who is senior counsel at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns. Jacobs is the author of several books, including the 2015 Wonderlust, a book of Jacobs’ photography and lessons learned trekking seven continents.

Dick Jacobs delivered the Foreman Biodiversity Lecture in Gulfport today. Photo by Sy-Woei Hao.

The Dick and Joan Jacobs’ Environmental Externship Fund helped fund a trip for Stetson Law student Kate Welch to work in India with the Wildlife Trust of India this summer.

Stetson’s complimentary public Foreman Biodiversity Lecture series features lecturers including environmental experts from across the country.

The next lecture on Nov. 8 at 12 p.m. features Dr. M. Siobhan Fennessy presenting on “Wetland Restoration.” Fennessy is the Jordan Professor of Environmental Studies & Biology at Kenyon College.

To attend, and for more information, email [email protected].

Black Law Students Association hosts panel with Markeis McGlockton attorney on Stand Your Ground Law

By Julie McHaffie

The Black Law Students Association hosted an engaging panel on Sept. 25 with the attorney for the Markeis McGlockton family Michelle Rayner, Professor Judith Scully, and Associate Dean Darryl C. Wilson. They discussed the background of the Stand Your Ground Law and how it relates to the McGlockton case in Florida. Michael Drejka invoked Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law in the fatal shooting of McGlockton, an African-American father of three, during a confrontation over a handicap parking space

Professor Scully discussed discrepancies in application of the Stand Your Ground law for people of different races. She also talked about the need for community action.

“It is mass action and community education that changes the law,” said Professor Scully.

“I’m certainly not going to deny that there are racial inequalities but improper application of the law doesn’t make the law a bad law,” said Dean Wilson.

“We were asking for what people normally get. Normally, people get an arrest and due process. We weren’t asking for anything more but for the same,” Rayner said of the McGlockton case.

Students make care bags for area homeless shelters

Christian Legal Society students gather items for care bags for homeless shelters. Photo courtesy Kathryn Bonti.

By Kathryn Bonti

The student members of Stetson Law’s Christian Legal Society kept busy at their last group meeting on Sept. 12 by making more than 40 care bags for different homeless shelters across the St. Petersburg, Florida, area. CLS collected items including toilet paper, soap and granola bars.

“Something that seems like nothing to us – will be everything to these people,” said CLS student president Tayler Uselton. She said that participating in these kind of projects is a win-win because not only do students get to help the community in need, but they are also able to receive a pro bono hour for their charitable donation. “We want to encourage people to spread compassion in their community, and as lawyers one way we can do that is through our pro bono work,” said Uselton.

In addition to filling the bags with toiletries and snacks, students included messages of hope on index cards to help lift the spirits of people going through a difficult time.

The plan is to donate the remaining bags to a local homeless shelter in the coming weeks.

Professor James Salzman presented on Payments for Ecosystem Services

Professor James Salzman spoke at Stetson. Photo by Sy-Woei Hao.

Professor James Salzman presented on Sept. 6 on Stetson’s Gulfport campus on “Payments for Ecosystem Services.” Salzman is the Donald Bren Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law at the UCLA Law School and at the Bren School of the Environment at UC Santa Barbara.

Ecosystem services are the benefits humans gain from the natural environment that provide necessities such as clean drinking water, waste management and the pollination of food crops.

“The key point is that we tend to think of environmental protection as government regulations, telling people what they can do and can’t do,” said Professor Salzman. “There’s an enormously important part of environmental protection that’s growing which is payments for ecosystem services.”

Professor James Salzman presented the Biodiversity Lecture. Photo by Sy-Woei Hao.

Stetson Law is hosting the complimentary Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series in the fall on environmental topics in the Great Hall on the Gulfport campus at 1401 61st St. S.

Lecturers include environmental experts from across the country speaking on topics ranging from ecosystems, to hands-on learning about the environment, to restoration of wetlands.

Stetson invites members of the public to complimentary series of Foreman Biodiversity Lectures starting in September

Stetson University College of Law hosts the complimentary Edward and Bonnie Foreman Biodiversity Lecture Series in the fall on environmental topics in the Great Hall on the Gulfport campus at 1401 61st St. S. Lecturers include environmental experts from across the country speaking on topics ranging from ecosystems, to hands-on learning about the environment, to restoration of wetlands. Topics during the fall semester include:

Sept. 6, 12 p.m., Professor James Salzman presents on “Payments for Ecosystem Services.” Salzman is the Bren Distinguished Professor at the UCLA Law School/UCSB School of Environment.

Sept. 25, 12 p.m., Attorney and photo explorer Richard O. “Dick” Jacobs presents on “Dirty Hands, Wet Feet Learning.” Jacobs is senior counsel with Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns.

Nov. 8, 12 p.m., Dr. M. Siobhan Fennessy presents on “Wetland Restoration.” Fennessy is the Jordan Professor of Environmental Studies & Biology at Kenyon College.

To attend, and for more information, email [email protected].