Alumnus Chris Sprowls ’09 spoke with Stetson Law students on Oct. 10 about finding their focus as advocates as part of Stetson’s Student Leadership Development Luncheon series.
Alumnus Chris Sprowls ’09 spoke with students in the Great Hall during the Student Leadership Development Luncheon on Oct. 10.
Sprowls is an assistant state attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit serving Pasco and Pinellas counties.
As a Stetson student, Sprowls received the Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award, was a member of both the Moot Court Board and Trial Team, was elected national chairman of the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, and served with the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association. Martinez was the ABA Law Student Division liaison to the Legal Assistance for Military Personnel committee.
Stetson Law launched its Veterans Law Institute in May 2012, home to the Veterans Advocacy Clinic. Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic provides representation to veterans seeking government benefits as well as those appealing decisions denying benefits. To learn more, visit http://www.law.stetson.edu/veterans/
The Baylor School of Law team of coach James Willis, Morgan Harkins, Kyle Voss, Taylor Romero and Kyle Farrar won the National Pretrial Competition at Stetson Law.
Morgan Harkins of Baylor School of Law was named Best Advocate in the final round of competition.
The Best Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law Award was presented to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and the Best Defendant’s Memorandum of Law Award was presented to South Texas College of Law.
Twenty teams from around the country traveled to Stetson Law for the annual competition.
Stetson Law has ranked as the top school in the nation for advocacy 14 times since 1995 and has consistently ranked among the top programs for legal writing by the U.S. News & World Report.
The American Bar Association Law Student Division will be holding their fall circuit meeting at Stetson’s Tampa Law Center Sept. 28-29. Stetson Law Dean Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz introduces the program for law students on Sept. 29.
Professor Bruce Jacob, former Stetson Law dean, will provide the keynote address about the historic Gideon v. Wainwright case which he presented before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meeting topics will include the impact of new or revised voting laws, using social media to land a job, leadership development, and a student roundtable.
Students at Stetson Law have been preparing for the upcoming presidential election on Nov. 6. The Stetson Law Republicans and Stetson Law Democrats student organizations put political differences aside to co-sponsor a “Registering the Vote” event for students on Sept. 19. The event provided students with an overview of why voting matters as well as information on how to register to vote.
“In having a unique perspective on public policy, law students can not only understand ballot initiatives, but can also have intelligent conversations with their peers about their social impact,” said third-year student Katherine Heffner, former president of the Stetson Law Democrats.
Heffner said that voter registration drives not only help students register if they haven’t already, but also help students vote by setting up absentee voting or vote by mail options.
“Because of their vested interest, and because of their knowledge, it is extremely important for law students to be registered to vote and to use their vote in any and all elections that they can,” said Heffner.
Stetson Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, who was recently named among Top Wonks for her expertise on campaign finance and election topics, urged people to register to vote, including those who’ve moved since the last election, in an article in the Atlantic magazine.
Students had another opportunity to participate in the election process, working behind-the-scenes during the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August. Third-year student Jennie Hayes, president of the Stetson Law Republicans, volunteered to help out during the RNC by scanning tickets, directing foot traffic to events, and answering visitors’ questions.
“It was a great opportunity to be in that environment,” Hayes said. “You see all these individuals like [former] Governor Mike Huckabee and Governor Nikki Haley on television all the time, but to see them in person is just surreal, and they are all just as nice and great in person as they appear on television.”
Student Jeff Harvey, who founded Stetson’s Student Veterans Organization, is also a member of the Florida Army National Guard and was called to serve during the RNC. Harvey was second in command of more than 200 soldiers responsible for security efforts supporting Tampa police and local law enforcement. He worked the night shift with the National Guard when the convention was in Tampa while keeping up with his daytime classes at Stetson.
“I am very fortunate to have such a great school that is so supportive of military service,” said Harvey, who is also a Yellow Ribbon Scholarship recipient.
Professor Stephanie Vaughan also attended events in Tampa during the convention. “The camaraderie amongst everyone from VIPs to law enforcement was evident and the excitement was palpable,” said Professor Vaughan.
Professor Vaughan, who leads international programs at Stetson and has traveled around the world as adviser for Stetson’s award-winning Moot Court teams, said that she has observed that many countries are very in tune with the American political process.
“We certainly live in a great country that truly plays a huge part in our world,” said Professor Vaughan.
Nearly 100 Tampa Bay area high school students celebrated U.S. Constitution Day at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport on Sept. 20. Stetson Law and the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates sponsored the James Otis Lecture Series educational program. Martin Dyckman, author and retired associate editor of the St. Petersburg Times, and Stetson constitutional law professor Louis Virelli, provided the keynote address.
Martin Dyckman talked with high school students visiting Stetson Law on Sept. 20.
The James Otis Lecture Series provides young people with insights into the history and importance of the U.S. Constitution. The original U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787, in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Of the 55 state delegates that participated in the convention to form a new government based on the principles of self-government and the rule of law, 32 were lawyers, and James Otis Jr. was arguably one of the most influential lawyers in early American history. He challenged oppressive laws permitting warrantless searches of homes and businesses. According to John Adams, Otis’ argument challenging British laws was the basis of the American Revolution.
The high school students in attendance were recognized as James Otis Scholars. The American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society, Stetson student organizations, helped sponsor the event.
Stetson University with campuses in DeLand, Celebration and Gulfport, Fla., has been named among 2013 Military Friendly Schools.
The 2013 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
“The Post 9/11 G.I. Bill covers my tuition for the first semester then Stetson covers the second semester so that I can go to school for the full year without any student loans,” said Stetson student Christopher Griffin, who served as a Medic in the Army for four years and is featured on Stetson’s profile on the www.MilitaryFriendlySchools.com website.
A full story and detailed list of 2013 Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.
(L-R): Judge Raphael Steinhardt, Institute director Dean Michael Allen and Professor Royal Gardner cut the ribbon for Stetson’s Veterans Law Institute in May 2012. The Institute was named the Judge Raphael Steinhardt Building.
“While Stetson University has always been a military friendly school, recognition by our peers just makes it official,” said Stetson Director of Continuing Education Bill O’Connor.
“This process has helped the Stetson University community learn about what is being done across all campuses and all departments; helping us to realize the effort that is made by many to ensure the success of our military and veteran students,” added Stetson Associate Vice President for Boundless Learning Emily Richardson. “We all gained additional pride in our community and their commitment to becoming a military friendly institution.”
Stetson participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, through which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Stetson provide financial aid to supplement the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill to make college affordable for veterans. Stetson has a Veterans Task Force to continually find ways to better serve veterans. There is an Army ROTC program on the DeLand campus and Student Veterans Organizations on both the DeLand campus and at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport/St. Petersburg.
Stetson Law’s Veterans Law Institute, which opened in May, serves as a center for veteran and military scholarship, the site of Stetson’s Veterans Advocacy Clinic, and will provide continuing legal education for attorneys representing veterans as well as a focal point for student veterans and their pro bono related activities. The institute serves the growing population of active duty military and veterans in the Tampa Bay area, home to one of the largest concentrations of veterans in the U.S.
“The Veterans Advocacy Clinic offers representation for qualified veterans who are applying for or who have been denied benefits,” said Professor Cynthia Batt, director of clinical education at Stetson Law. “Law students learn the fundamentals of practice skills so that they can continue to represent veterans post-graduation.”
“Inclusion in the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools shows Stetson University’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs and vice president at Victory Media, which puts out the list. “As interest in education grows, we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”
The Military Friendly Schools media and website, found at www.MilitaryFriendlySchools.com, feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,739 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility, and other services to those who served.
Now in its fourth year, the 2013 list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled through extensive research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The survey results that comprise the 2013 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by G.I. Jobs. Each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country.
Stetson University College of Law placed third among Florida law schools for the percent of graduates passing the July 2012 Florida bar examination on their first try, according to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners.
Stetson’s pass rate for first-time takers was 88.9%, well above the statewide average of 80% with 232 out of 261 Stetson graduates passing the examination.
“Stetson’s bar passage rate for first-time takers has steadily increased over the last decade, due in part to our expanded bar preparation services, our fantastic faculty and our dedicated students,” said Dean and Professor of Law Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “Stetson’s holistic approach to blending legal theory and practice prepares our graduates not only for passing the bar exam, but also for a successful career over the long term.”
Stetson’s bar preparation program is staffed by a full-time faculty member and two staff attorneys who provide individual counseling, group guidance and personalized study plans. Students may have their sample answers graded by a former bar exam grader, and Stetson alumni also provide coaching support to recent graduates. To learn more, contact [email protected] or visit law.stetson.edu.
Ernest “Rip” Patton brought Professor Ellen Podgor’s U.S. Legal Systems class to life on Sept. 17, talking with students about his experiences as a student civil rights activist during the Nashville sit-ins in 1960 and the 1961 Freedom Rides.
Ernest “Rip” Patton talks with Stetson’s U.S. Legal Systems class.
Patton and other student activists, members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee trained by Reverend James Lawson in Gandhi’s method of peaceful protest, risked their lives to ride interstate buses into the South to confront state laws and customs enforcing segregation. The student activists were beaten and falsely imprisoned in the Parchman Correctional Facility in Mississippi.
Professor Robert Bickel introduced Mr. Patton and provided the class with a commentary about the legal history of the Civil Rights Movement, including the constitutional decisions that enforced Brown v. Board of Education and the eventual proposal of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Professor Bickel regularly teaches an experiential course at Stetson about constitutional law and the civil rights movement that includes a summer travel and learning experience with the original Freedom Riders, including Mr. Patton.
“No matter what you do in your life, you will be touched by international law in some way,” Professor Theresa Radwan, dean for administration and business affairs at Stetson, told students gathered for a talk with Israeli Consul General Chaim Shacham. Radwan introduced Shacham, who discussed “Israel’s Perspective in the Middle East,” on the Gulfport campus on Sept. 12.
Israeli Consul General Chaim Shacham talked with Stetson Law students on Sept. 12.
Shacham provided an overview of international relations in the region, including the history of Israel, significance of nationality, importance of democracy, and changes impacting the basic underlying political structure of the Middle East.
“Being exposed to other views of the world will make you better lawyers,” Radwan told the students, who actively participated in a Q & A with Shacham about significant issues impacting international relations in the Middle East and the role of the U.S. in the world.
“It’s always good to speak to student bodies because they have a very interesting, fresh perspective,” said Shacham.
Shacham’s talk is the second lecture hosted by the International Programs Office at Stetson this semester.
Story by third-year student Valeria Obi and Brandi Palmer
For most people, the Caribbean is a tropical paradise, a getaway destination where reef fish dart among sunken pirate gold in a boundless turquoise sea. For the people who live and work for equality and human rights in the Caribbean, a different picture emerges, one focused on the struggle for social justice.
Professors Dorothea Beane and Darryl Wilson, co-directors of the Institute for Caribbean Law and Policy.
Hundreds of years of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade have left an indelible mark on the story of the Caribbean. Unemployment is rampant. Natural catastrophes like frequent hurricanes have struck the fragile islands. Hundreds of thousands of people died in Haiti in a devastating earthquake in 2010 and many of the survivors remain displaced and homeless today.
Through the law and humanitarian efforts, Stetson University College of Law alumni Peterson St. Philippe ’09, Genevieve Whitaker ’07 and professors Dorothea Beane and Darryl Wilson have dedicated significant time to creating opportunities for people to learn about the importance of human rights in the beautiful but troubled Caribbean. Alumna Afia Donkor ’08 is helping to make a difference for Haitian children in the Dominican Republic.
“I do think that the Caribbean faces very unique historical challenges,” said Whitaker, who was born and raised on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Our history also consists of great stories of freedom fighters, slaves themselves who in many cases were triumphant in seeking emancipation,” said Whitaker, who after graduating from Stetson returned to the Caribbean to advocate for juvenile justice and women’s rights.
In addition to Stetson Law, Whitaker graduated with a degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University and attended the 2011 Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. She completed the White House Project’s GO LEAD & GO RUN political leadership training program and received a Certificate in International Humanitarian Law from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Genevieve Whitaker ’07 speaking at the University of the Virgin Islands. Photo courtesy Genevieve Whitaker.
Today, Whitaker serves on the board of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix, an organization formed to provide advocacy programs and services to end violence and oppression by promoting equality, and she is CEO of The Whitaker Consultant Group as well as the associate director of communications for AARP Virgin Islands. She recently participated in the Yahoo! Business and Human Rights Change Your World Summit held in Washington, D.C.
“My passion and foundation for human rights were cemented during law school and my experience studying abroad,” said Whitaker. “I found great mentors at Stetson, namely professors Dorothea Beane and Ellen Podgor and Dean Kristen Adams.”
Whitaker co-founded the Virgin Islands Youth Advocacy Coalition, Inc., where she is helping to educate young people about the importance of civic engagement and to research the oral and written history of social and political events in St. Croix.
“Very few children in the Virgin Islands are exposed to civics,” Whitaker explained.
“Growing up in Haiti was an experience like no other,” said St. Philippe. “Haiti has been a country cursed by political unrest for the better part of two decades. I left Haiti when I was 12 years old and by then I had lived through two political coup d’états. I remember schools shutting down for days at a time because of violence that would go on in the city. I remember the country going through a severe embargo that nearly crippled the country by increasing the price of goods between 60-70 percent overnight.”
St. Philippe worked with Gulf Coast Legal Services after graduating from Stetson Law before starting his own immigration law practice in Miami, Fla. At Gulf Coast Legal Services, St. Philippe’s work focused on representing undocumented Haitian immigrants who had been victims of serious crimes, including domestic violence, human trafficking and immigration scams.
A Haitian immigrant himself, St. Philippe knows what it is like to be victimized. At the age of 12, when St. Philippe’s mother first arrived in the U.S. from Haiti, she was scammed by con artists posing as legal practitioners who misguided her about the immigration process. With nowhere to turn, St. Philippe’s mother was left to navigate the process alone. Once his mother became a U.S. citizen, she petitioned for St. Philippe and his older sister, who spent their childhood in Haiti.
Children from Haiti attend a special school in the Dominican Republic. Photo by Afia Donkor.
“My mother was at one time an undocumented immigrant and lived in fear of being sent back to Haiti like many of my clients at Gulf Coast,” said St. Philippe.
After the earthquake struck Haiti two years ago, killing more than 200,000 people and displacing thousands of others, St. Philippe concentrated his efforts on helping Haitian refugees to remain in the U.S. without fear of being deported.
“Although there have been some improvements in Haiti, the conditions are still dire,” said St. Philippe. “The work I did at Gulf Coast was the most fulfilling work that I have ever done, and I can’t think of any better way to use my Stetson education.”
Donkor, now a lawyer in Ontario, Canada, is helping with a school in the Dominican Republic for Haitian refugee children who have no access to education. The school, run and supported by Paul Washington Jones, a member of her church, fulfills a need for education that would otherwise go unmet.
“Because of the school, 80 school children have access to opportunities many of us take for granted. They are able to learn, to develop skills, and to understand how to implement their skills to build better futures for themselves and their communities,” Donkor said. “That is priceless.”
Some Haitian schoolchildren displaced by the earthquake have become refugees in the Dominican Republic. Photo by Afia Donkor.
“It’s not just about money,” Professor Beane explained of challenges in the Caribbean. “There are people who don’t have shelter, healthcare, education, roads or even water.”
“Who advocates for people?” Beane asked. “You have to understand how the law can be used to help people including under-served groups like women and children. You have to be clever, tenacious and creative.”
Professor Beane served as a mentor to both St. Philippe and Whitaker while they were both at Stetson and said she is proud when her students use their talents to help others. She co-directs Stetson’s Institute for Caribbean Law and Policy with professor Wilson.
In 2008, Beane worked with a faculty consortium and Stetson Law students to assist the U.S. Virgin Islands in drafting its own constitution. A formidable human rights advocate, Beane’s background is in federal and civil law, subjects she had been teaching for some time as a law professor at Stetson when she decided to go back to school to “learn something new.”
Professor Beane attended Oxford to immerse herself in the study international human rights law and became the first full-time faculty member at Stetson to teach a course on the subject. Professor Beane has worked extensively in The Hague, Netherlands, on matters involving international criminal law and human rights. She helped create the foundation for Stetson’s study abroad program at The Hague.
She said that lawyers and law students can make changes that better people’s lives around the world.
“Lawyers make history,” Beane said. “Very brave individuals can change the law.”
Dominican school founder Paul Washington Jones with Afia Donkor ’08 in the Dominican Republic. Photo courtesy Afia Donkor.
“Through pro bono volunteering, fundraising, writing articles, reaching out to the community, and talking with young people about human rights, law students can influence society and influence the law in a number of ways,” said Beane.
Deputy Consul General of Argentina Gustavo Martínez Pandiani spoke with Stetson Law students on Sept. 4 about “Global Citizenship and Public Diplomacy.”
Argentinean diplomat Gustavo Martínez Pandiani speaks with Stetson Law students Sept.4.
Martínez Pandiani explained his view that the rule of law and democratic participation provide the foundation of global citizenship. He explored how international diplomacy has evolved from the traditional secret diplomacy of the 18th century, to the public diplomacy of the 20th century, to become mass media diplomacy today in the 21st century.
“It’s a new world for diplomats,” said Martínez Pandiani. “We need to understand the world of the media—images and sound bites.”
Martínez Pandiani also discussed the need among citizens to recognize different cultural values. He answered questions from students about diplomatic immunity and global citizenship.
“Global citizenship today is a combination of universalism and diversity,” said Martínez Pandiani. “Only through global democracy will we achieve global citizenship.”
“The presentation on global citizenship was an incredible opportunity for the Stetson community to hear from an international expert what it really means to be a citizen of the world,” said Professor Ann Piccard, who attended the talk. “Mr. Martínez Pandiani gave the students the benefit of his career’s worth of experience as a diplomat, and he presented a compelling argument for the importance of recognizing that everyone, everywhere, is entitled to be treated with dignity – this is a basic principle of international human rights law and he was able to make it very real and personal for those of us who were fortunate enough to hear him speak.”
Martínez Pandiani presented the idea that since the mid-20th century, nations have begun to compete for power with NGOs and international organizations.
“You need to prepare for the world,” Martínez Pandiani told the crowded room of law students. “The world is in your hands.”
Martínez Pandiani is a career diplomat, and the author of numerous books on political marketing, campaigning and media strategies.
Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz greeted Stetson University College of Law students this morning in Gulfport with a cup of coffee as they returned to campus for the first week of fall classes. Students enjoyed coffee with the dean as they headed to class.
Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz greets students during the first week of classes at Stetson Law in Gulfport.
Dean Pietruszkiewicz joined Stetson Law in June after serving as vice chancellor for business and financial affairs and as the J.Y. Sanders Professor of Law at Louisiana State University-LSU Law Center.
Dean Pietruszkiewicz holds national leadership positions in legal education. He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Law School Admission Council and chair of its Investment Committee. Dean Pietruszkiewicz is also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Southeastern Association of Law Schools, where he served as president in 2005-2006. He has served in various leadership positions for the American Bar Association Section of Taxation.
The law school has two beautiful Mediterranean-style campuses in the Tampa Bay area. Stetson University’s historic campus is located in DeLand with a satellite center in Celebration offering advanced degrees.
