A blog post regarding campaign finance law and coverage of a proposed aquatic center on Lake Beresford topped the news for Stetson this week. Notable national and regional placements include: SCOTUSblog, USA Today, Daily Mail Online, Florida Public Radio, Pacific Standard, Orlando Sentinel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Tampa Bay Times. Top stories for Apr. 4-10, 2014, include:

• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy is quoted in the Apr. 7 SCOTUSblog Monday roundup regarding McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.
• An Apr. 6 Daytona Beach News-Journal article discussed Stetson’s planned aquatic center on Lake Beresford and its $4.7 million economic impact on Volusia County as well as concerns that neighbors have about the center. A Sarasota Herald-Tribune article on Apr.3, mentioned Stetson as one of several rowing teams that will participate in events at Benderson Park in Sarasota. That article talks about the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center and the competitions that inspired the venue.
• Stetson former basketball coach Glenn Wilkes was mentioned in an Apr. 5 USA Today article about events during the Final Four showdown in Texas. Wilkes was honored as an inductee into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame during a brief ceremony in the first half of the Connecticut-Florida game. The article was picked up by dozens of media outlets nationwide.
• Violent video games may have a therapeutic effect on gamers, according to research from Stetson’s Chris Ferguson, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the Psychology Department, reports the Daily Mail Online, Apr. 7.
• Law Professor Peter Lake spoke with the Tampa Bay Times for the Apr. 3 story, “U.S. investigating FSU’s handling of Jameis Winston case.” Professor Lake also is quoted regarding a federal investigation of FSU Title IX violations in the Apr. 4 Tampa Bay Times and an Apr. 7 Florida Public Radio interview.

Other Stories in the News

• Among a sample of South Texas teens, those who read “banned” books were more likely to be engaged in civic activities such as volunteer work, according to Pacific Standard magazine, which was reporting on research by Chris Ferguson, Ph.D., assistant professor and chair of the Psychology Department.
• According to an article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal on Apr. 3, Stetson University and the Florida Colombia Partners of the Americas sponsored a public forum about climate change and environmental stewardship.
• Best Online Colleges has announced its list of 2014 Best Online Accounting Degree Programs and that list includes Stetson according to ExactCPA blog.
• DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar mentioned a partnership with Stetson Football in a speech at the State of the Region luncheon, adding that “economic development is a team sport,” according to the Apr. 4 Hometown News.
• On Apr. 5, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported that hosts of the WMFE radio show, “Friends Talking Faith with The Three Wise Guys,” will record two segments for their radio show at Stetson. The segments will be titled, “What are Millennials Thinking about Religion in the 21st Century.” Additional coverage: Orlando Sentinel.
• On Apr. 4, Hometown News announced the Apr. 10 opening of Stetson’s Student Directed One-Act Play Festival, a potpourri of six short plays written, acted and directed by Stetson students. The plays run through Apr. 13 at Theatre Arts’ “Second Stage” located inside the Museum of Art.
• Targeted News Service reported on Apr. 4 stating that Stetson has named Jeffrey A. Ulmer vice president for development and alumni engagement. Ulmer joins Stetson from the University of Central Florida where he serves as assistant vice president overseeing fundraising at multiple academic colleges. Prior to that Ulmer was responsible for setting the strategic direction for UCF’s Athletic Development Program.
• A Mar. 31 article in The Messenger mentioned that Andrew Larson, associate professor of choral studies at Stetson, would conduct a chorus of select middle and high school students who were invited to perform in the All County Honor Music & Superintendent’s Advanced Placement Studio Art Exhibition at the Coral Springs Performing Arts Center. The repertoire for the event consisted of five extremely advanced pieces of music.
• Stetson was mentioned in an Apr. 9 blog post on Dyn.com regarding the Transitions East Conference in Tampa.
• An article in the Orlando Sentinel on Apr. 8 announces the opening of Les Miserables at the Athens Theatre in DeLand. Craig Uppercue, director of the show, taught at Stetson University and is currently a music specialist for Volusia County Schools.
• Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote “Supreme Goldfish” for the American Constitution Society Blog.
• Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Bruce Jacob spoke with the Sarasota Herald Tribune for the Apr. 7 story, “Is jailing victims of sex trafficking constitutional?”
• Law Professor Rebecca Morgan has written posts for the ElderLawProf Blog, “The Latest Boomer Book: Ka-Boom!” and “Retired and Retrained.”
• The Stetson University National Pretrial Competition is mentioned in the Apr. 7 Daily Tribune News article, “Cartersville resident helps bring victory to John Marshall.”
• According to the Apr. 4 Ocala Star-Banner, Chief Circuit Judge Don Briggs gave a brief history of the legal profession in Florida including information about the first law school in the state, Stetson University.
• The current issue of the Paraclete, the magazine of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, includes a profile by Dean and Professor of Law Chris Pietruszkiewicz about the Wills for Veterans program co-sponsored by Stetson, the Community Law Program and the St. Petersburg Bar. Listed among St. Pete Bar members in the Paraclete are law students Nicholas Joseph Castellano II, Kimberly Evanne Ferris, Joshua Harris, Todd Alan Hoover, Jazzmine Jenkins, Dr. Gregory E. Jordan, Kathryn Anne Keller, Anna Rae Klausner, Kaitlyn Macomber, Jennifer Perez, Clara Willis and Nicholas Wolfmeyer.
• Earth Day activities included Stetson’s Apr. 12 event at Gillespie Museum according to VolusiaCountyMoms.com.

Alumni in the News:

• The current issue of the Paraclete features a number of Stetson Law graduates: Cary A. Cash is president-elect of the St. Petersburg Bar, Brittany J. Maxey is secretary and Shirin M. Vesely is an executive committee member. There is a profile of Stetson Law alumnus St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. There is a feature on the late William L. Penrose, a longtime Community Law Program volunteer and Stetson Law grad who died on Jan. 11. Listed among the St. Petersburg Bar new and reinstated members are Stetson Law alumni: Alvin Kenneth Brown, a sole practitioner, and Edward Izquierdo, an associate with Q Auto and Injury Attorneys.
• Joe Negron will run again for his current Florida Senate seat, District 32, according to the Apr. 9, TCPalm.com.
• Law alumnus Glenn Storch is quoted in the Daytona Beach News-Journal article, “Neighbors raise questions on Stetson’s boathouse plans.”