Stetson University in the News, April 6-13, 2018

cup of coffee on a table next to print newspaper

Top Stories:

Cici and Hyatt Brown drew standing applause from the room of more than 100 staff members, students and local officials at the April 9 gift announcement on campus.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal was the first media outlet to report Hyatt and Cici Brown’s historic gift to Stetson. Numerous other media outlets followed with coverage. The $18 million “investment” in science education is the largest in Stetson’s history. As reported by the News-Journal“I can’t think of a better place than Stetson University to support science programs,” said Hyatt Brown, who referred to the donation as an investment. “The science building (Sage Hall) is nearly at capacity, and supporting student learning in the sciences is a way to invest in the long-term economic vitality of DeLand and West Volusia.”

Andy Denhart

Andy Denhart, visiting assistant professor of journalism, was quoted in the New Orleans Advocate, offering his opinion on the new Bravo television show “Southern Charm New Orleans.” Denhart, also a reality-TV critic for two decades, was quoted: “Nearly all of Bravo’s shows … are now just variations on ‘Real Housewives.’ As I’ve written: ‘rich people acting like (jerks) for our entertainment. It’s a formula that’s worked, and they’ll continue to produce shows like that until they stop getting the necessary ratings.”

Clay Henderson, J.D., executive director of Stetson’s Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, spoke out against permit changes to protect the Port Orange rookery. According to The Daytona Beach News-Journal, he stated: “For significant wetlands, the Corps [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers] has pushed for avoidance while the state has essentially relied on mitigation.”

Fox 35 was among numerous media outlets reporting about Stetson’s third annual Hackathon, featuring students competing in computer-science challenges. As reported, the winner was Stetson’s own Malak Patel, who received a guaranteed interview with Apple. 

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy

Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy wrote the April 6 Shondaland article “A Brief Explainer on Trump’s Forgotten Lawsuits.” She began the article with the following: “I don’t envy any of President Trump’s lawyers or the members of the Department of Justice — all of whom have to defend his positions in court.”

On April 11, Law Adjunct Professor Jay Wolfson was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times article “Judge: Joe Redner can legally grow his own marijuana.” The news was published in blogs across the country.

On April 4, Law Professor Rebecca Morgan wrote the article “LGBTQI Report from AARP” for the Elder Law Blog. Other articles for the blog included the topics: 2018 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures, Aging & the Law Journal Proposals; and the Right to Try Bill and Document Drafting.

Law Professor Peter Lake is quoted in the GW Hatchet article “Class of 2017 earns higher salaries than previous years, survey finds,” published April 11.

More News:

Alicia Slater, Ph.D., formerly professor and chair of the biology department at Stetson, has joined Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, as dean of the School of Science, as reported by the Daily Freeman. 

On April 6, multiple media outlets, including theLaw Writing Prof Blog, reported that Law Professor Kirsten Davis was elected to the Legal Writing Institute Board.

Alumni News:

Alumnus S. Tucker Cooke and his School of Athens mural at the University of North Carolina – Asheville were highlighted in The Public. As reported: Cooke directed the creation the mural, a full-scale reproduction of the 16th-century Vatican fresco by Raphael, with special details added, such as the two bulldogs for UNC Asheville’s mascot. The 2007 mural is thought to be one of the largest recreations of the School of Athens in the world, and resulted from two years of work by more than 100 students, faculty and community members. It hangs in UNC Asheville’s Highsmith Union.

On April 9, the Herald Tribune announced that Stetson Law alumnus Steven D. Brownlee had joined the health care practice at the law firm of Williams Parker.

On April 8, the Wilson Post announced that Stetson Law alumna Melanie Bean was named a partner at the Law Offices of Lannom & Williams.