Monday, November 29, 2004

Long-term commitment in Carlisle remains optimal choice for school


Patriot-News
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.

Monday, November 29, 2004

Editorial

DICKINSON LAW ; Long-term commitment in Carlisle remains optimal choice for school

Of the Patriot-News

Benjamin Rush established Dickinson College two blocks from the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle so that its students could walk there and see democracy in action. Proximity was no less important a few decades later when the college created one of the nation's first law schools. And even though Dickinson School of Law later became independent of the college, its has remained true to its original purpose of turning out lawyers prepared to represent the people in the courts closest to them.

The law school's merger with Penn State four years ago provided the land-grant university with one more avenue to fulfill its mission of improving the quality of life in the commonwealth. Yet, you can't fault Penn State officials for wanting their law school to rank among the nation's best, so that its graduates are sought by the best law firms. That's a goal widely held among institutions of higher learning.

Combining all those interests has been the most difficult adjustment of these two institutions, and if the two part ways it will be because the effort failed.

We believe it's possible for the merger to succeed without moving the law school to State College, as Penn State proposed a year ago. The university excels in so-called distance learning, and some of the money it would spend to build a new law school campus could instead fund sophisticated communications links between University Park and Carlisle.

Penn State disagrees, and after its full-scale moving plan met with major community opposition, it proposed splitting the law school into two campuses, establishing the larger one at University Park so that law students could study in other academic disciplines and possibly obtain dual degrees. The law school board of governors, which under the merger agreement can veto campus relocation, rejected the plan in August after Penn State declined to guarantee that the Carlisle campus would remain viable and permanent.

In September, the university disclosed that talks were under way to transfer ownership of the law school to the neighboring Dickinson College. Though the college does not offer graduate degree programs - - it would have to partner with other universities to offer dual degrees -- it does have an impressive record in global education, as well as serious study in several of the liberal arts.

And Dickinson College President William Durden has a defined vision for "a small, highly distinctive law school that has developed creative partnerships with a number of higher education institutions around the world and which occupies a special niche in a global world." He would have it establish new ties with the Army War College and other institutions in central Pennsylvania, as well.

The law school's governors have been meeting with Penn State officials this fall, and last weekend they voted 26-4 to ask the university formally for another consideration of the dual campus proposal. While it's encouraging to learn that the parties are still talking, the governors should reject any proposal that does not include, in writing, a long-term commitment for the law school to keep its base in Carlisle, where it represents, in Durden's words, an intellectual and economic generator for this region.

We wish only the best for Dickinson School of Law, which deserves to be recognized for its excellence -- its graduates rank first in passing the bar exam on first try -- as well as for Penn State, which deserves a first-rate law school. Just a few years ago these institutions believed those interests intersected at Carlisle. We're yet to be persuaded otherwise.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Dickinson revisiting law school at PSU; Board hopeful of reviving plan for two campuses


Centre Daily Times
(c) Copyright 2004, Centre Daily Times. All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004


Dickinson revisiting law school at PSU; Board hopeful of reviving plan for two campuses

By Anne Danahy
adanahy@centredaily.com

The possibility of a Penn State Dickinson School of Law campus at University Park is under discussion again, and talk of merging the Carlisle law school with neighboring Dickinson College has been shelved. Chairman H. Laddie Montague Jr. said the Dickinson School of Law's board of governors voted Saturday to allow him to pick a committee of board members to resume negotiations to put together a plan for two law school campuses -- one in Carlisle and one at University Park.

The idea appeared dead in August, when the board of governors voted to table a proposal to building a second campus at University Park, and instead urged Penn State to focus on upgrading the Carlisle campus.

Penn State President Graham Spanier said the university viewed the vote as a rejection of its offer to spend $60 million to build a law school campus in State College and spend $10 million toward upgrades at the Carlisle campus.

In September, Penn State issued a statement saying Penn State and the law school were discussing ending their affiliation, and raised the possibility that the law school would form a partnership with Dickinson College.

On Monday, Montague said that idea is no longer under consideration. Instead, the focus is on repairing relations with Penn State.

"I told everyone I wanted to be chairman so I could get this relationship back in shape, back on board," said Montague, who was elected chairman Oct. 15. "That's what we're trying to do."

Montague said there is no timetable for developing or proceeding with a two-campus plan, but hopes it will move ahead quickly. "It's certainly not a done deal," he said, but added that "both the board of governors and the university have their minds set to give it a try."

University spokesman Steve MacCarthy said the administration needs to study the proposal before commenting on it and will be doing that soon.

The law school completed a merger with Penn State in 2000, but the law school's board of governors retained control over the school's location. A proposal by Penn State to move the school to University Park, and the subsequent plan for a dual-campus law school drew protests from the Carlisle community, which has been home to the school for 170 years.

University officials have said a University Park campus would help the school attract faculty, boost the school's stature and deal with a lack of building space in Carlisle.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Campus talks are 'hurtful,' grad says


Patriot-News
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.

Monday, November 22, 2004


Campus talks are 'hurtful,' grad says ; Dickinson Law community hopes for strong future

DIANA FISHLOCK
Of The Patriot-News

The summer of 1979, a 21-year-old Victor Stabile climbed up into The Dickinson School of Law's clock tower and gained a new perspective. "That law school appeared the center of the entire country, in whichever direction you looked," the alumnus said. "It was like a trip through history to be able to go into that tower. ... Dickinson is the oldest law school in Pennsylvania ... older than the University of Pennsylvania. ... It was always proud and independent." The law school merged with Penn State University in 2000 and surrendered that independence, but the schools agreed the law school would always remain in Carlisle. That changed during the past year. Last November, Penn State proposed relocating the law school to State College. Law school officials and community leaders rallied against a move, then Penn State suggested a two-campus setup, one in State College and one in Carlisle.

The Dickinson board of governors rejected that and talk surfaced of a potential partnership with Dickinson College, which is adjacent to but not affiliated with the law school.

Things changed again Saturday, when the governors agreed to re- examine the two-campus plan.

The latest twist brought mixed reactions yesterday from students, alumni and borough officials.

The negotiations over the law school's future have been "a very hurtful and emotional process for people on both sides," said Stabile, president of the law school's Capitol Area Alumni Club.

"If I had my druthers, I'd like to wind the clock back to the date when Penn State was committing to Carlisle and making Dickinson the best facility possible," said Stabile, who graduated from the law school in 1982. "If that's not possible, you do the next best thing."

Saturday's announcement didn't change Dickinson College's position, college representative Christine Dugan said. "We're stepping back to let the board of governors and Penn State resolve their relationship. ... It's really between the two of them. We're just kind of watching at this point with everyone else."

Robert N. Michaels, a third-year law student and a Penn State alumnus, thinks Saturday's resolution "is probably the best thing they could have been done at the moment," he said. "I think they tried to mend the fences and bring both sides back to the table."

"I would like to see a dual-campus proposal which does guarantee some equity, which isn't a precursor to an outright move to State College," Michaels said. That would mean senior faculty, financial resources and comparable numbers of students in both places, he said. "State College has its benefits and Dickinson has its benefits, and you have to allocate accordingly."

Third-year law student Joseph Hartye of Hollidaysburg said dual campuses would hurt the law school in the short run, with professors torn between two locations, but help in the long term.

"I don't think the school's going to go away without Penn State, but I think it's a good partnership," Hartye said. " As long as they're serious about keeping a viable part of the school in Carlisle. ... There's not many [law] firms in State College. There are a lot in Harrisburg, plus state government. A huge part of getting a law degree is getting to work for somebody and internships."
The two-campus approach beats no Carlisle campus, but keeping the law school in the borough would be best, Borough Council President Franklin Rankin said. Moving even part of the campus would hurt Carlisle financially, he said.

"It's been a long road. I think one of the biggest disappointments in this whole process has been the loss of credibility that many people have in Penn State University and its leadership," Rankin said.

He's skeptical of Penn State's motives on the two-campus proposal, he said. "We hope they do move forward and do what they said they were going to do: improve the facility and the groups, etc., so it is a first-rate facility for the students." Then, even if Penn State later cut ties, the law school wouldn't be devastated, he said.

Sunday, November 21, 2004

Reconciliation attempt surprises university and Carlisle officials


Patriot-News
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.

Sunday, November 21, 2004


Law board to review Penn State plan again ; Reconciliation attempt surprises university and Carlisle officials

JOE ELIAS
Of Our Carlisle Bureau

Three months after the merger between The Dickinson School of Law and Penn State University fell on the rocks, law school governors say they might want to reconcile. During a meeting of the law school's board of governors yesterday, the board agreed on a resolution to again examine the possibility of establishing a second campus in State College.

Penn State and Dickinson merged seven years ago as the law school sought to improve its reputation and standing and Penn State filled a hole in its academic offerings.

In August, Penn State suggested opening a second campus in State College. The law school board then voted 22-11 to shelve the two- campus proposal and urged the launch of a $50 million renovation of the law school in Carlisle. Penn State had committed $10 million for the project, leading Carlisle leaders to worry the State College campus would replace the Carlisle site.

In September, Penn State suggested Dickinson College take over the law school.

Yesterday's meeting of the board that oversees the law school was the first indication that the law school or Penn State wanted to mend the relationship.

"We are in need of finality. We are in need of direction," said Michael Eakin, a board member and state Supreme Court justice, who sponsored the motion, which passed 26-4.

Under the resolution, board chairman H. Laddie Montague Jr. would appoint a team of board members to negotiate with Penn State officials.

"I believe the two-campus scenario is the best of both worlds," said Montague, of Philadelphia. "I believe it will flourish."

The board rejected an attempt to include language in the resolution insisting that Carlisle should remain the main campus of the law school and house the office of the dean if a second campus in State College is approved.

Montague said that the point could be negotiated between the law school and Penn State but that it would be considered a "deal killer" by the university if it was included in the resolution.

Penn State runs the law school, but the law school board of governors can veto any plan to move it or change its name under the merger agreement.

Also defeated was another attempt to insist that Penn State fully pay for upgrades to the Carlisle campus, including a new building, before any construction of a law school in State College could begin.
Montague added that Dickinson College officials have "backed off" in their interest to take over the law school while it continues negotiations with Penn State, but has not "backed away." Officials from Penn State and Dickinson College, which isn't affiliated with the law school, were not at yesterday's meeting.

Board member G. Thomas Miller of Harrisburg, who voted against the motion to examine a second campus, said he favored the Dickinson College option.

"I think that's where our true future lies," he said.

Board member Donald C. Taylor of Wilmington, Del., said the law school should focus on what's best for the students and what they called the law school's sagging reputation.

"If I were a student, I would love the opportunity to go to both campuses," Taylor said.

Eakin, a former Cumberland County district attorney, said prospective students would decide which campus was the main campus when they applied to the law school and were given the choice of where to attend.

"If the law school cannot flourish in Carlisle, it should fade away," Eakin said.

Word of the board of governors' decision took both Penn State officials and local leaders by surprise.

Penn State spokesman Steve MacCarthy said he had not seen the board's proposal and could not comment on it.

Carlisle Mayor Kirk Wilson said he was "shocked and confused" by the board's move.

"I still think Carlisle and Dickinson College are a better fit for the law school," Wilson said.

Friday, November 19, 2004

Gathering addresses future of law school


Patriot-News
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.

Friday, November 19, 2004


Gathering addresses future of law school ; Public drafts views for board, Spanier

ELIZABETH GIBSON
Of Our Carlisle Bureau

Dave Blackledge is worried that indecision over the future of The Dickinson School of Law is hurting the school's reputation. The retired law school admissions and financial aid director said the school's board of governors and its parent institution, Penn State University, must weigh what's best for students, faculty, staff and community members.

And they must do it soon.

Last night, he and several dozen community members spent the evening writing guidelines they hope school officials will consider as the conversation on the school's future progresses.

They'll send Penn State and the governors a report.

Until now, Blackledge and other residents have been strictly onlookers in the battle over whether Penn State will maintain or dump its four-year relationship with Dickinson.

Although the town has hosted Dickinson for 170 years, and local officials identified grants that could help pay for an improved law facility in Carlisle, residents have been able to do little more than wait.

News has wavered between dramatic pronouncements and months of inaction.

After proposing Dickinson move to State College, then suggesting it operate both in Carlisle and State College, Penn State said it would like to end its law school partnership.

Dickinson College, which is adjacent to but not affiliated with the law school, has said it may be interested in a partnership if Penn State and the law school separate.

A local task force fighting to keep the law school in Carlisle planned last night's forum in the downtown Comfort Suites.

The hope was that officials from Penn State, the governors board and the college would attend and answer community questions.

But, early this month, spokesmen for all three groups said none would take part.

Kurt Kraus, a Shippensburg University professor who guided forum attendees in identifying and consolidating their concerns, said there isn't a guarantee that community sentiments will be considered.

"We have no idea if they will adhere to what we have asked them to adhere to, [but] this is our best shot," he said.

A woman who said she works at the law school said staff felt "anguish" when they learned Penn State President Graham Spanier said the university aimed to dump the school.

Jim Nelson, a law school alumnus, said, "Time is an important factor for them to consider. Not to sound impatient [but] it's important to resolve this."

Patriot-News
Copyright (c) 2004 Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.

Friday, November 19, 2004


Forum addresses law school's future

ELIZABETH GIBSON
Of Our Carlisle Bureau

Dave Blackledge is worried that indecision over the future of The Dickinson School of Law is hurting the school's reputation. The retired law school admissions and financial aid director said the school's board of governors and its parent institution, Penn State University, must weigh what's best for students, faculty, staff and community members.

And they must do it soon.

Last night, he and several dozen community members spent the evening writing guidelines they hope school officials will consider as the conversation on the school's future progresses.

They'll send Penn State and the governors a report.

Until now, Blackledge and other residents have been strictly onlookers in the battle over whether Penn State will maintain or dump its four-year relationship with Dickinson.

Although the town has hosted Dickinson for 170 years, and local officials identified grants that could help pay for an improved law facility in Carlisle, residents have been able to do little more than wait.

News has wavered between dramatic pronouncements and months of inaction.

After proposing Dickinson move to State College, then suggesting it operate both in Carlisle and State College, Penn State said it would like to end its law school partnership.

Dickinson College, which is adjacent to but not affiliated with the law school, has said it may be interested in a partnership if Penn State and the law school separate.

A local task force fighting to keep the law school in Carlisle planned last night's forum in the downtown Comfort Suites.

The hope was that officials from Penn State, the governors board and the college would attend and answer community questions.

Early this month, spokesmen for all three groups said none would take part.

Kurt Kraus, a Shippensburg University professor who guided forum attendees in identifying and consolidating their concerns, said there isn't a guarantee that community sentiments will be considered.

"We have no idea if they will adhere to what we have asked them to adhere to, [but] this is our best shot," he said.