{ prima facie } the Temple Law newspaper

Temple Law rose 11 spots in the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings for 2011 -- to number 61 in the nation -- ahead of most law schools in the region.

Under a new law school ranking methodology proposed by author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell, Temple Law ranks 46 in the nation.

Many law schools that typically rank in the top 50 of the US News rankings did not fare as well in the Gladwell system.

[The following is the full text of a letter sent by e-mail from announce@temple.edu on Dec. 17.]

Dear members of the Temple University community:

Thanks in large measure to grassroots advocacy efforts of students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni, the state House of Representatives Monday approved Temple’s $181.6 million Commonwealth appropriation for the current fiscal year. Governor Rendell signed the appropriations bill today. After an almost six-month delay, this is wonderful news. The funding represents more than 20 percent of Temple’s operating budget.

Temple's annual Commonwealth funding was unanimously approved today by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in spite of Rep. John Taylor's earlier opposition, according to a Temple University announcement.

Taylor had previously said he wanted to withhold all of Temple's funds -- $175 million dollars -- because he disagreed with the university's recent decision to convert a university-run hospital to an ambulatory care center.

Temple announced the latest vote in an e-mail from Temple's Ken Lawrence Jr., Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs. Lawrence provides twitter updates on the topic at http://twitter.com/TUGovtAffairs.

A final state budget has not yet been completed, so Temple's funding is not yet guaranteed for the coming year. Temple University has posted a petition to support Temple's funding, which the public can sign, at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/join-the-fight-for-the-cherry-and-the-w....

The university has created a web page to track public policy issues like the funding debate, at: http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/TUGovtAffairs/index.htm, according to Lawrence.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives could determine the fate of Temple University's annual allotment of $175 million in Commonwealth funds as early as August 17, when the House of Representatives returns to Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Representative John Taylor and other Pennsylvania representatives want to withhold the entirety of Temple University's Commonwealth funding, in the amount of $175 million dollars, because they disagreed with the university's recent decision to convert a university-run hospital to an ambulatory care center.

The House members will cast a vote on the funding when they return, according to an Aug. 11 e-mail to the Temple University community from Ken Lawrence Jr., Senior Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs.

"We have received tremendous bipartisan support as a result of [university supporters'] e-mails and calls," Lawrence wrote in his e-mail. "State Representative Curtis Thomas, State Representative Jewell Williams and State Senator Shirley Kitchen, who represent Temple University's main campus and many of our students, have been tremendous with their leadership."

Temple University staff have created a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/TUGovtAffairs to provide "updates on the Commonwealth appropriation and other legislative issues facing Temple University," Lawrence said.

A university web page devoted to the Commonwealth funds topic lists Pennsylvania representatives and senators who have pledged their support for Temple University and who will vote to provide the usual annual funding this year.

TU funding update: http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/2009_2010/08/announcements/state_funds.ht...

By Jesse Chen
2L, Temple Law

At approximately 3 p.m. on Monday, a commotion in the Klein Hall library caught the attention of many students, faculty and staff. A student, who allegedly assaulted several other students, was eventually tracked down by a group of law students and campus security guard Vincent Griffon. Campus police arrived shortly thereafter and detained the alleged attacker, who is now under hospital observation.

The incident began when a student, whose name has not been released by the law school, allegedly hit another student. The alleged attacker then fled through the library stacks.

By James Barger, Prima Facie Editor-in-Chief

Students listed numerous reasons why they dislike Temple Law's grading policy, at a recent breakfast with several members of the faculty. Students particularly focused on their disapproval of the relatively low GPA median at the center of the grading curve.

The discussion took place at a November “leadership breakfast” attended by members of the Faculty Administrative Committee and invited student leaders, such as representatives from student organizations. The four faculty members were Profs. Theresa Glennon, Richard Greenstein, David Hoffman, and James Shellenberger. Dean Marylouise Esten also attended.

By Erin Lamb, Temple Law student

On Monday, Oct. 20, the Temple Law Democrats invited Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) to Temple Law’s Moot Court Room to speak on behalf of Senator Obama’s (D-IL) presidential campaign. In office since 1992, Sen. Feingold is Wisconsin’s junior senator and a well-known and powerful voice in the Senate.

Professor Jan Ting entertained the crowd before Feingold arrived with stories of his own forays into the political arena. Prof. Ting stated in his introduction of the senator that Feingold’s entire political career epitomized the themes of the Obama campaign: Change, Progress, Reform, and Hope.

By James Barger, Prima Facie Editor-in-Chief

Students told Dean JoAnne Epps about a wide range of concerns at a gathering held Oct. 7, in Barrack Hall. Dean Epps was the featured guest at the “student leadership breakfast” to “talk about issues affecting the Law School,” according to the invitation e-mail Dean Marylouise Esten sent to participants.

Dean Esten's invitation e-mail described the purpose of the event. “A few years ago, we started an initiative to help foster student leadership at the Law School,” Esten wrote in the e-mail. “We periodically gather all of our student leaders for what we call a Student Leadership Breakfast. This is a great opportunity for us to exchange information about what's happening at the Law School, brainstorm about ideas for the future, and talk about issues affecting students, faculty and administrators at the Law School.”

A May 15 e-mail to the Temple Law student e-mail list announced that a re-design project is underway for the law school website.