UNIVERSITY PARK – Student Senate passed a resolution advocating for the inclusion of student, faculty and alumni voices in the law school relocation decision, raising concerns about limited communication from President Jay Hartzell.
Law Senators Emma Suvorov and Spencer Bates, and Cox Senator Owen Bartosh authored the SMU Dedman School of Law Veritas Resolution and presented it during the Feb. 3 Student Senate meeting. While the resolution takes no position on whether the law school should move to East Campus, it urges the president to include stakeholders in the decision-making process.
Military Veteran Senator Caleb Raper referenced an October resolution requesting communication from President Hartzell regarding political violence after Charlie Kirk’s death. The president hadn’t fulfilled their request, but Raper hopes this time is different.
“I’m not sure how much louder you can be,” Raper said. “I don’t want them [Suvorov, Bates and Bartosh] to pass a resolution and then it go on to deaf ears.”
Suvorov pointed to the town hall hosted on Jan. 20 as the inspiration for the resolution. The town hall was limited to current law students and intended as a space for them to seek clarity.
Suvorov said the town hall was poorly announced in advance and was not accessible to all stakeholders. Additionally, only Dean Jason Nance of the Dedman School of Law was present as a voice of leadership, despite this act being driven by President Hartzell.
“There were a lot of questions that couldn’t be answered by Dean Nance, as much as he tried to. It is a decision that is essentially outside of the hands of the law school,” Suvorov said.
At the end of the town hall meeting, Suvorov asked whether President Hartzell intended to speak with law students. Dean Nance answered that Hartzell did not have plans at that time.
When Suvorov, Bates and Bartosh presented their resolution before their fellow senators, the only voice of opposition heard throughout the room was a simple warning to consider the image this might create.
“One of the big dysfunctions of a team is there’s no conflict,” Bates said, referencing his business education.
Bates views the Student Senate as a team with President Hartzell. Therefore, he’s okay with a little healthy opposition.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Bates said their goal is to open the doors to a continued conversation. This includes an open town hall with both Dean Nance and President Hartzell present.
Suvorov and Bates also want to see surveys and research behind the relocation that address concerns such as safety and commute times for JD-MBA students. According to Suvorov and Bates, none of these surveys has been shared.
While no future communication between students and Hartzell has been announced, Suvorov, Bates and Bartosh hope it marks the beginning of a more transparent and inclusive conversation.
