S.U. College of Law partners with state to address school violence

S.U. College of Law partners with state to address school violenceApril 02, 2004Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

At an April 1 event at Syracuse University’s MacNaughton Hall, College of Law Dean Hannah Arterian and New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced the creation of Criminal Justice Teaching Fellowships that will employ law students as legal interns in the Attorney General’s office.

The fellows will assist in the administration of the student courts of the Syracuse School District and the Attorney General’s Students Against Violence Initiative (SAVI). The SAVI program, which started four years ago, combats violence and abuse in 11 school districts throughout the state. The establishment of these fellowships is a unique collaboration of law enforcement agencies with educational institutions to provide important educational experiences for students.

“This program is designed to give young people a better understanding of the criminal justice system and a larger role in promoting school safety,” says Spitzer. “In addition, law students who serve as fellows will have an immediate impact on the Syracuse public schools while they are exposed to career options in public service.”

An advisory committee consisting of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, Glenn Suddaby; Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick; and Syracuse City School District Superintendent Stephen Jones will aid in the administration of the program. In addition to their oversight of student courts, teaching fellows will organize regular discussions of issues critical to school safety with students who participate in the disciplinary alternative of student courts. Cases, which are typically referred by principals, range from cutting class to plagiarism to disruptive behavior.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to experience the many benefits of public interest law,” says Arterian. “Eliot Spitzer’s efforts in the name of justice are widely recognized, and we are delighted to be working with him on this important project.”

College of Law Student Senate President Patrick Betar will be the first Criminal Justice Teaching Fellow. He will assist in the development of the Fellowship program for the 2004-05 academic year.