Plans to move the law school downtown made headlines Wednesday, but added to the confusion about who's leading legal education at The University of Memphis.
The Memphis Flyer ran a cover story about the proposed move Wednesday with a photo of U of M law school Professor James Smoot on the cover. Memphis Flyer editorial director and writer John Branston misidentified Smoot as the interim dean of the law school in two photo captions, including one on the cover. Branston also misidentified Smoot in the story.
"That was my error," Branston said. "James Smoot had absolutely nothing to do with that. I can't emphasize that enough."
Daniel E. Wanat is currently serving as interim law school dean, following his appointment by Provost Ralph Faudree.
Professor Smoot is the chair of the faculty committee in charge of the relocation project.
"I've written and called Professor Smoot about the error," said Branston in a phone interview Thursday.
Professor Smoot said Branston called U of M president Dr. Shirley Raines to apologize for the error.
"I gave him my business card, and there was some discussion of interim dean Wanat during the interview," Smoot said. "It's an awkward situation and very unfortunate."
"I'm not any flavor of dean," Smoot said.
The FlyerÃs error is understandable, because Daniel Wanat is the second interim dean of the law school since Donald Polden resigned in March 2003.
"The continuous change of leadership keeps the law school from building goodwill within the community," said Tommy Pacello, a second year law student. "Professor Smoot has taken on a leadership role in heading the project to move the facility downtown."
The proposed move would relocate The U of M law school to the Customs House building on Front Street downtown, currently home to the U.S. Postal Service's Front Street Station.
Plans to relocate The U of M law school would solve problems with the current facility.
Frequent flooding of the law school basement and library has damaged texts and other resources, prompting Memphis law firms to donate books to replace lost volumes.
"Improving the facilities is an absolute necessity," Pacello said. "It doesn't seem like the law school is a priority for The University."
Relocation plans are in a long, slow process, Smoot said.
"The next big thing that has to happen is to get a decision from the Postmaster General in Washington," Smoot said.
In addition to flooding, the current law facility has other problems.
Pacello said students had to raise money by passing a hat at the beginning of the semester to buy a small, off-brand television for the student lounge.
"It's ridiculous in comparison to all of the flat-screen TVs they have on Innovation Drive," he said.
Smoot is optimistic about the relocation plans.
"I think that at the end of the day, it's probably going to work out," Smoot said.
