Currently, Southern Methodist University plans to demolish the historic Dedman School of Law Quad and relocate it across the highway, away from campus. We are opposed to this relocation plan.
WHEREAS The vast majority of tenured law professors, current law students, law school alumni, practicing attorneys and donors are opposed to this plan. Because the plan faces massive opposition within the law school, so the university has opted not to solicit input from stakeholders at the law school. The plan would locate new law school facilities on SMU's "East Campus" (a collection of parking lots and office buildings in a high-crime area across the highway), and demolish the entirety of the existing law quad on completion.
WHEREAS The SMU Dedman Law quad houses the oldest building on campus (Florence Hall), contains historically protected facilities, and houses the largest private academic library west of the Mississippi River (Underwood Law Library). Relocation poses irreparable risks to the historical texts housed on campus, damage to the law school's ranking as fewer students apply, and damage to the law school's reputation as the university ignores input from the law school. Many students apply to SMU Dedman Law for the serene beauty of the law quad; this advantage would disappear if students heard the sounds and smelled the fumes of a major highway right outside their classroom windows.
WHERAS For 100 years, the law school has fueled Dallas's legal and financial markets. Its alumni include judges, named law-firm partners, business leaders, and philanthropists. This plan is a slap in the face to all of them.
THEREFORE We sign this petition for SMU President Jay Hartzell and the SMU Board of Trustees to abandon this relocation plan to instead improve the existing SMU Dedman Law School facilities (as has been repeatedly promised by the university).
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 2, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
December 20, 2025
107 Comments
The law quad is central to the Dedman experience. Please refurbish and improve the existing facilities rather than tearing down the tradition and depriving future students of the same amazing experience that I enjoyed during my time at the school. Class of 2014.
2019 SMU JD grad with honors, practicing in Dallas. I never would have come to SMU Law if it were across 75, and I won’t give a penny ever to support this school if this move occurs.
The process and communication failures alone should be enough to doom this plan, regardless of its merits. The Law School’s future success is worth a debate on those merits, and plenty of stakeholders have raised legitimate questions about the downside risks of the planned move.
I oppose moving Dedman Law across U.S. 75 and support reinvesting in the historic Law Quad, including Florence Hall (a National Register of Historic Places building). The move would isolate the law school from SMU’s academic core and undermines the collaborative, campus-integrated experience that students and alumni value.
A large reason I chose SMU Law was the beautiful law quad that is situated in the perfect proximity to shops, restaurants, and the undergrad campus. Tearing down historical buildings just for dorms is a terrible decision that will effectively allow A&M Law school to gain the one-up on SMU and will directly affect my involvement as an alum.
As a graduate of SMU, I feel that the Law School belongs on campus, where it has always been. The law school and its students are an important part of the SMU community and they need to be on the main campus. KEEP SMU LAW ON CAMPUS!!!
Proud SMU Dedman Law School Graduate 1984 - let’s retain and enhance the historic Law Quadrangle at SMU.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Currently, Southern Methodist University plans to demolish the historic Dedman School of Law Quad and relocate it across the highway, away from campus. We are opposed to this relocation plan.
WHEREAS The vast majority of tenured law professors, current law students, law school alumni, practicing attorneys and donors are opposed to this plan. Because the plan faces massive opposition within the law school, so the university has opted not to solicit input from stakeholders at the law school. The plan would locate new law school facilities on SMU's "East Campus" (a collection of parking lots and office buildings in a high-crime area across the highway), and demolish the entirety of the existing law quad on completion.
WHEREAS The SMU Dedman Law quad houses the oldest building on campus (Florence Hall), contains historically protected facilities, and houses the largest private academic library west of the Mississippi River (Underwood Law Library). Relocation poses irreparable risks to the historical texts housed on campus, damage to the law school's ranking as fewer students apply, and damage to the law school's reputation as the university ignores input from the law school. Many students apply to SMU Dedman Law for the serene beauty of the law quad; this advantage would disappear if students heard the sounds and smelled the fumes of a major highway right outside their classroom windows.
WHERAS For 100 years, the law school has fueled Dallas's legal and financial markets. Its alumni include judges, named law-firm partners, business leaders, and philanthropists. This plan is a slap in the face to all of them.
THEREFORE We sign this petition for SMU President Jay Hartzell and the SMU Board of Trustees to abandon this relocation plan to instead improve the existing SMU Dedman Law School facilities (as has been repeatedly promised by the university).
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 2, 2026
Reached 100 supporters
December 20, 2025
107 Comments
For over a century, Dedman Law School has served as a vital bridge between SMU’s undergraduate and graduate communities on the main campus. Demolishing and relocating it would not only weaken the pipeline between aspiring and current law students, but also threaten SMU’s ability to reinforce its reputation as a leading institution. B.A., '24
The law quad is central to the Dedman experience. Please refurbish and improve the existing facilities rather than tearing down the tradition and depriving future students of the same amazing experience that I enjoyed during my time at the school. Class of 2014.
2019 SMU JD grad with honors, practicing in Dallas. I never would have come to SMU Law if it were across 75, and I won’t give a penny ever to support this school if this move occurs.
The process and communication failures alone should be enough to doom this plan, regardless of its merits. The Law School’s future success is worth a debate on those merits, and plenty of stakeholders have raised legitimate questions about the downside risks of the planned move.
I oppose moving Dedman Law across U.S. 75 and support reinvesting in the historic Law Quad, including Florence Hall (a National Register of Historic Places building). The move would isolate the law school from SMU’s academic core and undermines the collaborative, campus-integrated experience that students and alumni value.
A large reason I chose SMU Law was the beautiful law quad that is situated in the perfect proximity to shops, restaurants, and the undergrad campus. Tearing down historical buildings just for dorms is a terrible decision that will effectively allow A&M Law school to gain the one-up on SMU and will directly affect my involvement as an alum.
As a graduate of SMU, I feel that the Law School belongs on campus, where it has always been. The law school and its students are an important part of the SMU community and they need to be on the main campus. KEEP SMU LAW ON CAMPUS!!!
Proud SMU Dedman Law School Graduate 1984 - let’s retain and enhance the historic Law Quadrangle at SMU.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 750 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
For over a century, Dedman Law School has served as a vital bridge between SMU’s undergraduate and graduate communities on the main campus. Demolishing and relocating it would not only weaken the pipeline between aspiring and current law students, but also threaten SMU’s ability to reinforce its reputation as a leading institution. B.A., '24