Save the SMU Dedman Law Quad - Oppose the Relocation Plan

Class of 2024. If the law school were east of 75 when I was applying, I would not have attended SMU Law. The campus is an integral part of what makes the Dedman School of Law an incredible place to study law and a pillar of the Texas legal community. The history of many great Texas lawyers lives within those walls. Not to mention, the outdoor space was crucial for my mental wellbeing throughout law school. Without the campus, I fear future students will choose cheaper options, like A&M or UNT.

I cannot think of a dumber move to make for the law school and the University in general. Some of the reasoning I saw was to "boost the school's ranking," but this will most definitely have the opposite effect. Ever since I stepped foot onto campus, the administration has made every wrong decision impossible to make life harder for law students, and it seems like they're continuing down that path.

Noooo

Don’t do it!!!

Stop trying to change SMU

I strongly oppose the relocation of SMU Dedman School of Law. SMU is containing to treat the law school as a logistical problem rather than a professional institution with a distinct academic mission. President Jay Hartzell and the Board have offered no clear academic justification for this move and have failed to engage students, faculty, or alumni in a decision of this magnitude. Their continued neglect of student experience and chronic underfunding of career-related opportunities — despite repeated concerns — demonstrates a lack of commitment to actually improving the school. This is not the kind of leadership that builds institutional trust or moves a law school forward in rankings. Bypassing process has already caused damage, and continuing down this path will only deepen it. SMU should halt this relocation and subject it to genuine, good-faith review before the harm becomes irreversible.

Jay Hartzell should be leading a clown college, not a major university.

No

Praying that the committee reconsiders something that would be crushing to alumni and damaging to the school at large.

Don’t knock down such a historic law quad that the alumni cares deeply about! - Class of ‘24

All about the money — less about the Alumni.

Na

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.

The Law School is a beautiful aspect of campus that helps define our school. It does not need to be torn down, and our identity doesn’t need a facelift.

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.

Please don’t destroy this historic portion of our campus!

As a double SMU alum, this news is very disheartening. The beauty and history of the law school is something that should be cherished, not demolished. The administration and Jay Hartzell must reevaluate immediately. I am entirely opposed to this relocation, a more thoughtful alternative must be explored.

My daughter is a 2L at Dedman School of Law and I would be very sad to see the current site be torn down. There is so much history in those buildings and so much beauty on that corner.

NO ONE WANTS THIS MOVE

SMU class of 2020