[SBA Elections] On Behalf of Kortney M. Bell for SBA President
USF SBA Elections
[This message is being sent by the SBA Election Committee. Note: Each candidate is permitted to send three messages to class google groups during the campaign (March 21st - April 4th). Please report violations, if any, to usflawe...@gmail.com.]
Dear Peers, Friends, and Colleagues,
It truly has been nothing short of a honor getting to know many of you over the past year. I am running for SBA President because I know that I can make a difference. With your help, we can undoubtedly turn things around and awake the sleeping giant I like to call USF Law. No longer is it acceptable for us to be the best kept law school secret in the Bay Area. It is time for the rest of California, and the nation for that matter, to see exactly why our law school is special and second to no school. Under my leadership, we will begin this process.
Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of speaking with several of you in class, at student events, and at the bus stop regarding the challenges facing our school. Many of you have expressed deep concerns regarding our school’s rankings, employment statistics upon graduation, tuition increases, etc. I share your concerns, and as SBA President, from day one I will focus the SBA’s efforts towards correcting these issuesimmediately. I plan on combating these issues through a variety means, including but not limited to 1) working with the incoming dean to implement creative solutions when needed and 2) applying significant pressure on the new dean where substantial academic and administrative reform is necessary.
A few of my proposals include:
1. The creation of a moratorium on tuition increases when USF Law has dropped substantially in the US News and World Report rankings in the previous year, unless the tuition increases are combined with administrative cuts or majority student vote.
2. Removing academic policies requiring students to take doctrinal courses in their third year, and replacing those course offerings with practical skill courses, clinics, or externship credits to ensure that our graduating class will have work experience andbe practice ready.
3. Overhauling the procedure to become a Visiting Professor at USF Law.
4. Overhauling the manner in which Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis (LRWA) is administered to our first year law students to ensure that every student is receiving a positive, meaningful, and uniform experience in LRWA and in their other courses.
5. Implementation of a Student Review/Evaluation of Administrators (which includes Deans), Office of Career Planning personnel, and etc.
6. Adding additional sections of our most popular bar preparation courses (ex: Bar None, Legal Drafting, etc.) to ensure that our graduates are adequately prepared for the bar upon graduation.
This year as President of the Black Law Student Association, I learned a thing or two about leadership and how it can be extremely difficult during times of distress. It requires a lot of work, dedication, and a willingness to be unpopular at times. Not only am I prepared to accept the challenges associated with being SBA President, I welcome them with open arms because I believe in both USF Law and in all of you. I am a forward thinker with the drive, initiative and passion to help make our universitymaximize our academic and professional endeavors, and as SBA President, I will fight tirelessly to ensure that your voice will always be heard. The time for change is now and for all of the reasons mentioned above, I am kindly asking you for both your support and your vote.
Sincerely,
Kourtney (Korey) M. Bell
#Realleadership
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