Regents Reject Law Schools at
Minority Institutions
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Rejecting impassioned pleas from students and Black and Hispanic lawmakers, the Florida Board of Regents voted last month to reject a request that they recommend new law schools for historically Black Florida A&M University and Hispanic-serving Florida International University.
Dr. Adam Herbert, University of Florida Chancellor, asked the board instead to push for a new program of pre-law scholarships and internships to increase access to law schools for minorities — something supporters of the new schools put forth as their goal. But Herbert said the question came down to a lack of two things — need and money.
"Access without need should not be the taxpayers' burden but rather the individual's responsibility," Herbert said. "Florida can scarcely afford to fund fully every program request that is introduced, even if such programs have some merits."
But the issue isn't dead. The state Legislature has the ultimate say. And an angry Rep. Alex Villalobos (R-Miami) said not only will lawmakers introduce legislation to open and pay for the two schools, but he will be much more skeptical toward the regents when they come asking for money for other projects.
Both university president, FAMU's Dr. Frederick S. Humphries and FIU's Dr. Mitch Maidique, say if the start-up costs for law schools at their universities were too high, the schools would raise the money for that themselves.