The Legal Studies department at Temple University’s Fox School of Business will once again bring law to life, with what its chairperson hopes is another hot-button theme for Law Week.
Samuel Hodge
“We always try to do something controversial,” said Dr. Samuel D. Hodge, Jr., Professor and Chair of Legal Studies. “Last year, we discussed same sex marriage, so this year we are discussing what the controversy is right now – marijuana laws.”
Starting Tuesday, Feb. 3, the department, in conjunction with Temple’s chapter of the Alpha Phi Delta pre-law fraternity, will kick off Law Week with an experienced panel that will talk about the decriminalization of marijuana. Philadelphia City Councilman James F. Kenney will visit Main Campus to explain the law he introduced. He’ll be joined by Fox School alumnus Charles J. Leone, Executive Director of Campus Safety Services at Temple University; Brian Sprowal, lieutenant in the Philadelphia Police Department; and Tondala Bausano, Assistant Director of the Scientific Services Division in the Philadelphia Police Department’s Office of Forensic Science, who is charged with conducting the city’s drug testing.
“I think people are under the assumption that now you can just go out and smoke marijuana and that it’s absolutely fine,” said Hodge. “So the panel is coming in to talk about how the new Philadelphia marijuana laws apply to Temple students and the community.”
Law Week’s activities continue with the department honoring United States Attorney Zane David Memeger, this year’s Law Scholar in Residence. Legal Intelligencer recently recognized Memeger, appointed in May 2010 by President Obama to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as its 2014 Pennsylvania Attorney of the Year.
The week also will include a naturalization ceremony. More than 50 individuals will be sworn in as new citizens of the United States. The ceremony, sponsored by the Fox School’s Legal Studies department, the United States Federal Court and U.S. Immigration Services, will take place Feb. 4 on the 7th floor of Alter Hall. U.S. Federal Judge, Juan Sanchez, an instructor in the Legal Studies department, will preside over the immigration service.
“There are normally 50 different countries represented,” said Hodge. “The inductees’ families are invited to attend, so it’s a very special day for them.”
The week’s events conclude Feb. 5 with a meet-and-greet law fair, at which faculty from Fox School’s Legal Studies department will answer questions and offer advice regarding the school’s application process.