An Illinois school district leased a vacant school building to a local hospital, and was then ruled by the county tax office to have lost the building's tax-exempt status and to owe property taxes. Districts interested in leasing school property are advised to hire an attorney who specializes in real estate. (MLF)

This article outlines several major categories of discrimination by students toward their classmates and suggests possible reasons for the rise in such behavior. The paper discusses means of legal recourse against student offenders, actions taken by several universities, and recommended courses of action for institutions and students. (Author/DB)

To avoid antitrust liability, private university administrators and counsel must limit the exchange of financial-aid and tuition information among their institutions and competitors. On a much broader scale, colleges and universities must strive to improve their images and regain public confidence and support. (Author/MSE)

Describes events surrounding grievances filed against a curriculum coordinator in a New Jersey school district from 1987 to 1989. Although most grievances were found in the supervisor's favor, teachers succeeded in questioning some practices and limiting others. Disentangling the supervision-evaluation knot is impossible; because supervision is…

Since its creation in 1992, the Public Health Service's Office of Research Integrity has not won a single case against a scientist accused of research misconduct. Cases are adjudicated by a panel of lawyers. Scientists and critics agree that the government's failure will have serious consequences for the research community. (MSE)

The Justice Department's antitrust investigation of private-college collaboration on student financial aid (the Overlap Group) has closed, with charges against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology dropped and announcement of a new system by which institutions may share information. Institutions are skeptical about the practicality of the new…

The issue of whether the Civil Rights Act of 1991 applies to both discrimination cases pending on appeal and conduct occurring before its date of enactment is discussed, particularly as it affects higher education institutions. The case against retroactive application of the legislation is examined through legislative history and appellate…

The role of the college or university attorney is vital to the integrity and management of the institution. The attorney is expert in a unique field of decisional, statutory, and regulatory law that recognizes the nature of the university's governance structure and its special mission in society. (30 footnotes) (MLF)

Focuses on the moral arguments for and against the controversial topic of voluntary active euthanasia. Discusses the question of legalization and decriminalization of the practice. Provides a student worksheet with questions to stimulate discussion on the issue. (MDH)

Assessed relationship between stressful life events and adolescent suicide in 67 adolescent suicide victims and 67 matched community controls. Found that, in year before death, suicide completers were more likely than controls to have experienced interpersonal conflict with parents and boy/girlfriends; disruption of romantic attachment; legal or…

This article reviews the law of teacher evaluation using recent cases. The purpose is to assist administrators in separating professional lore from legal requirements. Case analysis, with citations, is provided in several topic areas, including procedural default, remediation plans, statutory discrimination, and grievance arbitrability. (Author)

Discussion of library Internet access and filtering focuses on a survey of Ohio public libraries that showed 17% of libraries are using filters to restrict access. Legal actions, Internet use policies, alternatives to filtering, complaints from the public, and recent court cases are examined. (LRW)

In many states, the greatest threat to safe student transportation is elimination of the school transportation program. Using public transit buses, large vans, smaller vehicles, or specialized equipment can cause major-issue headaches. False issues include controversies over seat belts, bus design, and optional "bells and whistles." (10…

Sketches the political context from which "Ex Corde Ecclesiae," the Papal constitution on higher education, emerged. Its most controversial provisions and the reaction in American Catholic academia are examined, norms currently under discussion are outlined, and a resolution of the issues dividing academics and the Catholic hierarchy is…

Reviews the concepts of negligence and "tort liability." Outlines briefly 10 legal cases that can be useful in explaining what the liability issues are for today's educators with regard to students who are injured while in school. Outlines six steps school officials should take to avoid negligence. (SR)