Discusses several defamation cases involving school executives' written or spoken statements about terminated employees' performance and qualifications. Pays special attention to lawsuits hinging on administrators' and board members' informal remarks about school employees, outlining permissible behaviors and suggesting ways to avoid defamation…

An independent bookseller is suing two branches of the State University of New York to obtain copies of professors' required reading lists, claiming a right to them under state public records law. The institutions say any such lists are property of legally separate college bookstores, managed by a large publisher. (MSE)

Two views of the future of peer review for college and university faculty promotion are presented. One proposes that open files will mean less candid peer reviews and that evaluators may be called on to defend their evaluations in court. The second argues that openness has not led to increased litigation. (MSE)

The existing legal position of Australian universities with respect to ownership and exploitation of intellectual property by faculty, students, and outside consultants is described. Issues requiring attention are noted, including resources for exploitation, sharing of proceeds, and copyright considerations; and some possible solutions are…

A University of Virginia student has successfully challenged his expulsion, which was based on an accusation of cheating on a test. The student claimed his initial trial was unfair and that he was poorly represented. Some feel the university's honor system has been compromised. (MSE)

Describes how to select materials needed by the growing legal self-help movement, the importance of currency, and publishers in the field. An annotated bibliography of 25 titles includes general guides and books focusing on estate planning, going to court, contracts, animals, immigration, domestic issues, real estate, and bankruptcy. (KRN)

Investigated effects of recent life events, psychological adjustment, and social support on lymphocyte count among 192 older adults. For males, recent sexual dysfunction lowered lymphocyte count, whereas psychological adjustment and percentage kin in intimate network elevated it. For females, family or legal problems elevated count as did frequent…

A growing number of experts and ordinary citizens are realizing that our current drug policies are immoral, wasteful, inefficient, un-American, and more harmful than beneficial. The Drug War places U.S. liberties, communities, and children at risk. A sidebar outlines drug abuse lies promulgated by the media. Another sidebar provides seven…

Originally taught by Georgetown law students, the Street Law curriculum currently is taught in most major cities in conjunction with 25 other law schools. Describes teaching the course to economically disadvantaged high school students in the District of Columbia and how being equipped with knowledge of the law is a way of reversing…

Examines impact of legal counsel on student affairs practice. Uses data from 1987 study on role of counsel at U.S. colleges and universities. Describes data, with particular focus on manner in which counsel performed duties related to student issues. Eight conclusions drawn from the study are listed; recommendations and a summary are included.…

Various undercurrents, both productive and unproductive, influence today's schools. To succeed, the secondary principal must understand and manage these currents. This article reviews some popular education articles and books that criticize faddism and discuss evaluation criteria for high schools. Other challenging issues involve increasing legal…

Because school violence is not confined to cities, even rural administrators and board members have become legally responsible for addressing the issue. To prevent lawsuits and ensure school safety, districts must have an official policy, knowledge about potentially disruptive students, law enforcement liaisons, and inservice education for…

It is proposed that the principle of academic freedom in research is a myth, and the reality is a tension between the ideals of open inquiry and professors' freedom of choice. A procedural device, a standing committee to review research grants and make choices about external funding, is recommended. (MSE)

It is proposed that the attorney-client privilege of confidentiality may be more important in the case of the university attorney than in the situation of the attorney representing the client as a law firm member. The principle is illustrated in a hypothetical case concerning research fraud. (MSE)

A discussion of the relationship between the university attorney and a client identifies a range of persons and offices as potential clients, looks at the attorney's responsibility to fellow university attorneys, the complex and sometimes conflicting expectations of the client, and ethical dilemmas in the attorney's possible responses to the…