by Anothy DeMatteo
Staff Writer
Eric Smith, who started working at Florida Coastal School of Law (FCSL) before it was much more than a construction site, will leave as the director of the school’s Center for Law and Public Policy when it closes July 31.
The center, which FCSL Dean Peter Goplerud said is closing for budgetary reasons, provides intellectual resources to the community and facilitates international networking.
“It was a decision simply made on the basis of cost-benefit and budgetary analysis,” said Goplerud.
Goplerud said Smith’s position will be eliminated when the center closes its doors.
“He has been with the school for most of its existence and has made big contributions to the school,” said Goplerud of Smith.
Goplerud was named dean in 2004.
Smith, who is an attorney, said he thinks the center is still an important part of the school. As part of its annual “Issues Forum,” it has hosted Florida Sen. Jim King and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, and for the last seven years, has brought an environmental summit to campus.
“At the moment, the program is very vibrant and viable,” said Smith. “We have an active board of student directors and are accomplishing a lot of things.”
The center publishes an online newsletter and develops international exchange programs.
“A lot of students have expressed their disappointment,” said Smith. “But no program in any academic institution is guaranteed the right of survival.”
First-year law student, Jennifer Shoaf, said by the center bringing in guest speakers, it enhances the school’s educational environment. She said a recent visit by Brazilian prosecutors helped her better understand the laws of a country that interests her.
“We got to have lunch and discuss laws in the U.S. and compare them with those in their country,” said Shoaf. “I think creating this kind of dialogue is important.”
Shoaf said the school plans to continue some events the center led, but worries it might struggle to match its effectiveness.
Fellow student, Richard Burton, agrees.
“I think it would be unfortunate to lose the center,” said Burton. “I’m a big believer in ‘If something’s not broken, don’t fix it.’”
Second year law student Julia W. Newman, who is on the center’s executive board, said she came to FCSL from Atlanta in part because of the center. Its lessons on the political process, she said, help make students at FCSL more effective advocates for future clients.
Smith, in his role as the center’s director, hosts the weekly television show “People and Politics” on a local cable channel.
He is a former president of the Jacksonville City Council and president of the Victim Assistance Legal Organization (VALOR). He is also a former member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Smith said he is encouraged by opportunities in his future.
“It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “There are some judgeships coming up for which elections would lie. I’ve been approached by a couple of other law schools in Florida, and a prestigious law firm in Tallahassee, which I won’t name, is talking about my opening an office here.”
Smith said he will continue his work as a speaker, saying he has represented FCSL in countries including Argentina, Albania and Mexico.
FCSL student Nikki Ghanayem said the school will miss Smith’s influence.
“He was very instrumental in the education and forming the foundation of the school,” she said. “He was an asset, and he’ll be missed.”
Smith said he will leave the school with “no hard feelings,” comparing the situation to a football team bringing in a new coach who changes its system.
“You move on,” he said. “But I will desperately miss these students and my colleagues on the faculty.”