No longer 'Master of the House'
Bill Piatt will no longer be the Dean of St. Mary's University Law School. Despite having increased the bar passage rate for the university, the school decided not to renew his contract over growing concern in the declining enrollment of minority students and faculty:
Eight years ago, Piatt took the helm of a law school struggling with a spotty reputation for producing graduates who couldn't pass their Texas Bar exams on their first try with promises that pass rates would be a top priority.To Mynor "Eddie" Rodríguez — a 2002 grad who passed the bar exam on his first try — that commitment rang hollow.
"When we (as a class) didn't do too well, he disowned us, which I found offensive because had we done better, I'm sure he would have taken credit," Rodríguez said.
Over his eight-year tenure, Piatt also acquired a reputation — deserved or not — for heavy-handedness and declines in the percentages of minority students and faculty members at the school.
As a proud member of the class of 2003 I can only hope that the new dean will work to strengthen the reputation of the university. Professor Cantu is standing in right now, and he was a wonderful instructor when it came to Torts. He's very smart too. Hopefully they'll let him keep it.
