State to Give Stony Brook $45 Million For A Law School Building

By Rachel O'Brien

Stony Brook University will be receiving $45 million from the state for the construction of a building to house a law school at Stony Brook. This information came out of an interview with President Shirley Strum Kenny last week, who said that the university has received the funds in its capital budget from the state budget.

Mark Maciulaitis, the budget director for Stony Brook, confirmed Kenny's statement that Stony Brook is indeed going to receive $45 million from the 2008-09 enacted state budget to build a law school.

Kenny did say that plans to develop a curriculum and to hire faculty have not been made. Stony Brook has not yet received approval from any of the authoritative bodies needed for law school plans to get underway.

Approval is needed first from the Stony Brook Council, then SUNY approval, on to the state legislature, with final approval by the governor.

Kenny did not say what Stony Brook is currently doing to further its plans for a law school.