On June 8, the College of Law and College of Urban Affairs hosted a group of students from the Kenyon College Summer Legal Scholars Program. Accompanied by Professor Ken Kowalski, the Kenyon students first observed criminal proceedings (housing code violations) at the Cleveland Housing Court and then met with Housing Court Judge Raymond Pianka, a C|M alumnus, in his chambers. The Judge talked about the special jurisdiction of the Housing Court and what the students had just seen. The students then observed eviction court proceedings, after which the Magistrate explained the process and answered questions.
After their morning at the Housing Court, the students then came to the law school for a lunchtime seminar that featured a discussion about research on the legal issues of the poor being done by Urban College Professors Joe Mead and Rosie Tighe. Professor Tighe discussed her research on NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) while MPA Student Tanesha Hunter discussed the ways in which Fair Housing laws protect, and fail to protect, low-income recipients of housing vouchers. Professor Mead then discussed his work on the criminalization of homelessness. The Kenyon students finished their day with a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
CSU Law Faculty 