Some MSU College of Law students said they feel left out of the loop regarding Dean Terence Blackburn's leave which occurred so closely to the time of accreditation.

John DiLuca, third-year law student, said he has been "disgusted with the way the administration, including President Haley, the deans, faculty and staff, have handled the consternation surrounding Dean Blackburn," and expressed his dissatisfaction to administrators in an e-mail.

"Since July 12, 2006, various media outlets have reported on several occasions that tenured faculty desire to oust Dean Blackburn," he said in the e-mail. "It is unacceptable that the administration has failed to address, let alone acknowledge, that an issue exists."

On Wednesday, law college administrators sent an e-mail to students saying the dean "has requested, and the Law College has granted, effective immediately an administrative leave until June 30, 2007."

DiLuca said the e-mail administrators sent out to the student body "was the straw that broke the camel's back."

"The e-mail failed to address why Dean Blackburn took a leave of absence, particularly on the eve of a visit from the American Bar Association, and also failed to address the concerns the tenured faculty (and student body) have in his ability to lead the college in the right direction," DiLuca said in the e-mail.

DiLuca said administrators sent out e-mails stating Blackburn's father passed away and gave arrangements to all the students, but the only information students have received about faculty and administrative issues were from various media outlets.

"I would like to have the proper authorities within the school address the comments students have and pacify rumors going around in the hallways of the law school," DiLuca said. "The current administration of the law school rivals that of the Bush administration in terms of secrecy. The situation is much more serious than they lead us to believe."

Jered Leo, MSU College of Law Student Bar Association director of community affairs, said he respects and trusts university officials know what they are doing.

"I think they will take the school to the next level," Leo said.

Ryan Doherty, second-year law student, said he is left wondering about what will happen because students do not know what Blackburn's intentions are or the reason he decided to leave. Doherty said the timing of Blackburn's leave makes him wonder if it was done to avoid hassles — or if he was fired.

"The fact that there is no explanation is curious," Doherty said. "They owe a little more explanation to students, given the timing."

Susan Bitensky and Kevin Kennedy, two of the three professors who sent a letter in May to MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, Provost Kim Wilcox and the MSU College of Law Board of Trustees requesting Blackburn's removal from his position, said they did not have a comment on the situation.

Bitensky said it would not be helpful to respond to the situation. She said the accreditation process happens every few years and is something that happens to every law school.

"We look forward to having (accreditation officials) visit," Bitensky said. "It is an opportunity to show it off."

John Reifenberg, professor of law, said he does not have any reason for the accreditation to not go smoothly. He said it is not guaranteed every professor will have to speak with an inspector.

Tension could have had something to do with Blackburn's leave, but only guesses can be made.

"The provost said he just asked for a leave," Reifenberg said, adding that was all the information he knew about the situation. "Everything else is hearsay."