A dedication ceremony, made possible by a grant from the Helen S. Boylan Foundation, was held yesterday (December 19, 2014) for the James R. Spradling Center for Law & Politics a valuable resource for the legal profession, politicians and students at Missouri Southern State University. JoAnna Derfelt, associate professor of political science, is the centers director; Dr. Nicholas Nicoletti, associate professor of political science, is assistant director.

Its an attempt for the university to reach out and provide services to the legal and political communities, Richard Miller, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, said in reference to the center that opened during the past fall semester. Ultimately, we want to provide opportunities for students to engage with those communities as well.

Miller said that the center will be able to provide continuing legal education, which attorneys require for their bar license. The center will furnish polling services for the political community as well as the opportunity to host roundtable discussions and town hall-style meetings. It will also host the universitys Mock Trial and legislative intern programs.

The center, located on campus in Webster Hall, is named for Spradling, a longtime Carthage attorney and former director of the Missouri Department of Revenue from 1973-76. He also served as Carthage Municipal Judge and in civic posts including president of the Carthage YMCA and Carthage Park Board and taught as an adjunct professor at Missouri Southern.

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