Fisherman's and a Quarry

Yesterday, Governor Romney nominated "investment company president and University of Lowell alumnus Robert J. Manning of Swampscott" to serve on the UMASS Board of Trustees. While many residents will probably appreciate the pick, as a UMASS Dartmouth student I have my doubts.

Mitt Romney's nominations (and lack thereof) seem to be tied to those who do not support a UMASS Dartmouth merger with the Southern New England School of Law.

Mr. Karam said Larry Boyle, the only board member Gov. Romney did reappoint, was against the merger between UMass Dartmouth and SNESL to create a public law school.

All of the other board members not being reappointed favored the merger, he said. They were Dennis G. Austin of Duxbury, Edward A. Dubilo of Weston, William F. Kennedy of Quincy, Robert M. Mahoney of Wellesley and Stacey Rainey, a board member who resigned earlier this year.

The merger would mean wonders for affordable access to law school, but the forces of Mitt Romney, Suffolk, BU and other expensive law schools like to force students to pay upwards of $40 grand a year to earn their law degree.

Some would say that's fine, since lawyers make boatloads of cash. However, the SNESL specializes in public law - which does not pay boatloads of cash. While I do not know Mr. Manning's stance on the merger, I would suspect he's against it. Swampscott residents should tell him that's a bad choice as he takes a major seat of importance on the UMASS Board of Trustees.