Boalt Finals '06: Attack of the Frat
Today I walked into the library I tried to find a seat. After a quick glance into the hell-pit that is the Main Reading Room, I head over to the North Addition. Tables full. I look over at the cubicles. Tables Full. I look at a few people and what do I see? More math books than law books. Even a freshman level GEOLOGY book. Seriously, do you really need to be studying at all?
Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that we are a University, not a Law School in the middle of nowhere (who else uses the Hastings library?). However, when we have restricted hours I would tend to think that we would try to keep undergrads out. PLEASE can we at least pretend to not allow the frat guys into our library during finals? Otherwise, the next time I need a seat I'm simply going to recruit a few other 1L's and throw an undergrad off the balcony of the 6th floor of Simon.
So, in the spirit of Finals Crunch Time, I am venting on this board. Feel free to vent as well.
Now, don't get me wrong, I understand that we are a University, not a Law School in the middle of nowhere (who else uses the Hastings library?). However, when we have restricted hours I would tend to think that we would try to keep undergrads out. PLEASE can we at least pretend to not allow the frat guys into our library during finals? Otherwise, the next time I need a seat I'm simply going to recruit a few other 1L's and throw an undergrad off the balcony of the 6th floor of Simon.
So, in the spirit of Finals Crunch Time, I am venting on this board. Feel free to vent as well.
posted by McWho at 8:58 PM
9 Comments:
I say we get a group together and study at the frat.
At UCLA law they kick you out at any time for "studying" in the library as opposed to conducting legal research. We need to have a similar policy. There is absolutely no reason why law student study space should be taken up by non-law students.
I think having open access to the UC library (at all campuses) is critical, but I don't see why we don't have the same reasonable restrictions that other schools do. In the same vein, why are private school libraries open 24 hours to students but not ours?
I want to apologize to the research oriented readership of N&B for not doing this in advance of my comment, but here's the relevant policy from the library's website:
"Undergraduates are welcome to use the law library from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. During these hours all undergraduates have full library use of the collection and the assistance of Boalt's reference librarians. After 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and during all weekend hours the Law Library is open to those undergraduates needing to use Depository materials. This policy is in place to preserve much needed study space for Boalt students. However, UCB undergraduates who need to conduct extensive legal research may obtain a pass from the Patron Services Manager."
So does this mean if they're not using the collection I can kick them out? Or more accurately have the brave staff of the library kick them out?
More library policy fun from prohibited behaviors:
"# Failing to wear proper attire. Bare feet, bare chest, transparent or see-through clothing, and bathing suits are examples of improper attire.
# Maintaining a personal hygiene so offensive as to constitute a nuisance to other patrons or staff and to interfere with their use of the Library.
# Sleeping or otherwise inappropriately using Library furniture and facilities.
# Causing a disturbance or engaging in any behavior which interferes with Library activities. Proscribed behavior includes, but is not limited to:
* verbal abuse
* threats of violence
* sexual harassment
* use of "fighting words" to harass any person
# Carrying weapons in the Library unless authorized by law."
If some of you are reading this and thinking it's a good way to distract countless mindless drones studying in the library, well then you didn't hear my apocalyptic speech during a certain December celebration last year where I called for the use of the community service officers to beat a law student who looks like a bum.
And for the 1Ls, I want to remind you of Fight Clubrary...and that's why I don't study in the library (unless I'm killing time between classes).
Yeah and at UCLA they also taser you if you don't show student ID while in the library...
That said, I'm all for thowing the undergrads out. One of them even gave me a nasty look when I asked her to move some of her papers so I could lift up the plug for my laptop.
At Columbia (where I went for undergraduate, not law school), they totally blocked off all non-law students from entering the law library at least a week before finals. You were greeted with a nice bar in the crotch if you tried and entered.
FYI, the library is a mausoleum right now. I have an entire table in the reading room to myself. Feel free to come share it.
My apologies, I must retract my invitation. My table has been overrun with community members and undergrad pre-meds. Only punctual arrival at the library's opening can secure a seat against the hordes of pre-meds.
Forget the fratboys. What about the people who don't turn off the ringer on their cellphone, *even once it starts ringing*?! Perhaps the ID checkers should also check to make sure your cellphone is on vibrate...
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