Finals Racket
Did anyone else find this particular tidbit from DE's email today amusing?
Enjoy finals everyone!
The good news from this test is that the noise was only faint to moderate in the north addition reading rooms. Zeb and Goldberg were also surprisingly quiet. The noise was worst in the Main Reading Room, classrooms 121-124 and 115, 111, 107. Between 12/8 and 1/9, these areas will not be usable from 7 AM - 3:30 PM. The computer labs will be usable with headphones... [T]he loss of the Main Reading Room during the 8-3:30 hours will be felt. But the North Addition will be usable for most people, even during the day. The noise is like a distant thunder, but isn't really bad.To summarize: half of the school will be "unusable," leaving the other half "usable for most people" (those who have already incurred hearing damage from existing construction) and crowded as hell (as if it hadn't been already).
Enjoy finals everyone!
Labels: DE
posted by tj at 2:22 PM
24 Comments:
Nah, the the passage that made the email was this one:
We conducted a noise test last Thursday morning and found that the point of most intense sound travels with the location of the jackhammering machine. Although we don't know exactly the effect the hammering will have in every area in the school, we now have a better idea of what to expect. In addition to loud pounding sounds, there is a certain amount of percussion and vibration because the work will actually touch upon, and be conducted through, our building’s structure. The good news from this test is that the noise was only faint to moderate in the north addition reading rooms. Zeb and Goldberg were also surprisingly quiet. The noise was worst in the Main Reading Room, classrooms 121-124 and 115, 111, 107. Between 12/8 and 1/9, these areas will not be usable from 7 AM - 3:30 PM. The computer labs will be usable with headphones. An inspector from Environmental Health and Safety was on site measuring sound levels and assured us that in all other locations the noise was well within “acceptable” levels.
"The computer labs will be usable with headphones." Headphones??? They're already in a bunker for Christ's sake!
That DE actually included a link to the YouTube video of the machine that will be ruining our lives is just icing on the cake.
The headphones line is classic. I love it.
Not that I think the Dean should be allowed to say it... but it's probably not the worst thing if people are forced to disperse from one another in the pre-finals crunch. Missing out on the reading room stress fest is not exactly tragic.
I still can't believe they tried to feed us that line about rubber jackhammers and minimal noise and whatever for so long. Construction equals noisy. Everybody knows that. Or should.
More than anything, I feel bad about the professors that will have to grade these exams. They're going to be not so good.
I wonder how loud it is in the Dean's office?
The Class of 08 had to take Barbri in Booth with the construction workers demolishing the locker room (and doing who knows what in there). Things turned out alright for us.
The one good thing to come of this is that the damn undergrads will stay away this finals period. There is nothing more annoying than searching for a carrel to study in and finding a bunch of frat boys with their accounting books filling the spots.
Matt, where precisely do you imagine professors grade your exams? If you think it's anywhere other than a tropical vacation spot as far away from Berkeley as possible, then I've got a new Boalt Annex for sale.
I meant that I felt sorry because the added stress of having to find a place to do these take-home exams - whether on the couch in front of the TV or in the Haas library next to the frat boys with their accounting books - is going to lead to some crappy work product.
I was fully aware that they do their grading on the beach.
it will do everyone some good to get away from the law school to study. healthier. really. suck it up!
I keep all of my law books in my locker, and frequently use the library reserves and computer lab during finals period, so another library is not a convenient option for me.
Large amount of bitterness now equals small donations later.
I bet Dean E has pretty much written off the Class of '09 for alumni fund donations at this point. I think if anyone solicited from me, I'd laugh out loud.
Also, what do you think "acceptable levels" are in the opinion of a guy from Environmental Health and Safety? Not likely to cause permanent damage?
why are people complaining---we are getting the first structural improvements since the 60's.
personally, I plan on giving more now, considering that the school will finally look like a quality institution and not a giant fallout shelter.
The "distant thunder" line is my favorite.
I think it actually encourages me to remove my headphones producing peaceful ambient noise and listen to the smooth rumble of storm on the horizon ... oh yeah, a jackhammer doesn't sound like thunder at all, it sounds like a jackhammer.
I'll be wearing my headphones, thanks.
you have a whole effing campus with several libraries... I don't see the issue.
I ♥ 6:05
Some of us are just not that flexible. Each library has different hours, different bathroom locations, different noise levels. If you are comfortable with the main reading room it sucks to have to change now.
Are they actually going to close off the main reading room?
7:30 is why I hate law students.
Reeks of entitlement.
Not to mention 3:19. Seriously, cutting back on your donations? You're that put out? That's as petty as going to a top tier restaurant in SF and deciding not to leave a tip upon receiving your check - all because some other patron brought a fussy baby and the restaurant didn't make them leave.
Don't blame the current administration at the law school for the budget woes and woeful need to update facilities. At least they're doing their best to change things for the better.
it's people like 7:30 that give stuffy ass law students a bad name. but then it's boalties like 9:10 that gives the law school a good name with his sense of appreciation and open-mindedness for what the admin's trying to do for US.
I considered writing back to DE:
Dean Edley,
Thanks for thinking of us.
At this point, most of us are most interested in the building construction progressing on time.
We'll wear earplugs or study elsewhere. Quit worrying about us and get the job done!
I <3 DE. His attempts to keep us updated and willingness to be honest about the progress of the construction is much appreciated. As others have mentioned, I wish folks would be more grateful about what he is trying to do for our school.
What about this guy analogizing a donation to the alumni fund to a tip in a restaurant? I hope you plan on giving 18% of your tuition.
Probably a cheap tipper. I bet Boalt would be lucky to get 15% out of that person...
i am so sick of egomaniacs whining about their fucking reading room. have fun in your silent office with your team of paralegals and secretaries at your white shoe firm while your wife bangs your neighbor and your daughter sleeps with everyone in her high school just to get back at you for your utter inability to adapt to any situation, such as, say, parenting, that involves a modicum of inconvenience.
7:43 just about laid me out. good job.
i for one am excited about the construction efforts and admire DE's handling of the situation. and we don't just have a whole campus to study in, but a whole metro area of nooks, crannies, cafes, libraries, other universities, etc. the wilson sonsini goodrich & rosati reading room does not have a monopoly on silence. . . it doesn't even have a monopoly on swank mustard colored tile.
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