More Whining, but at Least Mostly Justified
I'm hearing reports from a number of 2Ls who have unsuccessfully petitioned to avoid taking the ethics requirement next semester. This contradicts what a number of 3Ls told me about last year, which is that the petitions were kind of a joke and all were granted. It seems the admin is being a little hard-assed about this, as is their right.
My question: why do they care? Is there a good reason why we need to take this course as a 2L and not 3L? Are we going to encounter significant ethical dilemmas in our cushy summer programs? I suppose the best argument for it is they're looking out for us by making sure we take the MPRE before we have to start worrying about the bar. But still, it strikes me as pedantic at best and arbitrary at least.
Ultimately, the real question is what will they do to 2Ls who simply decide to ignore the petition and not take the course. I doubt anyone will really get kicked out of Boalt over this, but I suppose it remains to be seen. Anyone care to be the canary in the mine? I'm much too cowardly.
My question: why do they care? Is there a good reason why we need to take this course as a 2L and not 3L? Are we going to encounter significant ethical dilemmas in our cushy summer programs? I suppose the best argument for it is they're looking out for us by making sure we take the MPRE before we have to start worrying about the bar. But still, it strikes me as pedantic at best and arbitrary at least.
Ultimately, the real question is what will they do to 2Ls who simply decide to ignore the petition and not take the course. I doubt anyone will really get kicked out of Boalt over this, but I suppose it remains to be seen. Anyone care to be the canary in the mine? I'm much too cowardly.
Labels: Classes/Professors
posted by Dan at 10:46 AM
12 Comments:
Were I not in ethics right now - which, admittedly, I rarely attend and when I do attend, I never pay attention in (sorry John, I know you're reading - I would take them on. They're not going to do anything. They can't even correctly inform us of requirements at a reasonable time. Do you think for a second that they can police it?
Oops. Forgot to close the parenthetical after reading. But y'all figured that out...
Dean O used to grant petitions when she thought the ethics class(es) being offered were crap. Which is why John got more classes (the man actually teaches to pass the MPRE). Dean O is gone, so it's a new era.
As a 3L, this is all behind me, but if I needed to avoid taking PR next semester, I wouldn't even fill out a petition. Just "forget." And if anyone ever calls you on it, act shocked. There is nothing they can do. There's not even a fine listed anywhere. Such a nonsense rule. If the admin is being hard-headed about it, they at least owe you their rationale for why it's SO important for you to take it your 2L year.
Most of the people I knew never turned in the petition in the first place. It was no big deal because it's not like the registrar has the time or inclination to check up on who has satisfied the requirement. Echoing 7:11, the best strategy is not to apply for the extension in the first place. It is not like they are going to kick you out.
Wow. 3L here currently taking JS's class. Didn't even KNOW there was a petition we were "supposed" to fill out last year.
Sounds like the crusty new dean is going to make waves.
("Marge, someone squeezed all the life out of these kids. And unless movies and TV have lied to me, it's a crusty, bitter old Dean!")
8:55, well played.
lol@petitions
Just don't sign up for ethics 2L year. What are they gonna do? Not let you graduate?
If they didn't expel trustafraian, those 2L's who decline to take ethics this spring are probably pretty safe.
I am a 3L and still haven't even started my writing requirement! I do miss Dean O, though. Miss Polly P has gotten her panties quite in a bundle these days -- I had to practically win the war in Iraq and give her my first born in order to get a reimbursement from the Boalt org that I myself am the President of!
Dean O was much more relaxed and much more accommodating when it came to exceptions (PR credits, writing req, additional class units, etc.) New dean is too inflexible. But that might come from being new and not feeling comfortable in the new position... Maybe she'll lighten up a bit down the road.
Dean O was also awesome about accommodating requests for re-scheduling of finals... even when you didn't have three in a row or whatever the requirement is. Any idea on what the new one is like?
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