New Space Deathmatch: CLR v. Board of Advocates
There are a lot of changes for Boalt student groups recently, with the exodus from Simon Hall, the new affinity group oasis/ghetto on the third floor, and the new basement space. I'm creating a series of posts to identify the big winners of this change--as well as those getting the shaft. The first battle royale: CLR versus Board of Advocates.
Winner: California Law Review
Law review has fallen upon some hard times. I'm not talking about academic integrity. I'm talking about respect. CLR used to be the preeminent student activity at Boalt; membership was mandatory for top students. Not so much these days. Not only is there little correlation between grades and membership, but law review is lost among the thicket of "other" journals--of which Berkeley publishes an obscene amount. (On the website's alphabetical list of journals, CLR is eleventh). More so than at any other law school, specialized journals compete with law review for student talent. Why be a primary-editing grunt when you can be EIC of BJ*L instead?
The point of all this is that CLR's new space is important. It's not that CLR needs a separate suite (with its own entrance!). It's a sign that Berkeley really sees CLR as its flagship publication, and is willing to treat it accordingly.
Loser: Board of Advocates
Who? Just kidding. These days, moot court is just as respected by judges, lawyers, and academics as law review--and maybe more so. In terms of prestigious student activities, Board of Advocates is right up there with CLR. And I don't see anyone else bringing SCOTUS justices to Berkeley any time soon. Congrats, Board overseers!
Which makes it a little regrettable that Board of Advocates drew such a losing hand from the space deck. Where are they, exactly? I think they're still in some crummy office on the 3rd floor maze, but I'm not really sure. They're isolated from other student groups both spacially and symbolically. Certainly they deserve more. It's true that they're getting a new moot courtroom in Room 140. But this is less a reward than a consolation prize for the insult of having to use Booth Auditorium in the past. And besides, Room 140 is really just a glorified classroom.
Winner: California Law Review
Law review has fallen upon some hard times. I'm not talking about academic integrity. I'm talking about respect. CLR used to be the preeminent student activity at Boalt; membership was mandatory for top students. Not so much these days. Not only is there little correlation between grades and membership, but law review is lost among the thicket of "other" journals--of which Berkeley publishes an obscene amount. (On the website's alphabetical list of journals, CLR is eleventh). More so than at any other law school, specialized journals compete with law review for student talent. Why be a primary-editing grunt when you can be EIC of BJ*L instead?
The point of all this is that CLR's new space is important. It's not that CLR needs a separate suite (with its own entrance!). It's a sign that Berkeley really sees CLR as its flagship publication, and is willing to treat it accordingly.
Loser: Board of Advocates
Who? Just kidding. These days, moot court is just as respected by judges, lawyers, and academics as law review--and maybe more so. In terms of prestigious student activities, Board of Advocates is right up there with CLR. And I don't see anyone else bringing SCOTUS justices to Berkeley any time soon. Congrats, Board overseers!
Which makes it a little regrettable that Board of Advocates drew such a losing hand from the space deck. Where are they, exactly? I think they're still in some crummy office on the 3rd floor maze, but I'm not really sure. They're isolated from other student groups both spacially and symbolically. Certainly they deserve more. It's true that they're getting a new moot courtroom in Room 140. But this is less a reward than a consolation prize for the insult of having to use Booth Auditorium in the past. And besides, Room 140 is really just a glorified classroom.
Labels: CLR, Deep Space, Law School, Moot Court/Trial Team
posted by Carbolic at 1:59 PM
17 Comments:
Also worth noting, Room 140, unlike the new student space, is still unfinished! I'm not personally on the BoA, but I still feel like the school should put just as much effort in finishing that project as was expended finishing the student center space.
What's the over-under on number of comments before this devolves into an "only non-white people ever get onto law review" bitch-fest? 4? 5?
You used the word "it's" incorrectly. Tsk tsk.
The registrar's office is the big winner here. The more people use the student center, which is far, far away from their fortress near the donor lobby, the less likely it is that some audacious student will have the nerve to drop in and (gasp) ask a question.
Haha, axe to grind, P? Good post, Carbolic. I agree CLR's office is ridonkulous, but good for them. The screwing BoA received is completely unjustifiable, especially at a time when our trial teams are on a serious upswing.
I would also like to add that, while I think the new space is really nice, it seems a little quiet. It's probably partially just that I got used to the annex, but when I walked in this morning, it felt like a library. People shot me daggers for joking around with some friends! Let's try to change that atmosphere as soon as possible. We already have a library!
Seriously, I assumed that common student area was set up for group meetings and discussion. That's why there are no tables at a height for one to place a laptop and study, right?
Also, can we get some decorations up on the walls? You know, something other than the print-outs of the 1951 Student Lounge strategically placed around the new space to tell us all how lucky we should be.
Stop trying to muscle in on my comparisons, Patrick. Nancy Kato will have to wait for her own death match. Though it's going to be awesome!
And, yeah, I put in an extra apostrophe before. Wanna make something of it?
creepily large blown up pictures of students who don't know they'll be featured? that's the best kind of art!
Carbolic - messing up "it's" and "its" begs the question of whether or not you pay attention to any of the grammar Nazis around here.
We have a new student center?
I have to say, I am really impressed with the new student center. Boalt finally did something well, for once. Yay.
I'm not even IN an affinity group that has an office up there, but I'm so glad we can all be kept in the ghetto where we belong.
Yes, Shalini, that was the joke.
As one of the Co-Chairs on the BoA, I can clarify one or two things:
(1) more office space would rock, but to be perfectly honest we don't need the space as much. Students do write briefs, but alot of that work can (and is) done outside the office. I would rather have a journal like AALJ get the office space than us right now.
(2) We got to stay the hell out of the annex. Our office is the same one we have had for years, and that was a huge benefit over the last year. We are reaping what we planted.
(3) The faculty advisor to BoA is in the same hall as our office in north addition, so that is a hidden benefit.
But yeah, CLR won, and BoA don't need no stinking bookshelves.
The BoA also did get a new trophy case by the western entrance to the library a few months ago, in case anyone noticed / cares.
Warren
Apologies for being clueless, but where is the new CLR office?
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