New Space Deathmatch: Flat Screen TVs v. Financial Restraint
The fifth in my series examining winners and losers of the Boalt Hall space reconfiguration.
Winners: Flat Screen TVs
Has anyone noticed that Boalt is now filled with flat screen TVs? They’re everywhere. Even the seminar room that nobody ever uses has a gigantic one. Our old locker space has two flat screen TVs—and four ceiling projectors. There’s so much video technology in there that the projector screens overlap one another.
I’m not exactly sure what all this technology is for. Is there a massive demand for teleconferencing I don’t know about? Mary Robinson (former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human RIghts) is teaching a shared course with Columbia Law School, but that's taking place in Room 116. I’m trying to guess some reason why anyone would need to fire up six TVs in a classroom. Are future law lectures going to be in 3-D?
(The two flat screens in the old locker room are in the back of the class. Maybe Boalt has decided to give professors the same opportunity as students to surf the web during boring lectures.)
Loser: Financial Restraint
Let's face it: just a few years ago, Boalt was a dump. But look at it now! High tech classrooms. Recessed lighting. Power window shades. And shiny glass walls everywhere—even when it’s just in front of sheetrock. (Seriously, what’s the deal with that?) This new “no expense spared” renovation is great—until you realize who’s footing the bill.
I like the old 1950 photo of Boalt that’s been taped around the new basement space. Maybe it’s just the stylish, mid-century aesthetic: everyone looks great with their cigarettes and tailored grey suits. The basement space looks basically the same, although less lavishly furnished. Still, I’d be happy to take the sheetrock and manual window shades in exchange for a $29,000 reduction on my tuition bill.
Winners: Flat Screen TVs
Has anyone noticed that Boalt is now filled with flat screen TVs? They’re everywhere. Even the seminar room that nobody ever uses has a gigantic one. Our old locker space has two flat screen TVs—and four ceiling projectors. There’s so much video technology in there that the projector screens overlap one another.
I’m not exactly sure what all this technology is for. Is there a massive demand for teleconferencing I don’t know about? Mary Robinson (former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human RIghts) is teaching a shared course with Columbia Law School, but that's taking place in Room 116. I’m trying to guess some reason why anyone would need to fire up six TVs in a classroom. Are future law lectures going to be in 3-D?
(The two flat screens in the old locker room are in the back of the class. Maybe Boalt has decided to give professors the same opportunity as students to surf the web during boring lectures.)
Loser: Financial Restraint
Let's face it: just a few years ago, Boalt was a dump. But look at it now! High tech classrooms. Recessed lighting. Power window shades. And shiny glass walls everywhere—even when it’s just in front of sheetrock. (Seriously, what’s the deal with that?) This new “no expense spared” renovation is great—until you realize who’s footing the bill.
I like the old 1950 photo of Boalt that’s been taped around the new basement space. Maybe it’s just the stylish, mid-century aesthetic: everyone looks great with their cigarettes and tailored grey suits. The basement space looks basically the same, although less lavishly furnished. Still, I’d be happy to take the sheetrock and manual window shades in exchange for a $29,000 reduction on my tuition bill.
Labels: Deep Space, Law School
posted by Carbolic at 4:12 PM
11 Comments:
I know it's a lot of money, and I know we're footing the bill, but I definitely think it's completely worth it. This coming from someone who is paying for law school entirely on their own (read, lots and lots of loans).
Better facilities help us compete with top tier institutions better. Better facilities help build our reputation. We will reap these rewards in the future. I like a little name/legacy building action.
You might want to double check the construction requirements imposed upon Boalt by the greater UC system. I'm pretty sure I heard from those smarter than I that the law school was required to use glass walls in all basement re-construction jobs to maximize natural light (and thereby use less electricity).
HOWEVER, I do agree with the general premise of your post. A better example (I think) is the drop down projectors in rooms 100 and 110. COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY AND JUST SOMETHING ELSE TO BREAK (as anyone in Evidence with SK knows first hand). I mean, c'mon, can't they just be mounted to the ceiling as in room 105?!?!
I’d be happy to take the sheetrock and manual window shades in exchange for a $29,000 reduction on my tuition bill.
You should check out the University of Idaho.
fancy flatscreens did us plenty good trying to watch the inauguration on booth via an internet feed!
I'm a Boalt alum, and I care a lot more about the school updating its facilities to remain competitive than the amount of your tuition. You'd probably agree once you've graduated.
2:10, well if you care so much you should be making large donations to the law school. Probably in the neighborhood of about $10,000 a year because that is how much our tuition has gone up recently.
But I agree that I am fine paying more tuition to improve the facilities. It is long overdue and a necessity to keep Boalt thriving in the future.
Good post. Now I feel less guilty about declining to make a donation to Boalt. I didn't feel particularly guilty to start with, since the girl who just called soliciting my money was extremely pushy, even after I explained that I wasn't able to donate this year.
('08 grad)
In the current economic climate, glass and tv manufacturers need every dollar we can spare. I am glad that Boalt is essentially using our student loans to stimulate the economy (essentially deferring the cost until we pay back the loans with our firm money, which will come from corporations who get their money from consumers who were stimulated into spending by keeping their jobs at the glass plant... Essentially free money!). If you don't like it then perhaps you are a communist.
I actually do think it's worth spending the money for a first class ip/technology law school to actually have.. You know, technology.
please, please don't use the phrase, "the current economic climate," ever, ever again
10:39, will you marry me?
My secret confession: your linguistic requests are completely inconsequential to me.
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