College of William & Mary Law School William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository Student Newspaper (Amicus, Advocate...) Archives and Law School History 1992 Amicus Curiae (Vol. 2, Issue 13) Repository Citation "Amicus Curiae (Vol. 2, Issue 13)" (1992). Student Newspaper (Amicus, Advocate...). 344. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/newspapers/344 Copyright c 1992 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/newspapers Swan Song for Mychal's Myopia, page 22 I CUS CW{J.!ll1£ AMERICA'S FIRST LAW SCHOOL A Publication of The Adt10cate VOLUME fl, ISSUE THIRTEEN WEDNESDAY,APRIL 1,1992 lWFNTY FOUR PAGES Student referendum on ranks slated for next week By ANDREW SMITH and fallen in the 46th percentile, while a grade point class rank will remain the same. In addi­ The Office of Career Planning and student with an average of 2.951 would The proposed system will be much tion. if this student can manage to raise her Placement, in conjunction with the SBA have been ranked 30 students lower, in the more forgiving. Both of the students in cumulative GPA by only 0.005 of a grade and the Academic Status Committee, has 62nd percentile. While the difference the above example will have their GPAs point in the next semester, then she can devised a new class ranking system, between a student's being in the top half rounded to 3.0 and both will be ranked in join the next higher echelon of 3.1 G PAs, whereby GPAs will be calculated to two or the top two-thirds of his or her class the 46th percentile. While the student collectively ranked in the 34th percentile, decimal places and then rounded to one. understandably makes a significant dif­ with the 3.045 may be upset that she is In addition. the proposed system provides ference to employers, for students the being lumped with the 2.951 GPA, she See, EQUITY?, page 24 that first-year students would not be ranked difference can be less than one-tenth of a will not suffer actual harm because her until the end of the first year, while sec­ ond- and third-year students would con­ tinue to be ranked each semester. Moot Court's ABA team sweeps regionals The new system will be the subject of By STEVE SHEBEST as they handily defeated teams bailing rounds, causing the team to lose a point. non-binding a student referendum to be The Marshall-Wythe ABA Moot Court from North Carolina Central University, Simon, the tournament administrator held next week. Results of the referendum team of Rick Hricik.l.auren Schaefer and Campbell University, University of Bal­ who' s last name remains a mystery, de­ will be submitted to the faculty, who must Bill Wilder dominated the Regional timore and the University of Maryland. scribed himself as "a self-proclaimed ar­ give the proposal their approval in order Tournament in Baltimore, last weekend, "Everyone was being coached, and rogant asshole" and "proud of it". He for it to be enacted. capturing the Best Brief Award on their taking everything very seriously," said began the meeting by requiring someone Under the current scheme, GPAs are way to an undefeated first place finish and Corker. "We went in with an attitude to from each team to wave when he called carried to three decimal places. Many the right to compete at the National have fun, had no coach, and didn't take their team. Wilder, apparently misun­ members of the M -W community, both Tournament in San Francisco this August ourseJves seriously," added Hricik 'The derstanding the instructions, started a ~hJ£lent~ and faculty alike. feel the cllrrent The team nf Rnh Rarhnur. CliH Cad-er. 0Iber team.q didn't mke WI s;eriouslyeither:" smmll171 styJe wave when M -W was ca11ed system is unfair because an incremental and Mike k Vicker advanced as iar as Trouble seemed to be brewing for the and was quickly joined by Hricik. The difference in GPA can result in an enor- the semifmal round, missing third place- M.arshall-Wythe teams at the meeting wave didn't catch on, with Simon being mous disparity in class rank. -and the opportunity to go to the National where announcements were made as to particularly \IDappreciative and chastising For example, in last year' s graduating Tournament-by a mere 111 100 of a point which teams would advance. Barbour, class, a student with an average of 3.045 The patented laid back approach of the Corker, and McVicker had made a tech- See, MOOT, page 24 would have been ranked 90th in the class M-W teams caught competitors off guard, nieal error in one of their preliminary • rFr=============~ Cartee elected new SBA preSIdent By KEVIN KRONER impact." He speculated that "Thall k e,'eryo lll.:, Ire III CIl­ Joe Cartee (2L) fought off Humphrey's action was one of dOllsl y," for their 'upport and tough competition from first-year the keys to avoiding a runoff said she was "tremendously candidates John Brownlee and election. happy with the way things turned Kyle Short to win the SBA presi­ When asked why she with­ out" dential election last week. drew from the race, Humphrey Both Brownlee and Short said Cartee avoided a runoff elec­ said she entered the race when they didn't regret running, al­ tion by garnering 51 % of the she thought that no other second­ though both feel that Cartee will vote, against 29% for Shorr, 17% year student would be running. do a fme job as SBA president for Brownlee, and 3% for write­ Humphrey felt the voters should Brownlee decided to put his name in candidate Dave Pernini (IL). at least have a choice between on the ballot for SBA vice­ Overall, 394 students turned out levels of experience, as well as president saying he still wants to to vote. Judicial Council mem­ different platforms. contribute and that he counts the ber Steve Gerber (3L) said that When Cartee entered the race, election as a great learning ex­ the turnout was especially high Humphrey not only felt that he perience. among first years. was the best candidate for the Short said he "appreciates Cartee attributed his victory job, but that he wanted the post everyone voting and getting in­ to his reputation among second more than she did. When faced volved, and hopes it [the in­ years and the support of outgoing with the dilemma of campaign­ volvement] continues." He de­ SBA president Richard Brooks. ing against the person she felt cided not to run for any other According to Cartee, students was most qualifIed for the job, office after Monday's defeat who knew him, knew he would Humphrey decided to withdraw represent them well. Addition­ on the Friday before the election. See, PREZ, page 24 ally, Brooks lobbied members of Humphrey said she wanted to the third-year class, attempting to explain Cartee's qualifications for the post of SBA president - Inside this issue - ----- Perhaps the biggest story of • Law Related Ed Project • College Pres candidates the election was the withdrawal reaches locaJ students. Page 3. answer questions. Page 4-6. M-W professor Paul Marcus, portrayed of Tracy Humphrey (2L) from by Joe Quigley (_L) fmds a comment the race, only days before the • Women ' s history month • Retum efMarshall-Wythe's from the audience at ubel Night 'just election. When asked about the focuses on law, politics Page 7. favorite tabloid. Page 9. shocking." See story page 20. effect of Humphrey's departure, Cartee said it had a "very big 2======================================================== Wednesday, April I, 1992 THE AMIcus CuRIAE Out of our heads From the Editors ... This year's SBA Libel Night faculty and staff probably taken for granted as part of the In an intense setting like law school, people often neglect their had one of the best turn-outs in wouldn't have made much of an status quo. more artistic and creative sides. Yet these sides are as important years, with about 300 people impression on us had it not been But as Alperstein points out, to one's long tenn health and happiness as any book award or six COOling out for an evening of free for the excellent Featured Com­ all of us--students and faculty figure starting salary. Luckily, I have been graced with the entertainment and laughs. Un­ mentary submitted for this issue a1ike--Iose out as a result of the presence of many such talented souls on the staff of the newspa­ fortunately, only about 5 of the by Brian AIperstein (IL). For current status quo. We hope that per this year. people in attendance were those of us who have been here a everyone in the Marsha1I-W ythe In keeping with a tradition begun long ago, and renewed last members of the faculty or ad­ while, the lack of interaction community will read the com­ year, I have the distinct honor of publishing The Weekly World ministration. between the students and the ments on page 8 and give them Ambulance Chaser in this issue as our April Fool's Day tribute This lack of attendance by the faculty and administration is serious consideration. to the law school. As with Libel ' Night, no aspect of life at Marshall-Wythe has been deemed taboo. To those we have not offended in this issue, we sincerely apologize and express our Letters sincerest intentions to make up the slight next year. This year's gloomy job market, parking woes and general To the Editor, Those pledging $51 or more McHale will provide the musical malaise have provided rich fodder for this year' s Chaser.