Meet Professor Port! William Mitchell's Grading Policy Paul Marino
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be sort of a college prep type of William Mitchell’s Grading Policy Meet Professor school, but they can’t afford it any longer. An Interview with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Port! Opinion: It sounds like you have Professor Matthew Downs By Mary Kilgus, 2L your work cut out for you. I’d like to talk about Japan, though. How a mid-level grade is a “B”, then it did you get interested in Japan? would be unfair to those students in Prof. Port: I lived in Japan for 7 of professor “C’s” class. Most employers the last 20 years. I went there first as look at class rank so raw score is not a foreign exchange student from as important as class rank; hence Macalester. I moved back to Japan parity among faculty and between after I graduated from college and sections of classes is most important. worked there as a translator for 3 Another reason for having a grad- years. I came back to go to law school ing policy is to guard against grade and have made several trips back inflation. For example, if grades are since. I spent all of last year there on PHOTO COURTESY OF WMCL PUBLIC RELATIONS COURTESY PHOTO inflated, and 80% of students gradu- PHOTO COURTESY OF WMCL PUBLIC RELATIONS COURTESY PHOTO sabbatical at the University of Tokyo ate with honors, then honors don’t What is William Mitchell’s grading (for the second time and on my mean much. In fact, as reported in policy? We have a new professor at William second Fulbright Research Grant). I the press, Harvard College currently is William Mitchell has long had Mitchell, who intends to nicely round teach Japanese law to American in the process of re-examining its guidelines that assist faculty in devel- out our IP advantage over the other students on study abroad programs, grading policies because so many of oping a grade normalization curve for area law schools. I had the chance to and I teach Japanese students its students graduate with honors. their courses. The faculty is the only ask him some of the questions I know American intellectual property law. I Can the Associate Dean of body that has authority to set we all have burning in our minds, so typically spend most academic years Academic Affairs change grades? academic policies. Under the current here’s your chance to get them in the U.S. and go to Japan most No. If changes are made, the profes- grading policy, the Associate Dean of answered! years during the summer. sor or adjunct must make them before Academic Affairs (Professor Downs) Opinion: What are the main the grades are formally posted and and the Associate Dean for Skills and Opinion: So, Professor Port, are differences between Japanese entered on a student’s official record. Clinics (Professor Schmedemann) are you from MN originally? lawyers and American lawyers? Prof Port: I’m from Cloquet, Prof. Port: That is a big question. obligated to educate the full-time and continued on page 6 adjunct faculty about William Minnesota. I went to high school The easy answer is Japanese lawyers Mitchell’s grading norms. The goal is there. I graduated from Macalester in always know where the best sushi to assure that all students are treated Paul Marino- 1982. After graduation, I moved restaurant is. Seriously, in Japan, law equally and fairly by providing parity Champion for the Powerless around to Tokyo, L.A., Miami, is still an undergraduate degree. They in grades for all students, regardless Madison, Chicago, Milwaukee, Tokyo are considering adopting what they by Kenneth Kirwin and Peter Erlinder of the instructor. and now the Twin Cities. Although I call a “U.S. style” law school system, William Mitchell College of Law Professors and adjuncts alike are am “from” here, this is really my first but today law is a faculty of many advised of the College’s grading prac- experience living here as a profes- (some 140) universities. Japan is a tices and the prevailing norms, which sional adult. Some might dispute the civil law system, like most of the rest are also explained in the Student use of either of these terms to of the world (and unlike the United Handbook. Although there is no describe me, though. States) so Japanese lawyers tend to strictly enforced curve, in order to Opinion: What are your thoughts focus on the statute, while American assure some parity among the 50-plus so far? lawyers tend to focus on the case law. classes each semester, one of the Prof Port: We like living here a lot. It is sometimes funny to have a legal deans (Schmedemann, Downs, or I really like the faculty here and the discussion with Japanese lawyers. Brooks) reviews each professor’s environs. Students should realize how When you say, “the case says X.”, grades before they are formally nice they have it here. Most law they reply, “Yes, but what does the posted. If a particular professor’s OF WMCL PUBLIC RELATIONS COURTESY PHOTO schools do not have the commitment statute say?” grades are perceived to be radically On March 14, we lost a valiant to high quality and accomplished To become “begoshi” (translated as out of alignment (too high or too low fighter for the poor and downtrod- faculty, technology, and academics “lawyer” but it is a job far more – both have been examined in recent den. Paul J. Marino was born in New that William Mitchell has. This is a specialized than the term in English years), one of the Associate Deans York of Sicilian parents on October really good place. On the downside, connotes; Japanese begoshi are prin- will discuss the College’s grading prac- 29, 1936. He grew up in New York we are disappointed with the public continued on page 7 tices and norms with that professor City. He served in the United States education here. We are working hard and encourage him or her to take Marine Corps Reserves while attend- to improve Stillwater (where we live). In This Issue another look at the grades and, if ing the City College of New York, I’m thinking of running for the school WMCL Grading Policy . 1 necessary, change them to conform to from which he graduated in 1962. board. the curve. If the professor is able to Thereafter, he attended the Opinion: Political aspirations, Paul Marino . 1 justify to the Dean the reasons for University of Chicago Law School, huh? What in particular would you Meet Professor Port . 1 the non-conformity, the grades will where he earned his Juris Doctor like to change? The Bar Exam . 3 remain unaltered. degree in 1965. Prof Port: The disappointments in Up Yours, Selig! . 4 Is William Mitchell’s grading curve Paul began his legal career with Stillwater are too many students in A Little Light Humor . 4 mandatory? the classes (some of the biggest in the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis. What Happened to My Grade?!. 6 No. William Mitchell has established Along with his fellow New Yorker and the state), too much development a recommended grading curve. It is dear friend, Bernard Becker, Paul without specific “give backs” from What I Expected . 7 not mandatory. The College’s grading represented persons who could not the developers in the form of money Courtroom Experience Required . 8 policy is consistent with that used in afford to pay for a lawyer. Paul soon and/or land for new schools to ease Died September 11th. 8 most U.S. law schools. became an expert in the area of land- the overcrowding that their develop- Why does William Mitchell have a lord tenant law, and worked tirelessly ments have caused. (Apparently, no Columns recommended grading curve? in the legislative arena, drafting and one on the school board thought of From the Editor. 3 The reason William Mitchell has a securing the passage by the asking for this so the developers have Alumni Column . 5 grading curve is to establish parity Minnesota Legislature of landmark gone to the bank on the Board’s Spouse’s Sidebar . 5 and make grade comparisons among legislation protecting the rights of stupidity.) There are great, commit- The Good News Report . 9 ted teachers in Stillwater, students fair. For example, if one tenants, including laws on retaliatory Career Services . 10 professor’s idea of a “mid-level” grade eviction, tenants’ remedies, and though—just too few people going to is “C,” and another professor’s idea of college in the end. Stillwater used to Student Organizations Update . 11 continued on page 10 Calendar. 11 on the web at www.wmitchell.edu/current/nonacademic/student_orgs/opinion.html Volume 48, Issue 3, Spring 2002 The Opinion • Winter 2001 Page 3 From the Editor Well, here it is; my last column as EIC for next year and I know she’s editor for The Opinion. It has been going to do a great job. quite an experience and I’ve learned I also want to thank the SBA. It a lot. What I’ve learned the most is was very supportive this year and that I could never have done it alone. tolerant of my rookie status as a There are several people who I need newspaper person. I think the SBA’s Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer D. Henderson to thank for helping me along this work with The Opinion this year will year. result in more significant long-term Business Manager: Jennifer Macaulay First and foremost, I have to thank stability for the paper that wasn’t Faculty Advisor: Douglas Heidenreich my husband, Mike Henderson.