Issue 4.Indd
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Why do law Iraq from a Special Insert students drink so soldier’s C-M Valentines much? perspective The C-M community One Gavel staff writer sends Valentine’s Day The Anonymous 3L describes his experi- wishes to fellow class- explores what drives stu- ence in Iraq, and dis- mates, and loved ones. dents to consume alcohol. scusses what should be done there. OPINION, PAGE 9 OPINION, PAGE 9 LAW, PAGE 9 THE GAVEL VOLUME 56, ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 2008 THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT CLEVELAND-MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW Supreme Court of Ohio justice Some students fail to visits C-M receive grades before By Paul Deegan semester starts CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF By Michelle Todd The C-M College of Law Re- harder in the spring. STAFF WRITER publicans hosted a Lincoln Day Ask any law student what As stressful and frustrating dinner event in the Moot Court the most challenging and stress- as this wait has become, C-M Room featuring keynote speaker, ful part of law school is, and students can rest assured that Supreme Court of Ohio, Associ- undoubtedly, they will tell you it they are not alone. In fact, they ate Justice, Maureen O’Connor on is the process of studying for and may not have as long of a wait as February 11, 2008. taking final exams. However, the majority of students enrolled Justice O’Connor offered nug- many Cleveland Marshall stu- in other law schools across the gets of wisdom to attendees includ- dents may argue that the wait for country. According to C-M As- ing the advice to take advantage of grades that follows after taking sociate Dean of Academic Af- all opportunities that arise and not exams has become just as diffi- fairs Phyllis Crocker, most law to exclude any possibilities. cult. The source of their anxiety schools actually allow profes- Her talk focused on the im- is that the majority of final exam sors four to five weeks to finish portance of public service and she grades are not released until after grading final exams. “For the expanded on the events that led fourteen years that I have been PHOTO BY PAUL DEEGAN—GAVEL the spring semester has already to her being elected to the bench. begun. Many students have a here at Cleveland-Marshall, the Justice O’Connor said her time at difficult time understanding why faculty have been given three C-M impacted her career. Her story Cuyahoga County Coroner, Dr. Frank P. Miller III spoke this is the case, considering that weeks to grade their exams,” illustrates how perseverance and on behalf of the Journal of Law & Health and the Criminal they have taken their final exams Crocker said. She added that acting on opportunities is the real Law Society on Thursday, February 7, 2008 in the Moot weeks ago. Also, by not having these three weeks begin at the key to success. Court Room. Dr. Miller held the rapt attention of the crowd grades from the prior semester, end of the week that the profes- Justice O’Connor graduated as he graphicly displayed some of the aspects of forensic students feel de-motivated and sors administer the test. from CM in 1980 and has served science in suspicious death investigations. The event was frustrated as they begin a new se- Dean Crocker also said that Ohio for nearly her whole career. open to the public and offered one CLE credit. mester without knowing whether the majority of C-M professors their hard work has paid off, or are very good about meeting this deadline. “Most of our faculty See O’CONNOR, page 4 whether they will need to work See GRADES, page 2 Committee rejects trial team proposal You regarding credits for participation ShouldShould By Kevin Shannon The Gavel will publish Professor Snyder’s comments Know STAFF WRITER in the next issue. In a controversial decision last semester, the C-M Neither Heather Galioto nor Keith Scheurman, Curriculum Committee decided to reject a proposal by the committee’s student representatives, responded the trial team that would have awarded team members to an email asking for their comments. CSU to Host more than the two hours that they currently receive. Dave Valent, a 3L member of the team expressed The team members were seeking more credit hours, dismay over the treatment that the team has received. requesting that they receive grades for the course, and He thought that if the school is going to offer the Presidential Candidate asking for that they be allowed to receive credits for trial team as a class, it should be judged on the same two years of membership on the team. As it currently standards as any other class. He thinks that the class Debate stands, team members are limited to two credits for should be graded and offered for at least four credits only one year of participation. per year. Sitting on the committee this year are Professors Valent also explained that he put more time into Democratic presidential candidates Barack Gordon Beggs, Dena Davis, Peter Garlock, Kunal the trial team than any other class that he was taken at Parker, Lloyd Snyder. Dean Jean Lifter is an ex officio C-M. Every team member shared Valent’s opinion. Obama and Hillary Clinton have accepted an member of the committee. Another team member, Ramsey Lama, explained, “I invitation from Cleveland State and NBC to Only two professors on the committee responded have never taken a class at Cleveland-Marshall more debate in Cleveland on February 26, 2008. to the Gavel’s request for comments on the decision. demanding than participation in trial team.” Noting Professor Davis explained that she no longer sits on that he practiced from 10-14 hours each weekend, the Curriculum Committee. Professor Lloyd Snyder Lama added that “to receive only two credits for so expressed a willingness to discuss the topic. However, much work is difficult to understand.” due to the publication schedule, the Gavel was not able As a result of the decision, two of the trial team’s to interview Professor Snyder in time for this article. coaches decided to resign. Robert Yallech See TRIAL TEAM page 4 THE GAVEL Page 2 LawLaw February 2008 Dean reflects on Schedule change affects receipt of C-M’s future, grades prior to start of semester achievements Continued from page 1-- consistently meet these deadlines, extra week to study for the bar exam the extra week given to graduating As you make your way through another se- and those who miss it usually have a in July. After this change was put into students for bar exam study is benefi- mester of law school, I suspect you have settled good reason for not getting the grades effect for the 2006-2007 school year, cial. “There is a balance that has to into a familiar routine of preparing for and attend- in on time,” Crocker said. When students were not receiving their fall be struck between giving graduating ing classes. In addition to feeling comfortable in asked if C-M professors who fail to semester grades until the spring semes- students the time they need to study that routine, I hope you share my miss these deadlines face any sort of ter had already begun. “Unfortunately, for the bar exam and getting the final sense of excitement of what the sanctions, she stated that they do not, this was the side-effect of beginning the grades for fall semester out to stu- future holds for each of you -- and but added that “many law schools do spring semester early, but there was re- dents in a timely manner,” Crocker for this institution. impose monetary sanctions on profes- ally no way to avoid it,” Crocker said. said. She added that although the Some of you are in the middle sors who miss deadlines, but these are “I did some research to find what other earlier start to the spring semester has of your final semester of law usually schools who have already given law schools were doing and found the resulted in a longer wait for grades, it The school. Undoubtedly, you are these professors a generous amount of majority had even longer wait times for is a sacrifice that was made to accom- Dean’s excited that the finish line is time to grade their exams.” grades than our students.” modate graduating students, and so Column drawing near. You should also Perhaps many students have ex- She added that the University of far it has paid. be excited that, in a few months, pressed frustration and confusion over Akron’s law school solves the prob- But, Crocker does recognize the right after you pass the bar exam, you will embark the grading process because they are lem by administering final exams on frustration that students have about on a career for which you are well prepared. unaware that the spring semester has Saturdays and Sundays in order to cut the wait for their fall semester grades At the other end of the spectrum, some of you only recently begun to start during the the exam period from two weeks to ten and encourages them to talk with law have returned for only your second semester of second week of January. Two years days. Although, this is a possible solu- school administration or faculty if law school. While I hope that those first-year ago, the SBA passed a resolution tion, it is not one that Dean Crocker felt they are concerned. “Students should fears have dissipated, I hope you retain the enthu- asking the law school administration the majority of students would want in feel free to come to me or to their pro- siasm and optimism you felt during orientation.