Reminder: WCC Celebration Today
Reply
A Message From Student Government About Grades
Before you feel anxiety about your grades, think about the following…
Former Dean Elena Kagan received several B’s during law school, especially her first year. She went on to become the first female dean of Harvard Law
School, the U.S. Solicitor General, and the 112th Supreme Court Justice.
HLS Tax Law Professor Halperin received his worst law school grade in: tax.
Dean Cosgrove received a Property exam back that had a note from the professor saying “this is exactly what I warned you not to do” – followed by her
lowest grade since kindergarten. She went on to work at a top law firm before becoming a Dean at Harvard.
At the time Judge Posner hired Professor Sitkoff to be his law clerk, Professor Sitkoff had received his lowest grade in law school in Law and Economics
– which had been taught by Judge Posner. Thereafter, he had one grade that was worse – in legal ethics. He graduated law school with High Honors.
Professor Singer earned a B- in Property. After graduating, he clerked, worked at a law firm, and has written one of the leading casebooks and treatises
on – wait for it – property. He has also authored two theoretical books on property and teaches Property courses at Harvard.
Professor Suk received her worst grade in law school – and ever – in Criminal Law. She went on to practice and research in Criminal Law. No employer
has ever asked about her grade, and her Criminal Law professor has remained a powerful mentor and reference for her throughout her career. “I care
much more about students’ preparation and performance in a course throughout a long semester than about performance on one timed exam taken on
one day,” she says.
Professor Michelman’s worst law school grade was a C+ in Property. He has written and published repeatedly in the field and has taught Property
courses at Harvard for over 40 years.
Professor Greiner received his worst grade on the exam he felt best about after finishing. And he nonetheless was retained as a research assistant for
the course’s professor.
Professor Scott got a D in constitutional law. “We do some of that here,” Justice White told Scott when he went for a clerkship interview. Scott
nonetheless was selected to serve as one of Justice White’s few Supreme Court law clerks.
Professor Meltzer’s father was a law professor who taught labor law. His lowest grade in law school was in: labor law. His labor law professor later said
to him, “I thought you might have done better, so I re-read your exam and it was every bit as bad as I thought it was the first time.”
Professor Ramseyer received a B on an exam at Harvard Law School and went into the professor’s office to complain. On the professor’s desk was a
plaque that guided his grading – he reserved B’s for “excellent, perceptive exams.” The professor told Ramseyer he had gotten a B because he “wrote
an excellent exam.”
In the second semester of his two-semester Contracts course, Professor Goldberg earned himself a B-. The next year, his former Contracts professor
hired him as a TA to help 1Ls with the class. Years later, as a Vanderbilt professor, Goldberg was awarded a teaching prize for teaching … Contracts.
Professor Barnes received a pass on his Trust and Estates exam while a friend whom he tutored received honors. Upon review of their exams,
Professor Barnes realized that his friend had given the obvious answers while he had read nuances into the questions that were not intended. He
learned two important lessons: 1) when you hear hoofbeats, think horses first, and not zebras and 2) the line between “honors” and “pass” is blurred.
“I know a guy who got mainly C’s his first year at HLS. He went on to become general counsel of a major federal agency, leading lawyer in his field, and
author of the leading casebook in his field. It is much more about the passion you have for your field than anything.” – Professor Einer Elhauge
Dean Martha Minow’s sister’s law school grades were so troubling during her first year that she never picked up her grades after that. Last year, she was
honored as a distinguished alum for her professional accomplishments, and no one even thought of her grades.
Professor Neuman’s first semester grades were quite mediocre and his criminal law teacher (Professor Nesson) told him that he didn’t know how to take
a law school exam. Neuman spent time with Professor Nesson learning how to take exams and revising his approach. Professor Neuman went on to
graduate first in his class at Harvard Law School, though no one asked about his grades when he ran for a seat on the UN Human Rights Committee.
Be well,
Your Harvard Law School Student Government
studentgov at mail.law.harvard.edu
One Down
Most of us will tell you that nothing, even the bar exam, felt as formidable as the first law school exam - so congrats on getting through yesterday!
Please stop thinking about yesterday’s exam. Most faculty will tell you that no student comes close to hitting all of the possible issues and points to be made in an exam so if you discuss it with friends, you will inevitably start fretting about points you missed.
Remember –
· If you have a question about exam logistics or the exam software, contact the Registrar’s Office (Pound 300) registrar@law.harvard.edu or 617-495-4612
· If you have a problem related to an illness, or personal, family or medical emergency, contact Cat Collins in the Dean of Students Office (Pound 310) ccollins@law.harvard.edu or 617-495-1880
· During the exam, for any kind of emergency (software or personal), contact the proctor.
Study Break
The Midnight Pancake Breakfast is tonight from 10:30 to midnight in the Hark
If you are looking for a distraction, we’re looking for a creative name for the new pub in the new Caspersen wing – you can email ideas before 9am tomorrow
Exam Period Notes
Hi-
This time of year is very stressful, so be good to yourself. Remember to sleep, eat actual food (that doesn’t come from vending machines), exercise (unless you’re like me and exercise isn’t part of your routine in which case this is probably a bad time to start), and use caffeine, energy drinks and alcohol in moderation.
Exam Breaks:
The Dean of Students Office staff has a tradition of serving up carbs and greasy food during the reading period at Midnight Pancake Breakfast which will be held upstairs in the Hark on Thursday, December 8 from 10:30pm – midnight (and yes we get the inconsistency with the statement above).
De-Stress Chair Massage Breaks will take place on the first floor of the Hark from 11:30am-1:30pm on the following days:
· December 6th
· December 8th
· December 13th
· December 15th
Show up early to sign up for a free ten-minute massage.
We will have snacks and blank holiday cards so you can send holiday cards to members of the military if you choose.
Exam Related Questions:
If you have a question about exam logistics or the exam software, contact the Registrar’s Office (Pound 300).
registrar@law.harvard.edu or 617-495-4612
if you have an exam problem related to an illness, or personal, family or medical emergency, contact Cat Collins in the Dean of Students Office (Pound 310) ccollins@law.harvard.edu or 617-495-1880
Exam Tips:
· Exams at HLS are anonymous. Please do not contact your professor about an exam for any reason. Call the Office of the Registrar or Cat Collins instead.
· If you are sick on an exam day, you should go to UHS (Pound 12, 617-495-4414) and have the doctor get in touch with Cat as soon as possible.
· If it is after hours or on a weekend when you are sick, you should go to UHS at Holyoke Center (75 Mt Auburn St). The urgent care number is 617-495-5711. Please have your doctor get in touch with Cat as soon as possible.
· If you are sick and cannot get to Holyoke Center by yourself, you can call the Harvard University Police Department for a medical transport. Their number is 617-495-1212.
· If you become ill in the middle of an in-class exam, please tell a proctor and then go to UHS. If you have seen the exam, the rule is that you have to finish it that day, so you will probably see a doctor, have a chance to rest, and then have to finish it later. If you get sick during a take-home exam, please call Cat and then go to UHS. The Dean of Students Office cannot make any adjustments after the fact, so please stop the exam if necessary.
· If there is an emergency (either personal or involving a family member), please call Cat as soon as possible.
· If you are having other issues that might affect your ability to take your exam, please call or email Cat.
Security:
Just a reminder: please don’t leave your computers and other personal items unattended. A quick check by some librarians today showed that there were nine laptops, along with a number of bags sitting all alone at study tables and carrels. There have been thefts in the library and elsewhere on campus and these often get worse as exams approach and people know that students are studying longer hours.
Hark Changes:
Starting on December 5th the Gelato & Coffee bar will stay open until 8:00pm.
The Hark Box will close on December 9th.
Academic Support website:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/student-services/academic-support-services.html
Wellness website and resources:
http://www.law.harvard.edu/current/student-services/wellness/index.html
Please be in touch with any concerns or questions. Good luck!
Thanksgiving Holiday Hours
Hi-
The Law School is officially closed from Thursday to Monday.
Here is some information about access to buildings and services during the holiday break.
Library
The Library is closed Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They reopen Sunday from 9am to midnight
More information about library hours is at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/about/hours/index.html
Alternative Study Space
The Hark will be open (no food service but open study space) on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 6am to midnight
The first floor of Pound will be open on Friday from 9am to 9pm
Hemenway
The gym will be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will reopen on Sunday at 2pm
More information on Hemenway hours is at http://recreation.gocrimson.com/recreation/hours
Dining
Food service in the Hark is closed from Thursday through Sunday
Other options: http://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Articles/Celebrate-Thanksgiving-in-Harvard-Square!.aspx
Whether you are flying home to be with family, heading someplace warm with friends, or staying here to catch up on work, I hope you can take some time for yourself this holiday to get some rest and have some fun. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Ames Final Round Thursday night
The Board of Student Advisers invites you to attend the Final Round of the Upper Level Ames Moot Court Competition this Thursday, November 17th at 7:30pm in the Ames Courtroom in Austin Hall.
Presiding over this year’s Final Round argument are Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Frank Easterbrook of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Peter Rubin of the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
This year’s Final Round case is Garfield v. United States. The case presents two questions: First, whether the Stolen Valor Act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 704(b), (d), a statute that authorizes a prison term of up to one year for those who lie about receiving certain military honors, is invalid as applied to petitioner Otis Garfield under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. Second, whether Garfield is entitled to resentencing because the District Court deprived him of his right to speak at sentencing, in violation of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32(i)(4)(A)(ii).
Representing the petitioner Otis Garfield is The Honorable John McCarthy Roll Memorial Team: Avis Bohlen, Adam Hallowell (oralist), Jessica Palmer (oralist), Yvonne Saadi, Matthew Scarola, and Benjamin Watson.
Representing the respondent, The Belva Ann Lockwood Memorial Team: Caroline Anderson (oralist), Matthew Greenfield (oralist), Stephen Pezzi, Mitchell Reich, Stephanie Simon, and Noah Weiss.
Viewing the Argument
Admission to the oral argument in Ames Courtroom is ticketed, with distribution starting at 4pm on a first-come, first-served basis:
- A set number of green admission tickets will be handed out to those first in line – doors to Ames open at 6:45 for seating, tickets good for admission until 7:10p
- Several yellow stand-by tickets will then be given out once the guaranteed admission tickets have all been distributed, any available seating will be opened to those with stand-by tickets beginning promptly at 7:10p
- Students must have a valid HLS ID card to enter Ames Courtroom for the argument
- Dean of Students Office staff will collect tickets upon entrance to the Courtroom – please use the restroom and store your belongings before returning to the Courtroom for seating prior to the event, as no one will be allowed in or out once the argument begins
- No bags, backpacks, cameras, food or drink will be allowed into the Courtroom, and all cell phones must be turned off or silenced for the duration of the argument
- Seats cannot be reserved and will be reassigned if left unoccupied
- Once Ames Courtroom is at capacity, students will be permitted to watch the webcast in the overflow classrooms – Austin West, Austin East, and Austin North
The record and briefs are available at http://hlsorgs.com/bsa/final-round/
The argument will also be live-blogged at: http://harvardcrcl.org/amesliveblog/
2011 Harvard Leadership Conference: Collaborating for Change
In celebration of the 375th Anniversary of Harvard, the Office of the Provost, and the Harvard Graduate Council, along with over 10 Centers/Institutes of the University are proud to present the 2011 Harvard Leadership Conference: Collaborating for Change on November 5th from 10:00AM-6:00PM. This jammed packed conference is participatory, interactive and engaging, specifically designed with activities to ensure that you meet and engage with graduate students from other schools! It will focus on Three Key Areas: SKILLS, STUDIOS & SPEAKERS.
SKILLS: Participants rotate through a series of workshops that focus on teaching and sharing key leadership skills such as communication strategies, how to delegate tasks, forming effective teams, motivational speaking, among many others.
STUDIOS: Rather than using traditional panels, we have curated topical studio spaces that are active and dynamic! In these studio spaces, participants will engage in case studies, video documentaries, forum theater, musical performances, mock debates and active discussions with other students and current leadership from academia, industry, government and the social sectors.
SPEAKERS: Think TEDtalks! Active, engaging, stimulating and relevant! We promise our speakers will motivate and inspire you!
Lunch catered by Clover Food Labs, and great free flowing coffee to keep you energized through the day!
Details and Registration @ harvardleadershipconference.com
Note: Due to limited capacity and a desire to get equitable representation from each graduate school, participation from each school is being capped based on the number of students each school has in proportion to the entire graduate student body. Please register NOW to reserve your spot!
November HUHS Announcements
Flu Vaccination Clinics
Holyoke Center
Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:00PM-3:00PM, Monks Library, 2nd Floor of Harvard University Health Services at the Holyoke Center.
No appointment necessary. More info: http://huhs.harvard.edu/AnnouncementsAndEvents/Announcement.aspx?id=200246
Law School
One last law school flu clinic – Tues November 8 – 11:30-1:30 – Hauser 103
Flu shots are free and available to anyone over 18 with a Harvard ID.
October HUHS Announcements (including Flu Shot info)
From UHS:
Flu Vaccination Clinics
LAW SCHOOL:
Wed (10/5), Tues (10/18), Tues (11/8)
All Law School clinics will be held 11:30-1:30 in Hauser 103
Holyoke Center:
Mondays and Tuesdays (weekly) 12:00PM-3:00PM, Monks Library, 2nd Floor of Harvard University Health Services
Shots are free and available to anyone with a Harvard ID and over age 18.
More info is at: http://huhs.harvard.edu/AnnouncementsAnd…
Waiver Rescind Policy
Students are required to have health insurance for their entire time at Harvard. If you lose your alternate coverage, you may enroll in HUSHP (time limits apply). More info: http://hushp.harvard.edu/waiver-rescind
Student Health Insurance Plan ID Cards
If you have not yet received your BCBS ID card or Medco Prescription ID card, contact HUSHP Member Services to order new cards. More info on coverage details: http://hushp.harvard.edu
Students with questions about health insurance should contact Member Services directly at mservices at huhs.harvard.edu.