Oh Good Lord: Columbia Law Students Get to Delay Taking Exams Because of Grand Jury Decisions
Columbia University has allowed law school students who feel they suffered trauma from two high-profile grand jury decisions to postpone taking their final exams, the school’s interim dean Robert Scott wrote in a message to students this weekend.
“The law school has a policy and set of procedures for students who experience trauma during exam period,” reads Scott’s message, according to the blog PowerLine.
“In accordance with these procedures and policy, students who feel that their performance on examinations will be sufficiently impaired due to the effects of these recent events may petition Dean Alice Rigas to have an examination rescheduled,” Scott continued, citing a St. Louis County grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo., police officer Darren Wilson for fatally shooting 18-year-old Michael Brown in August as well as a Staten Island grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for using a chokehold which killed 43-year-old Eric Garner in July.
If I ever found out that someone did this, I would never hire them. If you didn’t snicker when you read this, I would never hire you.
The school will be holding special sessions next week with trauma specialist Dr. Shirley Matthews, Scott announced. Several faculty members have also agreed to hold special office hours to discuss the implications of the grand juries’ decisions.
The school will set up a reading group, speaker series and teach-ins next semester to “formulate a response to the implications, including racial meanings, of these non-indictments.”
What if you’re traumatized by the idiocy of your faculty?
The Power Line guys swear this is not a parody. I’m depressed enough about the state of our society to believe it.
As employers across the nation make a mental note not hire this graduating class.
Gazzer (cb9ee2) — 12/8/2014 @ 6:50 pmActually, I was being glib but this action could tarnish a whole graduating class-even those who took finals in a timely fashion. Maybe diplomas with asterisks?
Gazzer (cb9ee2) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:01 pm“The law school has a policy and set of procedures for students who experience trauma during exam period,” reads Scott’s message, according to the blog PowerLine.
So, if these grand jury decisions are that traumatizing, exactly how do these precious vessels of emotional goo handle *real* life trauma like, losing parents, losing a job, money woes?
I just don’t see them being able to handle the inevitable losing of a case in their legal futures.
Dana (8e74ce) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:03 pmThe weakest generation.
SarahW (267b14) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:03 pmI have been traumatized ever since November 4th, 2008. It has been so bad that I have had trouble computing my taxes. I would like my tax obligations suspended until I recover.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:11 pmIt is of course easier to get an exam “study” copy after the exam has been given and graded.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:12 pm“For some law students, particularly, though not only, students of color, this chain of events is all the more profound as it threatens to undermine a sense that the law is a fundamental pillar of society designed to protect fairness, due process and equality.”
What kind of an idiot believes that nonsense in the first place?
nk (dbc370) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:12 pmThis is the generation that is going to have to fight the next big war that Obama is slouching toward. God help us.
Kevin M (25bbee) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:14 pmIn that case, I assume they’ll also grant a delay to students who are traumatized by the president’s attempts to undermine the law. Right?
Edoc118 (8b952d) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:22 pmThis post dovetails quite nicely with my next post. Special little snowflakes.
JD (86a5eb) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:29 pmThis is what “our” society is.
DN (395a7b) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:31 pmThis would be bad enough if we were talking about college students at any level who couldn’t possibly take an exam because they were “traumatized” by something the saw or read about in the news.
But we’re talking about law school students “traumatized” by a grand jury decision. They are too traumatized to continue with their studies in the law because of something a jury of some sort did to them.
What’s going to happen when they graduate and have to deal with juries? Do they get a “time out” from the judge because they can’t prepare for the sentencing phase of the trial because the jury traumatized them with the guilty verdict? Are the jurors liable for their PTSD?
The jurors must now be instructed that not only are they responsible for evaluating the evidence and maintaining a presumption of innocence unless the prosecution proves their case beyond a reasonable doubt (except if it’s a “rape culture” case and then screw the presumption of innocence believe the accuser) but they are also responsible for any damage to the fragile psyches of lawyers. Not just those in the courtroom. Everywhere! Even future lawyers.
Can someone who’s in high school now get out of taking exams if they get into Columbia because they’re still traumatized by the Brown/Garner grand jury decisions?
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:35 pmYou scoffers are just exhibiting your subconscious privilege and the structural racism that is tearing at the very foundations of this once great country.
Denounced. Denounced and condemned!
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:45 pmSo, these students of the law were traumatized by grand juries returning verdicts consistent with the evidence?
So, we are to expect they would have had no problems with verdicts returned that was contrary to the evidence?
I would have hoped such a reaction to legitimate court proceedings would be enough to prevent someone from being admitted to the Bar, even if they aced their (delayed) exams.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:47 pmI know. This whole thing is so disgusting.
Patterico (9c670f) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:57 pmVolokh has more details. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/12/08/columbia-law-students-demand-exam-extensions-because-of-trauma-related-to-the-recent-non-indictments-in-ferguson-and-staten-island/
It is for real but it’s on a case-by-case basis same as a death in the family or things like that.
nk (dbc370) — 12/8/2014 @ 7:59 pmI’m traumatized by such stupidity. Unfortunately, in today’s society, my trauma is becoming a chronic condition.
navyvet (edabdc) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:14 pmWait till they hit the real world.
Patricia (5fc097) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:21 pmSomehow I think this measure has its origins on the supply side. It’s not indicative of the students’ dispositions, but the faculty’s.
Art Deco (ee8de5) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:36 pmPatricia, Obama is abolishing the real world one executive order or foreign policy mash-up at the time.
The real world is racist. The real world is only doing real world s@#$ to our historic first black preezy because the real world hates the fact that there’s a strong black man in the WH. The real world never treated any other president with the same amount of disrespect that it’s treated Prom Queen.
BECAUSE HE’S BLACK!
The real world has been totally discredited and you shouldn’t acknowledge its existence anymore. Unless you want everyone to know you’re one of them there bitter clinging rape deniers.
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:38 pmAlso Barack Obama doesn’t get enough credit for killing OBL. I noticed that when Pearl Harbor day passed and somehow, someway Barack Obama heroic contribution to our national security wasn’t mentioned in connection to it.
I sense racism.
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:41 pm“this chain of events is all the more profound as it threatens to undermine a sense that the law is a fundamental pillar of society designed to protect fairness, due process and equality.”
Poor Columbia administration and faculty Marxists thinking revolution is just around the corner.
They had gotten so close with Obama, they were almost to the promised land – now they are just impatient, impatient and pushing and pushing because time’s almost up.
SarahW (267b14) — 12/8/2014 @ 8:46 pmAccording to your snickering standards, I’m hire eligible. Further, I can prove that I do know the words to Kumbayah or I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.
NeoCon_1 (056f46) — 12/8/2014 @ 9:09 pmNot good enough, NeoCon. During the interview you’ll have to have a nervous breakdown over the racism inherent in the racist, sexist, imperialist, colonialist, and militaristic songs traditionally sung or played during this the major holiday season of the oppressive patriarchy, specifically “White Christmas.” Oh, and also overs the fascist, speciesist songs “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
Then tell us how you’d design a Maoist struggle session around these songs of oppression.
Also you’ll have to pass the written portion of our firm’s interview process. Draft a motion demanding a judge recuse himself because you think he looks “rapey.”
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 9:23 pm“During the interview you’ll have to have a nervous breakdown over the racism inherent …during this the major holiday season of the oppressive patriarchy, specifically “White Christmas.””
—Steve57
They already beat you to it. Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie & The Blowfish, was bashed for singing “White Christmas” at the NYC Christmas tree ceremony a few days ago. Darius Rucker happens to be black. You see, snow being naturally white, is inherently racist.
Ipso Fatso (10964d) — 12/8/2014 @ 9:48 pmSo, if we fight global warming aren’t we oppressing weather of color?
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 9:54 pmre #23: Kumbayah has words?!?
wow, what a poor lesson and poor way to train lawyers. They will think if the cross examination caused them trauma that they will be given extra days before redirect.
seeRpea (01f6d3) — 12/8/2014 @ 9:57 pmhow do these precious vessels of emotional goo handle *real* life trauma like, losing parents, losing a job, money woes…
What a great way to ensure that “students of color” can only find jobs for the federal government where competence is not an issue.
How about losing a case ? Not with Eric Holder on the job.
Mike K (90dfdc) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:04 pmvery tangentially related , but i also recall someone here making a joke with this theme a couple of months ago and now reality has copied the joke –
seeRpea (01f6d3) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:12 pmhttp://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/05/can-vladimir-putin-be-intimidated-by-feminism-sweden/
how are these little dears going to deal with a judge refusing their motion, let alone losing a case?
this country is SO screwed…
i blame happyfeet.
redc1c4 (269d8e) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:16 pmWe live in the Age of Stupidity.
After all, look who we put into the White House.
Look at how the US military (yes, the military and not, say, the ACLU) treated a vocal, rabid, radical anti-US enlistee until it was too late.
And if one doesn’t think America can go downhill even further — much further — look at drawn-out trends in places like Venezuela or France, or Detroit, Michigan or Ferguson, Missouri.
Mark (c160ec) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:23 pmYeah, but guess whose idea that was?
It isn’t like the people in uniform don’t have a boss.
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:36 pmOh, I see you’ve met the boss.
Steve57 (f8196f) — 12/8/2014 @ 10:36 pmAshamed to be an American, I am.
mg (31009b) — 12/9/2014 @ 1:00 amIf obama wasn’t black, the mfm couldn’t function.
mg (31009b) — 12/9/2014 @ 3:37 amI wonder if maybe what’s going on is that some of these students are out demonstrating, and didn’t study like (they pretend at least) they might otherwise have? That sort of thing would explain it, but the school would not use the real reason, because they don’t give people off time for something like that, so they’d say they were traumautized. Or someone came up with that as a reason.., after perhaps an earlier request for the exams to be postponed was denied.
Sammy Finkelman (7e7e58) — 12/9/2014 @ 3:46 amI don’t think Columbia University wants to tangle with Al Sharpton et al.
Sammy Finkelman (7e7e58) — 12/9/2014 @ 3:48 am31. “And if one doesn’t think America can go downhill even further — much further — look at drawn-out trends in places like Venezuela”
The echoes of the last notes of the music are reaching our ears presently.
All change.
DNF (7b206c) — 12/9/2014 @ 4:55 amThank God these wussies aren’t in the military guarding our nation.
DudeAbiding (8cba7a) — 12/9/2014 @ 5:21 amI think they should sub in a detailed exam on the published grand jury testimony and Missouri and NY criminal law. This should satisfy everyone – the traumatized, who have doubtless focused on the details of these cases; and the university, which verifies that its students have learned something. Win-win!
Plus, this would demonstrate that the students are actual fact-finders and legal scholars rather than lazy whingers. The cynical and unpleasant people who have suggested otherwise would be shown the error of their ways.
JRM (cd0a37) — 12/9/2014 @ 6:52 amBack in college, I was hit by a car the week before finals. My grades suffered. In law school, my high school tutoring student died suddenly two days before the start of finals; the dean offered to let me postpone them; I decided that it was better to just get them over with (and head to Florida to see my grandfather). My grades suffered.
So I really do understand people who suffer a lot of trauma before finals and want to be graded on their understanding of the material, not on their ability to take a high-stakes test while sick, in pain, on drugs, or in mourning.
But… WTF? Seriously? If you can’t function after a grand jury decision that has nothing to do with you, your family, or your friends, you shouldn’t be in law school.
bridget (5ed8f8) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:18 am“For some law students, particularly, though not only, students of color, this chain of events is all the more profound as it threatens to undermine a sense that the law is a fundamental pillar of society designed to protect fairness, due process and equality.”
What kind of an idiot believes that nonsense in the first place?”
– nk
Bingo. Not the idiot part, because I know there are some very intelligent people on this site who believe that about the law, but if I had to agree with one comment on this thread it would be nk’s.
Leviticus (f9a067) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:26 am“I think they should sub in a detailed exam on the published grand jury testimony and Missouri and NY criminal law. This should satisfy everyone – the traumatized, who have doubtless focused on the details of these cases; and the university, which verifies that its students have learned something. Win-win!”
– JRM
I also think this is a very interesting idea.
Leviticus (f9a067) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:27 am“Feelings… nothing more than feelings…”
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:35 amwe’re gonna have to limit therapy dog sessions to ten minutes for so everyone can have a turn
but it’ll be enough
it’ll have to be enough
happyfeet (a037ad) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:39 amGod sends us mountains then teaches us how to climb them
but still it helps if you have a trusty therapy dog handy
happyfeet (a037ad) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:42 amnk,
I don’t think the rule of law guarantees justice or equality, nor does it promise to, but it does helps protect society and individuals from anarchy and encourages competition and efficiency.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 12/9/2014 @ 7:57 amThe Spartans called it “man taming”, DRJ. 😉
nk (dbc370) — 12/9/2014 @ 8:09 amLaw and marriage, nk. Don’t forget marriage.
DRJ (a83b8b) — 12/9/2014 @ 8:16 amKevin M said
“This is the generation that is going to have to fight the next big war that Obama is slouching toward. God help us”
If they choose to fight. They may choose to call the grief counsellors.
f1guyus (647d76) — 12/9/2014 @ 9:13 amThe published grand jury testimony does not include the transcript of the taped interview that Michael Brown’s walking and robbery companion, Dorian Johnson, would only give to the FBI. The FBI apparently said it should be kept secret because their investigation wasn’t over. Missouri detectives were also present but tat wa stheir only opportunity to interview him, and I’m not sure he ever went under oath.
In New York exhibits and some facts were released, but no testimony, but the Staten Island DA is trying to get some testimony released.
Sammy Finkelman (7e7e58) — 12/9/2014 @ 9:46 amOf course lying to the FBI is a crime.
His story may differ somewhat from what he said in public, but also maybe from known facts that came out later..
Sammy Finkelman (7e7e58) — 12/9/2014 @ 9:48 amThis is a case AL Sharpton will probably ignore:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/student-stabbed-chabad-lubavitch-crown-heights-article-1.2038761
Sammy Finkelman (7e7e58) — 12/9/2014 @ 9:59 amI don’t know if anyone wants the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI0XIUz20vI
Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 12/9/2014 @ 11:05 amThank God I am old. Just a few more years of this absurd nonsense
Angelo (cdad90) — 12/9/2014 @ 3:42 pm