When I found out that I was going to be Editor In Chief this year, I immediately knew what I wanted my legacy to be. “This year we’re eliminating the Valentine’s issue.” I’ve said it multiple times throughout the year: at our first board meeting, at every editorial meeting since, and literally every single time I spoke at our meeting for this issue. It goes without saying that I’m writing this surrounded by cats.
But the point isn’t whether I’m going to spend Valentine’s Day with my kind and gorgeous medical doctor significant other or whether we (my cats and I) are going to spend it marathoning House of Cards. Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to indulge in your happiness/sadness/emotional stuntedness, but aren’t there more interesting things to write about?
Apparently not. As you can see on almost every page of this issue, I was overruled by the Board and the writers and society at large. I’m over it, but would like to offer my thoughts on an entirely unrelated and decidedly less glamorous topic: the proposed changes to the 1L curriculum. Did I awkwardly segue into a discussion about 1L policy to avoid dealing with my Valentine’s Day despair? Yes, yes I did.
In my opinion, a move to semesterize the year-long curriculum would hurt students much more than it would help them. Having December fail-safe exams is an incredibly important part of the 1L learning process. Students have only been in law school for slightly more than three months when the December exams roll around. December exams give students an opportunity to get feedback before their marks really matter. They give students a chance to refine their study habits, and perhaps equally importantly, give students a measure of confidence that they actually do understand something.
Of course, having five 100% exams in April is stressful but there are other approaches the administration could consider to help minimize the negative impact on students’ well-being. One approach could be to weigh fail-safe exams more heavily. I encourage you all to share your opinions and suggestions with the administration so we can find a creative solution to what is undoubtedly a difficult problem.
If you’re reading this with a delicious doughnut in hand on Wednesday January 29th put down this paper and head to the Town Hall today at 12:30 PM in EM001. If you missed it, you should still share your views. Especially if you don’t have anything to do on Valentine’s Day.
