Highlights of 2023 from your SLS team
Meaza Damte (3L) is President of the Students’ Law Society, 2022–23.
Student Life and Academic Committee (SLAC)
Your SLAC team has been advocating fiercely on your behalf this semester based on feedback we have received about an array of issues. Earlier this semester, the Executive Committee met with senior administration to discuss the grade release delay. We know that this was extremely stressful for students trying to meet various deadlines like the 1L recruit and clerkship applications. According to senior administration, there were a number of factors that led to the delay:
- First, the Records Office received a larger than usual volume of papers and exams that did not follow the correct naming conventions. This resulted in significant time and resources being devoted to tracking down the identities of the students who submitted assessments without their pseudonyms.
- Second, due to the written work deadline’s proximity to the closure of the University for the holidays, the Records Office did not have enough time to get student assessments to their respective professors.
- Lastly, there was an unforeseen illness that resulted in reduced staffing.
We understand that this was a difficult time for many students. Moving forward, the Faculty has adopted sessional dates that give the Records Office an extra day to distribute exams and papers to professors. Students can view these sessional dates on e.legal under the February 11, 2023, Faculty Council heading.
Social and Finance Committee (SFC)
Your SFC team has been hard at work this semester to bring the U of T Law community together. We started the semester off with Frost Week, ringing in the New Year at Bar St. Lo. From weekly trivia and Calls to the Bar to our Valentine’s Day festivities, we hope that you have enjoyed the events we put on this month!
SFC would also like to acknowledge that we have listened to your feedback about more diverse Call to the Bar offerings. On January 20, we organized a group trip to the Royal Ontario Museum’s After Dark: DesignTO edition, a monthly, themed, 19+ event. It was a huge success, and we look forward to organizing similar events soon. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with event ideas!
Lastly, we have some exciting events coming up! We kicked off Oakes Week on Monday, February 27 to celebrate the anniversary of the R v Oakes decision. We held breakfast in the atrium on Monday morning, followed by a special edition of J’s Java with special guest Justice Abella on Tuesday, and our usual Call to the Bar will be on Thursday. Lastly, we are excited to see you all at Law Ball on March 18, Viva Laws Vegas! We listened to your concerns, and this year there will be a higher capacity, less crowded bars, and more photobooths.
Signed,
Your SLS Team
