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Office of Academic Administration and Student Affairs

Asst. Dean Stephen D. Sowle

Academic Administration and Student Affairs home page
Record Archives for 2003-2004 Academic Year

Archive entries are in reverse chronological order.
SUMMER 2004

Week of August 2 and August 9, 2004


Fall 2004 Initial Reading Assignments and Course Materials. Reading assignments for the first week of the Fall semester are linked to this page, and may also be accessed from the Student Portal Page (click on the Fall '04 link under "Academic term information"). The list of initial assignments may be updated periodically as we receive additional assignments.

If you have not yet returned to school, you may ask the bookstore to hold your Fall course books for you until you arrive, or for an extra fee you may request that the books be mailed to you. If you would like to take advantage of either of these options, stop by the bookstore or call 312/906-5605. In addition, you may order your course books over the Internet by clicking on the bookstore link on the Student Portal page.

Fall 2004 Course Information Updates. We have made the following changes to the Fall 2004 class schedule (some of these changes have been previously announced). Further changes may be made before the start of Fall classes.

Canceled courses/sections:
-Appellate Courts & Procedure (223-001; Steinman).
-E-Commerce (215-001; Warner).
-Energy Law (232-001; Bosselman).
-Intellectual Property & Technology Licensing (281-052; McElwee) (note: the 051 section of this course has not been canceled).
-Legal Writing 4: Estate Planning & Administration (432-053, Tues./Thurs. 6:00; Miller).
-State Constitutional Law (course/seminar; 287-001 & 609-001; Koehler).

New courses/sections:
-Advanced Antitrust seminar (636-071; Prof. Leslie): Mondays, 4:00-5:50 pm, 2 credits.
-Redesigning the Health Care System seminar (620-071; Prof. Richardson): Mondays, 4:00-5:50 pm, 2 credits.

Other changes:
-Remedies (evening section; 280-051): This section will now be taught by Prof. Eglit (not Prof. Gillis).

Orientation Leaders and Mentors Wanted. Each year, entering students tell us that much of their most informative and valuable information comes from other students. As someone who has been there, your advice can be critical to the success of our incoming class. As an Orientation Leader, your tasks may include leading a lunch discussion with a group of students on the first day of Orientation (August 16); helping take ID photos; answering questions and giving advice; and whatever other help we end up needing. As a Mentor, you will be paired with one or two first-year students to provide one-on-one advice and guidance about adjusting to the law school experience.

If you are interested in becoming an Orientation Leader or a Mentor (or better yet, both), please e-mail me at ssowle@kentlaw.edu as soon as possible. Please include the following information in your e-mail:

If interested in being a mentor:
(Note: Providing the information below is strictly voluntary. It will be used solely to better match you with a mentee -- you do not need to answer any questions that you feel uncomfortable answering.)
-Name
-Age
-Gender
-Division (Day/Evening)
-Year (2L/3L/4L)
-Are you a member of any student organization? If so, please list them.
-Are you enrolled in a certificate program? If so, please list the program.
-Please provide any other information about yourself that will help us match you (e.g., community involvement, work experience, hobbies, political interests, etc.).

If interested in being an Orientation Leader:
-Name
-Are you available to lead a lunch discussion with a group of students (divided by Legal Writing section) on Monday, August 16, 12:00-1:00? (If so, please provide the name of your first-year Legal Writing professor.)
-Are you available to assist with ID photos on Monday, August 16, 1:00-4:00 pm, and/or 7:20-8:00 pm?
-Are you available for general assistance with Orientation activities on Tuesday, August 17 and/or Wednesday, August 18?

Joke of the Week. "I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't cold enough. Let's go west!'" (Richard Jeni)

Week of July 19 and July 26, 2004

Notice to Graduates: Deadline for Clearing out Lockers.
To prepare for the arrival of the new class in the Fall, we need to clear out the lockers of all students who have graduated. Please clear your lockers out no later than Monday, August 2. Anything left in lockers after that date will be removed. If you are unable to clear your locker out by that date, please contact me to make arrangements for your locker contents to be set aside for you. Note: If you have not yet graduated, you do not need to clear out your locker -- you will keep the same locker until you graduate.

Joke of the Week.
Two muffins are in the oven. The first muffin says, "Hey, isn't it getting kind of hot in here?" The second muffin replies, "Oh my goodness, it's a talking muffin!"

Week of July 5 and July 12, 2004

New Chicago-Kent Law Review Members.
I'm happy to report that the students listed below have been invited to join the Chicago-Kent Law Review based on their academic performance:

Adam M. Burns Andrew F. Merrick
Kevin Case John G. New
Virginia A. Chentis Kevin A. O'Connor
Diana E. Fridman Matthew C. Oesterle
Steven D. Garden Joy L. Powers
Patrick B. Haggerty Susan M. Razzano
Darrin R. Halcomb Tracey L. Schielie
Christian B. Hennion Luke T. Shannon
Cherish M. Keller Matthew V. Topic
Marjorie Ruth Kohls Ryan M. Wilson
Jason T. Manning  


London Law Consoritum Program: Brochures available. Chicago-Kent offers a semester of legal study in London each Spring semester as part of a consortium with six other schools. If you are interested in the London Law Consortium for the Spring 2005 semester, please pick up a copy of the program brochure from Denise Lang outside my office (Suite 320C). Spaces in the program will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We must submit to the program administrators completed applications from all of our participating students no later than Friday, September 10, 2004. If you wish to discuss the program in more detail, contact Professor David Rudstein (drudstei@kentlaw.edu; 312/906-5354).

Class Ranks for Spring 2004. The class ranks as of the end of the Spring 2004 semester have been posted and are available through the Web for Students.
Week of June 21 and June 28, 2004

No entries this week.

Week of June 7 and June 14, 2004

No entries this week.

Weeks of May 24 and May 31, 2004

Summer 2004 Term Information.

Classroom Assignments. A revised Schedule of Classes for the Summer 2004 term, including classroom assignments, is linked to this page.

Initial Reading Assignments. A list of initial reading assignments for Summer 2004 is linked to this page. Please note: If a course is not listed, that means we did not receive an initial assignment from the professor.

Evidence and Professional Responsibility. A small number of seats have opened up in these two summer courses. If you would like to register for either course, you may do so through the online registration system.

Fall 2004 Initial Reading Assignments and Course Materials. A list of initial reading assignments for Fall 2004 courses will be posted on the main Student Portal page (click on the Fall 2004 link) no later than Monday, August 2. If you will not have Internet access in August, please e-mail me (SSOWLE) with the address where you can be reached over the summer, and we will mail a print copy to you.

You may ask the bookstore to hold your Fall course materials for you when they arrive, or for an extra fee you may request that the books be mailed to you over the summer. If you would like to take advantage of either of these options, stop by the bookstore before you leave, or call the bookstore at 312/906-5605. In addition, you may order your course books over the Internet by clicking on the Follett's Bookstore link on the Student Portal page.

Donate Your Old Casebooks. If you have any casebooks you no longer want and that cannot be sold back to the Bookstore (e.g., because there is a more recent edition), please consider donating them to Follett's "Bridge to Asia" program. They will accept any title, except those with a political or governmental focus (e.g., constitutional law, administrative law, and tax-related titles). You may donate books by dropping them off in the Bookstore.

Joke of the Week. Question: What kind of car do Supreme Court justices drive? Answer: Judicial Fiats!

SPRING 2004

Week of May 17, 2004

Spring 2004 Exams.


Exam Schedule and Room Assignments. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. If you have not received an e-mail notification with your exam room assignments, you can find the information by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the Spring 2004 link.

Exam Emergencies. If an emergency occurs that may prevent you from taking a final exam, you or someone on your behalf should call Chris Matheny (312/906-5271) or me (312/906-5130) as soon as possible. If you cannot reach either of us, call the Registrar's office (312/906-5080). Do not contact your professor, as this may compromise your anonymity. Please read Section VII of the Student Handbook, which contains the rules governing exams, exam conflicts, make-up exams, missed exams, and related issues; and review Article II of the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Consulting Laptops During Exams. Unless your professor specifically authorizes it, you may not consult materials (notes, outlines, etc.) stored on your laptop computer during an open book or limited open book exam; you are limited to consulting print materials authorized by your professor. Please note: This is separate from the issue of whether you may write your exam on your own laptop. The limitation described above applies whether you are writing your exam by hand or on a lab or laptop computer.

Cell Phones During Exams. You are not permitted to use a cell phone during any exam, including during any restroom breaks. If you have a cell phone with you during an exam, it must be turned off and stored out of sight.

Summer 2004 Term Information.

Classroom Assignments. A revised Schedule of Classes for the Summer 2004 term, including classroom assignments, is linked to this page.

Initial Reading Assignments. A list of initial reading assignments for Summer 2004 courses will be available on Tuesday, May 18. It will be linked to this page, and available on the main Student Portal page (click on the Summer 2004 link). Please note: If a course is not listed, that means we did not receive an initial assignment from the professor.

Fall 2004 Initial Reading Assignments and Course Materials. A list of initial reading assignments for Fall 2004 courses will be posted on the main Student Portal page (click on the Fall 2004 link) no later than Monday, August 2. If you will not have Internet access in August, please e-mail me (SSOWLE) with the address where you can be reached over the summer, and we will mail a print copy to you.

You may ask the bookstore to hold your Fall course materials for you when they arrive, or for an extra fee you may request that the books be mailed to you over the summer. If you would like to take advantage of either of these options, stop by the bookstore before you leave, or call the bookstore at 312/906-5605. In addition, you may order your course books over the Internet by clicking on the Follett's Bookstore link on the Student Portal page.

Revised Academic Calendar for 2004-2005. The faculty recently voted to eliminate Professionalism Day as a requirement for second-year students. A revised Academic Calendar for 2004-2005, reflecting the elimination of Professionalism Day, is linked to this page.

Joke of the Week. Did you hear about the guy they found face down in the bathtub covered in Cheerios and milk? The police said it was the work of a cereal killer.

Week of May 10, 2004

Spring 2004 Exams.


Exam Schedule and Room Assignments. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. If you have not received an e-mail notification with your exam room assignments, you can find the information by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the Spring 2004 link.

Exams on Computer.
If you missed the initial period for registering to take exams on computer, you may still do so for any exam that still has computer slots available. (Please keep in mind that not all professors allow students to take exams on computer.) You may also change your exam preference from computer to hand-writing. For both of these options, log into your Web for Students account and click on the Register for Exams on Computer link (under Online Forms).

Exam Emergencies.
If an emergency occurs that may prevent you from taking a final exam, you or someone on your behalf should call Chris Matheny (312/906-5271) or me (312/906-5130) as soon as possible. If you cannot reach either of us, call the Registrar's office (312/906-5080). Do not contact your professor, as this may compromise your anonymity. Please read Section VII of the Student Handbook, which contains the rules governing exams, exam conflicts, make-up exams, missed exams, and related issues; and review Article II of the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Consulting Laptops During Exams. Unless your professor specifically authorizes it, you may not consult materials (notes, outlines, etc.) stored on your laptop computer during an open book or limited open book exam; you are limited to consulting print materials authorized by your professor. Please note: This is separate from the issue of whether you may write your exam on your own laptop. The limitation described above applies whether you are writing your exam by hand or on a lab or laptop computer.

Cell Phones During Exams. You are not permitted to use a cell phone during any exam, including during any restroom breaks. If you have a cell phone with you during an exam, it must be turned off and stored out of sight.

Fall 2004 Registration: Updates. The initial registration period is now over. If you have not already done so, please log back into the online registration system to see what classes you were admitted into. You may make adjustments to your schedule through the end of the second week of the Fall semester. The Fall 2004 Registration Bulletin, which includes the final schedule of Fall classes and course and exam grids, is available outside the third floor cafeteria. Online versions of these documents are available through the online registration link and the main Student Portal page.

Please note the following corrections and addition to the Fall schedule:

Clinical schedule: The description in the final Schedule of Classes of hours expected from clinical students contained errors. Although the total number of hours expected for the semester were listed correctly, the hours per week were incorrect. Here is the correct information: "Students are expected to put in a minimum of 112 hours (an average of 8 hours a week for 14 weeks) for 2 hours of credit, a minimum of 168 hours (an average of 12 hours a week for 14 weeks) for 3 hours of credit, and a minimum of 224 hours (an average of 16 hours a week for 14 weeks ) for 4 hours of credit."

Tax Policy seminar: This seminar was listed on the class grids by mistake. It will not be offered.

Intellectual Property in the High Tech Era: The credits for this intensive course will not count toward the minimum or maximum Fall credits a student may take. (If you wish to take this course, but it will cause you to exceed your Fall semester maximum credits, please contact me so that we can adjust your maximum credits in the system.)

Redesigning the Health Care System seminar: This new seminar has been added to the Fall 2004 schedule. It will meet Mondays, 4:00 - 5:50 pm, and will be taught by Professor Michele Baker Richardson. The course number is 620-071. The course description is as follows: This seminar will address the debate now raging across America about what should be done to improve the way we respond to injuries suffered during medical treatment. While some rely on the civil justice system and tort law developed to address medical malpractice, others challenge that system and argue for one or another reform approach. We will critically analyze several of the major proposals for systemwide reform, and work toward developing an innovative and effective proposal. Prerequisites: None. Recommended: Medical Malpractice.

Spring 2005 Preliminary Schedule: Correction. An incorrect ending time was listed for Prof. Leech's seminar, Contemporary Issues in Employment Law. It will meet Tuesdays, 6:00-7:50 pm.

Joke of the Week. Question: What do Mack the Knife, Winnie the Pooh, and Attila the Hun have in common? Answer: Their middle names.


Week of May 3, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder: Last Week of Classes.
The class schedule for the last week of the semester is as follows:

Monday, May 3: Monday classess meet (King Birthday make-up)
Tuesday, May 4: Wednesday classes meet (Professionalism Day make-up)
Wednesday, May 5: Friday classes meet (Good Friday make-up)

The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 5. Exams begin on Tuesday, May 11.

Fall 2004 Registration. The final Fall 2004 schedule, the Registration Bulletin, and the course and exam grids are linked to this page and are available in print form outside the third floor cafeteria. Registration runs through Tuesday, May 4. You may register at any time during that period. After the end of the registration period, the registration requests will be processed according to each student’s registration priority. In other words, registration will not be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis; as long as you register during the designated period, you will have an equal chance of being admitted to a class as other students within your registration priority group. To learn what classes you have been admitted into, you must check the online registration site on or after Thursday, May 6. Registering for a class during the initial registration period is no guarantee that you will be admitted into the class – you must check the web site on or after Thursday, May 6 to learn what classes you have been admitted into.

Please note the following corrections and addition to the Fall schedule:

Tax Policy seminar: This seminar was listed on the class grids by mistake. It will not be offered.

Intellectual Property in the High Tech Era: The credits for this intensive course will not count toward the minimum or maximum Fall credits a student may take. (If you wish to take this course, but it will cause you to exceed your Fall semester maximum credits, please contact me so that we can adjust your maximum credits in the system.)

Redesigning the Health Care System seminar: This new seminar has been added to the Fall 2004 schedule. It will meet Mondays, 4:00 - 5:50 pm, and will be taught by Professor Michele Baker Richardson. The course number is 620-071. The course description is as follows: This seminar will address the debate now raging across America about what should be done to improve the way we respond to injuries suffered during medical treatment. While some rely on the civil justice system and tort law developed to address medical malpractice, others challenge that system and argue for one or another reform approach. We will critically analyze several of the major proposals for systemwide reform, and work toward developing an innovative and effective proposal. Prerequisites: None. Recommended: Medical Malpractice.

Intensive Trial Advocacy. Please note that registration for both the August 2004 and the January 2005 sessions of Intensive Trial Advocacy take place as part of Fall 2004 registration. See the listing for Intensive Trial Advocacy in the preliminary Schedule of Classes for details.

Spring 2005 Preliminary Schedule. The preliminary schedule of classes for the Spring 2005 semester is linked to this page and is available in paper form outside the third floor cafeteria. Please note: This schedule is only preliminary – there will be additions to the class list (in particular, we anticipate adding several seminars) and other changes made before the schedule is finalized. The final schedule will be issued during the Fall 2004 semester, when registration for Spring 2005 classes will also take place. If you have any questions or comments about the preliminary schedule, please feel free to contact me by e-mail (SSOWLE), phone (6-5130), or by stopping by my office (Rm. 320).

Spring 2004 Exams.


Exam Schedule. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. If you have not received an e-mail notification with your exam room assignments, you can find the information by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the Spring 2004 link.

Exams on Computer.
If you missed the initial period for registering to take exams on computer, you may still do so for any exam that still has computer slots available. (Please keep in mind that not all professors allow students to take exams on computer.) You may also change your exam preference from computer to hand-writing. For both of these options, log into your Web for Students account and click on the Register for Exams on Computer link (under Online Forms).

Joke of the Week. Question: What's ET short for? Answer: Because he's got little legs!


Week of April 26, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder: Last Week of Classes.
The class schedule for the last week of the semester is as follows:

Monday, May 3: Monday classess meet (King Birthday make-up)
Tuesday, May 4: Wednesday classes meet (Professionalism Day make-up)
Wednesday, May 5: Friday classes meet (Good Friday make-up)

The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 5. Exams begin on Tuesday, May 11.

Spring 2004 Exams.


Exam Schedule. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. If you have not received an e-mail notification with your exam room assignments, you can find the information by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the Spring 2004 link.

Exams on Computer.
If you missed the initial period for registering to take exams on computer, you may still do so for any exam that still has computer slots available. (Please keep in mind that not all professors allow students to take exams on computer.) You may also change your exam preference from computer to hand-writing. For both of these options, log into your Web for Students account and click on the Register for Exams on Computer link (under Online Forms).

Availability of Professors' Old Exams. Many professors make their old exams available for students to review. Exams after 1992 are available online by going to http://library.kentlaw.edu/services/students.htm#Exams, and then clicking on the link indicated there. Exams dating from 1992 and before are bound in volumes available in the 10th floor reading room in the Library.

Fall 2004 Registration.
The preliminary Fall 2004 Schedule of Classes is available outside the third floor cafeteria. An online version is linked to this page and to the main Student Portal page (click on the Fall 2004 link). The Registration Bulletin and final schedule will be distributed no later than Wednesday, April 28.

Intensive Trial Advocacy. Please note that registration for both the August 2004 and the January 2005 sessions of Intensive Trial Advocacy take place as part of Fall 2004 registration. See the listing for Intensive Trial Advocacy in the preliminary Schedule of Classes for details.

Mexico Summer Program. Chicago-Kent offers a summer study program in Mexico in cooperation with the Instituto Tecnolygico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey). The 2004 summer program will run from June 14 to July 28. Classes are taught in English, and the program will assist you in finding housing. The application deadline is May 10. Details about the program are linked to this page.

Dean's Certificate for Illinois Bar Exam. We will mail a Dean's Certificate to the Illinois bar examiners for every graduating student after final grades for the Spring semester are received and processed, and we can confirm completion of all graduation requirements. We compile the list of graduating students from the list of those who submitted Applications for Graduation listing Spring 2004 as their final semester.

Bar Exams in Other Jurisdictions. If you plan to take a bar exam outside of Illinois, you should provide the Registrar with appropriate forms for the Law School to complete as soon as possible.

Joke of the Week. Question: What kind of coffee did they serve on the Titanic? Answer: Sanka.


Week of April 19, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder: Last Week of Classes.
The class schedule for the last week of the semester is as follows:

Monday, May 3: Monday classess meet (King Birthday make-up)
Tuesday, May 4: Wednesday classes meet (Professionalism Day make-up)
Wednesday, May 5: Friday classes meet (Good Friday make-up)

The last day of classes is Wednesday, May 5. Exams begin on Tuesday, May 11.

Dean Krent: Upcoming Events.
State of the Law School Address: Dean Krent will present the annual State of the Law School Address on Tuesday, April 20, at 5:00 pm in the 10th Floor Event Room. Dean's Meet and Greets: Dean Krent invites all students to stop by the 5th Floor Student Lounge on Wednesday, April 21, from 8:45-9:45 am or 5:00-5:40 pm to share your thoughts about the Law School or to ask questions. Refreshments will be available.

Spring 2004 Exams.
The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. You will be notified this week or next by the Registrar's office of the classroom assignments for your exams.

Availability of Professors' Old Exams. Many professors make their old exams available for students to review. Exams after 1992 are available online by going to http://library.kentlaw.edu/services/students.htm#Exams, and then clicking on the link indicated there. Exams dating from 1992 and before are bound in volumes available in the 10th floor reading room in the Library.

Summer 2004 Registration.
Initial registration for Summer 2004 classes is now over. To learn what classes you have been admitted into, you must check the Online Registration site, which opened back up on Wednesday, April 14. You may add an open class, or drop a class and receive a tuition refund, through the end of the first week of the Summer term.

Fall 2004 Preliminary Schedule. The preliminary schedule of classes for the Fall 2004 semester will be distributed during the week of April 19 outside the third floor cafeteria; an online version will be available on the main Student Portal page. The final schedule and Registration Bulletin will be issued the following week.

"Where Do We Go From Here?" Program. This program introduces first-year students to the course requirements (Legal Writing and otherwise) for the second year, the certificate programs offered by Chicago-Kent, and clinical, externship, and other program opportunities available to upper-level students. The program will be offered at the following times:

Day Division: Wednesday, April 21, 1:00-2:30 pm (Auditorium).
Evening Division: Tuesday, April 20, 7:35–9:00 pm (Auditorium).

Chicago-Kent Law Review: 2004-2005 Board of Editors. Congratulations to the members of the 2004-2005 Board of Editors for the Chicago-Kent Law Review. A list of the new editors is linked to this page.

Joke of the Week. Patient: Doctor, I can't get this song out of my head and it's driving me crazy. I keep hearing, "It's Good to Touch the Green Green Grass of Home." Doctor: Hmm...that sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome. Patient: I've never heard of it. Doctor: Well, it's not unusual....


Week of April 12, 2004

Summer 2004 Registration.
The Summer 2004 Registration Bulletin, including the schedule of classes, is available outside the third floor cafeteria and through the Student Portal page on the Law School's web site. Registration began on Thursday, April 8 and continues through Monday, April 12. You may register at any time during that period. To register, go to the Student Portal page and click on the Online Registration link. You can use any computer with Internet access, either inside or outside the Law School.

After the end of the registration period, the registration requests will be processed according to each student's registration priority. In other words, registration will not be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis; as long as you register during the designated period, you will have an equal chance of being admitted to a class as other students within your registration priority group. Evening Division students have priority over Day Division students for Summer registration. Within divisions, registration priority is based on anticipated graduation date, with the earliest graduation date having the highest priority.

To learn what classes you have been admitted into, you must check the Online Registration site on or after Wednesday, April 14. Registering for a class during the initial registration period is no guarantee that you will be admitted to the class -- you must check the web site on or after Wednesday, April 14 to learn what classes you have been admitted to.

Teaching Evaluations. Teaching evaluations will be distributed in the coming weeks to elicit students' opinions about the quality of teaching at the Law School. Instructors will review the responses to improve the quality of their instruction and courses. The evaluations are also considered as one important factor in tenure, promotion, and compensation decisions for full-time faculty and are used as a factor in determining the effectiveness of part-time instructors. Evaluations are anonymous and will not be available to professors until grades are turned in.

Joke of the Week. Question: What would you get if all the cars in the United States were red? Answer: A red car nation!

Week of April 5, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Due to a religious holiday, there will be no classes on Friday, April 9.

Summer 2004 Registration.
The Summer 2004 Registration Bulletin, including the schedule of classes, is available outside the third floor cafeteria and through the Student Portal page on the Law School's web site. Registration will take place from Thursday, April 8 through Monday, April 12. You may register at any time during that period. To register, go to the Student Portal page and click on the Online Registration link. You can use any computer with Internet access, either inside or outside the Law School.

After the end of the registration period, the registration requests will be processed according to each student's registration priority. In other words, registration will not be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis; as long as you register during the designated period, you will have an equal chance of being admitted to a class as other students within your registration priority group. Evening Division students have priority over Day Division students for Summer registration. Within divisions, registration priority is based on anticipated graduation date, with the earliest graduation date having the highest priority.

To learn what classes you have been admitted into, you must check the Online Registration site on or after Wednesday, April 14. Registering for a class during the initial registration period is no guarantee that you will be admitted to the class -- you must check the web site on or after Wednesday, April 14 to learn what classes you have been admitted to.

Joke of the Week. A trucker is driving a group of penguins to the zoo. Suddenly, his truck breaks down and he is forced to pull over to the side of the road. He flags down a farmer driving by in his van and says, "I'll give you $100 to take these penguins to the zoo." The farmer accepts, loads the penguins in the van, and drives off. A few hours later, while the trucker is repairing his truck, he sees the farmer drive by with the penguins still in the back of his van. The trucker shouts out, "Hey, I thought you were going to take those penguins to the zoo!" The farmer replies, "Well, I took them to the zoo, but then I had some money left over, so now I'm taking them to the movies."

Week of March 29, 2004

Additional CALI Winners for Fall 2003.
Congratulations to the following students, who received the highest grades in the course indicated. Other CALI Award winners were announced in a previous issue of the Record; that list is linked to this page.

Securities Regulation (eve. section): Michelle Kessler
State & Local Taxation: Nancy Hauptman
Constitutional Torts: Nathan Wetzel
Practice Before the Federal Circuit: Scott Kolassa
Torts (Prof. Wright): Steven Garden and Luke Shannon

Summer 2004 Schedule. The Summer 2004 schedule of classes and Registration Bulletin will be available outside the third floor cafeteria and through the Student Portal web page late in the week of March 29.

Joke of the Week. Question: What do you get when you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Answer: Pumpkin pi!

Week of March 22, 2004

Joke of the Week.
A guy walks into a bar and orders a drink. While he's waiting, he hears little voices saying things like, "You really look nice in that suit," and "what an attractive hair cut." He mentions this to the bartender, who says, "Oh, that's just the peanuts -- they're complimentary."

Week of March 15, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Spring Break begins Saturday, March 13, at 12:00 noon. Classes resume on Monday, March 22.

Joke of the Week. Question: What happened when the frog broke down? Answer: He got toad away!

Week of March 8, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Spring Break begins Saturday, March 13, at 12:00 noon. Classes resume on Monday, March 22.

London Law Consortium: Informational Session. Chicago-Kent is a member of the London Law Consortium, a program that provides students at Chicago-Kent and six other American law schools the opportunity to study in London every Spring. If you would like to learn about the program that will be offered in Spring 2005, there will be an informational session on Wednesday, March 10, at 3:00 p.m., in Rm. 345. Professor David Rudstein, who has taught in the Consortium, will discuss the program and answer questions.

Joke of the Week. "You know there is a problem with the education system when you realize that out of the three Rs, only one begins with an R." (Dennis Miller)

Week of March 1, 2004

Elective Courses Subject to Mandatory Curve: Correction.
Professor Greenberg's day section of Criminal Procedure: Adjudicatory Process is subject to the mandatory curve for elective courses; however, the evening section of his course is not subject to the curve.

Joke of the Week. "Why do they bother saying 'raw' sewage? Do some people cook that stuff?" (George Carlin)

Week of February 23, 2004

Academic Calendar Reminder: No Classes Wednesday, February 25.
All law school classes (day and evening) are canceled on Wednesday, February 25, for Law as a Profession Day. Second-year students are required to attend the program.

Fall 2003 Grade Distributions. The grade distributions for Fall 2003 courses are linked to this page.

Week of February 16, 2004

No entries this week.

Week of February 9, 2004

Elective Courses Subject to Mandatory Curve.
A list of Spring 2004 elective courses with at least 25 students enrolled, and thus subject to the mandatory curve for elective courses, is linked to this page.

Class Ranks/GPA Cut-Offs. The GPA cut-offs as of the end of the Fall 2003 semester are linked to this page.

Fall 2003 CALI Award Winners. The CALI Excellence for the Future Award, sponsored by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, is given to the student or students who receive the highest grade in each section of each course. The CALI Award winners for most Fall 2003 courses are linked to this page. If a section or a course is not listed, that means we have not yet received the name of the award recipient from the instructor; they will be published in a later issue of the Record. Congratulations to all of you who received the award -- you should be proud of your achievement.

Joke of the week. "The New England Journal of Medicine reports that nine out of ten doctors agree that one out of ten doctors is an idiot." (Jay Leno)

Week of February 2, 2004

Illinois Bar Exam: Q&A with Bar Examiners for 1L Students.
(Attending this program could save you $350!) Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will be at the Law School on Wednesday, February 4, from 12:10 to 1:10 pm (for day students) and from 5:00 to 5:50 pm (for evening students) in Rm. C40 to answer questions from first-year students concerning the completion of your bar registration materials.

As announced in previous issues of the Record (see my Record archives), first-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should submit a Registration Application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year.

Joke of the week. "When I turned two I was really anxious because I doubled my age in a year. I thought, 'if this keeps up, by the time I'm six, I'll be ninety.'" (Steven Wright)

Week of January 26, 2004

Adding Classes After the First Week.
You may add an open course without special permission until the end of the first week of Spring classes; during the second week, however, you may add an open course only with permission of the instructor. You may not add a course after the second week of the semester.

ASP Small Group Sessions.
Please see the Academic Support Program section of the Record for information about the Academic Support Program, including membership criteria for ASP small group sessions and the process for petitioning into the small groups. For more information about the Academic Support Program and study resources, please visit the ASP web site.

Distribution of Spring U-Passes and New ID Cards.
If you have not already picked up your new Chicago-Kent ID card or (for those who qualify) your Spring U-Pass, please do so no later than Friday, January 30. The cards are available in the Registrar's office on the second floor.

ASP Workshop: "Learning From Experience: How to Interpet Your Exam Results and Plan Ahead." Are you curious about how to interpret your grades? Do you want to find out how your first semester results can affect your future law school performance? Are you looking for tips on the most effective way to do an exam review with a professor? All of these topics will be covered in the Academic Support Program's final 2003-2004 workshop on Wednesday, January 28, 3:00-4:00 pm (for day students) and 5:00-5:45 pm (for evening students) in Rm. C50. Although the workshop is mainly aimed at first-year students, all students are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

Illinois Bar Exam: Q&A with Bar Examiners. (Attending this program could save you $350!) Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will be at the Law School on Wednesday, February 4, from 12:10 to 1:10 pm (for day students) and from 5:00 to 5:50 pm (for evening students) in Rm. C40 to answer questions from first-year students concerning the completion of your bar registration materials.

As announced in previous issues of the Record (see my Record archives), first-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should submit a Registration Application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year.

Family and Friends Day.
We will be offering a Family and Friends Day program on Saturday, January 31, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The program is intended to give your spouses, partners, parents, children, and other important people in your lives the opportunity to visit the Law School and get a taste of what you are experiencing as a law student. The program will include a continental breakfast, mini-classes taught by me and Prof. Brill, and a mock trial demonstration featuring members of our award-winning Trial Team. If you would like to attend, please complete the response form linked to this page no later than January 27. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

Joke of the week. A dumb guy is walking along a river when he sees another dumb guy on the other side. The first guy yells, "HOW DO I GET TO THE OTHER SIDE?" The second guy rolls his eyes and responds, "YOU IDIOT, YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE OTHER SIDE!"

Week of January 19, 2004

Welcome Back!
Congratulations to all first-year students on completing your first semester of law school, and to upper-level students for making it one semester closer to graduation. I hope everyone had a restful holiday break.

Academic Calendar Reminder. Classes will not be held on Monday, January 19, in commemoration of Martin Luther King Day. Spring semester classes will
start on Tuesday, January 20. Because Martin Luther King Day is an official university holiday for the first time this year, this also means that the Law School building will be closed on January 19.

Spring 2004 Course Information:

Changes to the Spring Schedule. A list of changes to the Spring schedule (additions, cancellations, and one exam change) is linked to this page. I would particularly like to highlight a new clinical program, with preference given to evening students, sponsored by the Law School in conjunction with the Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS).

Classroom Assignments. Classroom assignments for Spring courses are posted in the front lobby and linked to this page.

Initial Reading Assignments. Initial assignments for many Spring courses are linked to this page.

Bookstore Hours. The bookstore's hours are linked to this page. Please note that the bookstore will not be open on Monday, January 19, due to the Law School's observance of Martin Luther King Day.

Trial Advocacy Section Assignments. Assignments for the Spring sections of Trial Advocacy 1 and Trial Advocacy 2 are linked to this page.

Adding Classes After the First Week. You may add an open course without special permission until the end of the first week of Spring classes; during the second week, however, you may add an open course only with permission of the instructor. You may not add a course after the second week of the semester.

ASP Small Group Sessions. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for information about the Academic Support Program, including membership criteria for ASP small group sessions and the process for petitioning into the small groups. For more information about the Academic Support Program and study resources, please visit the ASP web site.

Final Exams. The final exam schedule for the Spring semester is linked to this page. The Student Handbook requires that you take your finals at the times scheduled, even if you have two exams in a row, or one at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the only exception is if you have three exams scheduled consecutively (which rarely happens) or two exams scheduled at the same time. If you believe you have an exam conflict or other circumstances justifying the rescheduling of an exam (see Student Handbook sections 7.2 and 7.3), please contact Jamie Lake, the Director of Student Services (e-mail: JLAKE).

Distribution of Spring U-Passes and New ID Cards. Spring U-Passes and new Chicago-Kent ID cards will be distributed in the front lobby on Tuesday, January 20, from 11:45-1:00 and 4:00-6:00 pm. All students should pick up a new ID card. For more information on the U-Pass program and which students qualify for participation in the program, see the Student Services section of the Record.

"Law as a Profession: From Law Student to Lawyer," Wednesday, February 25 (required for all 2L students). All second-year students are required to attend the annual Law as a Profession Day program on Wednesday, February 25. Attendance at Law as a Profession Day is a graduation requirement. If you are a second-year student and have not yet registered for the program, please do so as soon as possible through the online course registration system (course number 121-001 for day students, 121-051 for evening students). If you have any questions, please contact me (ssowle@kentlaw.edu).

ASP Workshop: "Learning From Experience: How to Interpet Your Exam Results and Plan Ahead." Are you curious about how to interpret your grades? Do you want to find out how your first semester results can affect your future law school performance? Are you looking for tips on the most effective way to do an exam review with a professor? All of these topics will be covered in the Academic Support Program's final 2003-2004 workshop on Wednesday, January 28, 3:00-4:00 pm (for day students) and 5:00-5:45 pm (for evening students) in Rm. C50. Although the workshop is mainly aimed at first-year students, all students are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

Save the Date: Family and Friends Day, January 31. We will be offering a Family and Friends Day program on Saturday, January 31, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The program is intended to give your spouses, partners, parents, children, and other important people in your lives the opportunity to visit the Law School and get a taste of what you are experiencing as a law student. The program will include a continental breakfast, mini-classes taught by me and Prof. Brill, and a mock trial demonstration featuring members of our award-winning Trial Team. If you would like to attend, please complete the response form linked to this page no later than January 27. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

Bar Registration for First-Year Students. First-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should register with the Illinois bar examiners. The registration materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year. If you are uncertain whether you intend to practice in Illinois, you may want to consider waiting to register and paying the late fee should you eventually decide to take the Illinois bar exam. The application form is very comprehensive and requires you to provide a significant amount of background information, some of which may be difficult to remember or obtain. I suggest that, if you do plan to register by the March deadline, you begin working on the materials sooner rather than later. If you have any questions about the application materials, you may call the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar at 217/522-5917.

All information you disclose on the bar registration application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar registration application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.

Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will visit the Law School early in the Spring semester to answer questions concerning the completion of the bar registration application. We will announce the date and time once the session has been scheduled.

First-year students who think they may practice in another state should contact the bar examiners office in that state as soon as possible to determine their registration requirements. Booklets with the addresses and phone numbers of state bar examiners offices are available for you to consult in the Registrar’s office and in my office.

July 2004 Illinois Bar Exam. Applications for the July 2004 Illinois bar exam must be postmarked by February 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org. Please note: Even if you registered with the bar examiners as a first-year student, you must still file a final application by February 1. If you did not register during your first year, you will need a separate set of application materials, which contains both the registration application and the final application. Please be sure that you obtain the correct materials. If you have any questions about the application materials, you may call the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar at 217/522-5917.

The law school sends a “Certificate of Dean of Law School Proof of Legal Education” to the Illinois bar examiners for every student who graduates in May. Please be sure to file an Application for Graduation so that we will know you plan to graduate in May.

All information you disclose on the bar application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.

Note about religious conflict with July bar exam: The first day of the Illinois bar exam this year falls on the Jewish holiday Tisha B'Av. If this provides a conflict for you, please see the Student Services section of the Record for more information.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is required for admission to the bars of most jurisdictions, including Illinois. The exam is administered in March, August, and November each year. You may take the exam after you have completed the equivalent of two full academic years of law school, i.e., after you have completed two-thirds of the academic requirements for the J.D. degree. Applications for the next exam, on March 8, 2003, are available in the Registrar's office. The deadline for applying for the March exam is February 3, 2004 (the late deadline is February 19).

Academic Calendar for 2004-2005. The Academic Calendar for 2004-2005 is linked to this page.

Reminder About IIT's Political Activity Policy. IIT’s General Counsel would like to remind employees and students of the university’s obligation as a tax-exempt entity to refrain from engaging in any partisan political activities. This policy applies to all academic units within IIT, including the Law School. Violation of the prohibition against such activity could jeopardize IIT’s tax-exempt status. While individuals are free to express their opinions and to support political candidates on their own, it must be clear that the individual is acting on his or her own behalf and not on behalf of IIT. In no event may the name, symbols, or resources of the university be used to participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for political office. Specific examples of impermissible activities include the use of university letterhead, campus mail, or IIT e-mail accounts to solicit support or contributions for a candidate; using university funds to purchase tickets for a candidate's fund-raiser; and putting campaign posters on university property. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please contact Mary Anne Smith, Vice President and General Counsel of IIT, at 312/567-3034.

Joke of the week. Question: What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years? Answer: Click here.


FALL 2003

W
eek of December 8, 2003


Good Luck and Happy Holidays.
I wish all of you the best of luck on your exams, and a joyous holiday season.

Fall 2003 Exams.

Exam Schedule. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page.

Room Assignments and Exam Procedures.
You should have received an e-mail from the Registrar's office with room assignments for your exams. If you have not received that information, you can find it by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the "Fall 2003" link. Room assignments will also be posted in the front lobby.

Exam Emergencies
. If an emergency occurs that may prevent you from taking a final exam, you or someone on your behalf should call Chris Matheny (312/906-5271) or me (312/906-5130) as soon as possible. If you cannot reach either of us, call the Registrar's office (312/906-5080). Do not contact your professor, as this may compromise your anonymity. Please read Section VII of the Student Handbook, which contains the rules governing exams, exam conflicts, make-up exams, missed exams, and related issues; and review Article II of the Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Consulting Laptops During Exams.
Unless your professor specifically authorizes it, you may not consult materials (notes, outlines, etc.) stored on your laptop computer during an open book or limited open book exam; you are limited to consulting print materials authorized by your professor. Please note: This is separate from the issue of whether you may write your exam on your own laptop. The limitation described above applies whether you are writing your exam by hand or on a lab or laptop computer.

Spring 2004 Classes.

Changes to Class Schedule. We have added a new seminar to the Spring 2004 schedule (see details below). Please contact Professor Perritt (hperritt@kentlaw.edu) if you are interested in enrolling.

The Law of Nationbuilding (678-071), Prof. Henry H. Perritt, Jr., 2 credits. Thursdays, 4:00-5:50 pm. No exam. Instructor permission required. Description: International intervention in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq have raised a number of questions about public international law, administrative law, and how best to create a legal framework for development of democratic institutions and market economies. Students will write papers on some aspect of law related to these nationbuilding challenges. The seminar will be integrated with the Nationbuilding IPRO, which will have students working on projects related to the political trusteeship in Kosovo, including promotion of tourism, resolution of legal issues related to privatization, compiling applicable law, especially pertaining to property and commercial transactions. (Note: IPROs are IIT Interprofessional Projects that draw students from various colleges and departments throughout the university.)

Initial Reading Assignments and Course Books. Reading assignments for the first week of the Spring semester will be posted on the Student Portal page on Monday, December 22. Assignments not received by December 22 will be posted on the second-floor bulletin board as they are received.
You may ask the bookstore to hold your Spring course books for you when they arrive, or for an extra fee you may request that the books be mailed to you over the holiday break. If you would like to take advantage of either of these options, stop by the bookstore before you leave, or call the bookstore at 312/906-5605. In addition, you may order your course books over the web by clicking on the bookstore link on the Student Portal page.

U-Pass Notice. If you currently have a U-Pass, it will be effective through December 19, the last day of Fall exams. New U-Passes will be issued for the Spring semester. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about eligibility for the U-Pass and distribution of the Spring U-Passes.

Joke of the week. "My favorite form of motion is the car. I love cars. It's the greatest physical object I've ever seen. I don't know why, really. My only theory is: When you're driving, you're outside and inside, moving and completely still, all at the same time. I think that's something." (Jerry Seinfeld)


Week of December 1, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder.
The class schedule following Thanksgiving is as follows:

Monday, December 1: Monday classes meet (Labor Day make-up)
Tuesday, December 2: Monday classes meet (Yom Kippur make-up)
Wednesday, December 3: Thursday classes meet (Thanksgiving make-up)
Thursday, December 4: Friday classes meet and Wednesday classes starting
4:00 and later meet (Thanksgiving make-up)

Read period runs from Friday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 9. Exams start on Wednesday, December 10 and end on Friday, December 19.

Fall 2003 Exams.

Exam Schedule. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. If you have not received an e-mail notification with your exam room assignments, you can find the information by logging into your Web for Students account and clicking on the "Fall 2003" link.

Exams on Computer.
If you missed the initial period for registering to take exams on computer, you may still do so for any exam that still has computer slots available. (Please keep in mind that not all professors allow students to take exams on computer.) You may also change your exam preference from computer to hand-writing. For both of these options, log into your Web for Students account and click on the Register for "Exams on Computer" link (under "Online Forms").

Availability of Professors' Old Exams. Many professors make their old exams available for students to review. Exams after 1992 are available online by going to http://library.kentlaw.edu/services/students.htm#Exams, and then clicking on the link indicated there. Exams dating from 1992 and before are bound in volumes available in the 10th floor reading room in the Library.

U-Pass Notice. If you currently have a U-Pass, it will be effective through December 19, the last day of Fall exams. New U-Passes will be issued for the Spring semester. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about eligibility for the U-Pass and distribution of the Spring U-Passes.

Joke of the week. If a parsley farmer goes bankrupt, can they garnish his wages?


Week of November 24, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Thanksgiving vacation begins Wednesday, November 26, at 4:00 pm. Classes resume Monday, December 1. The class schedule following Thanksgiving is as follows:

Monday, December 1: Monday classes meet (Labor Day make-up)
Tuesday, December 2: Monday classes meet (Yom Kippur make-up)
Wednesday, December 3: Thursday classes meet (Thanksgiving make-up)
Thursday, December 4: Friday classes meet and Wednesday classes starting
4:00 and later meet (Thanksgiving make-up)

Read period runs from Friday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 9. Exams start on Wednesday, December 10 and end on Friday, December 19.

Spring 2004 Registration.
The priority registration period for Spring 2004 classes is now over. If you have not already done so, please log back into the web registration system to see what classes you were admitted into and to make adjustments to your schedule.

Adding and Dropping Classes. You may make adjustments to your schedule through the end of the second week of the Spring semester. The Spring 2004 Registration Bulletin, which includes the final schedule of Spring classes and course and exam grids, is available outside the third floor cafeteria. Online versions of these documents are linked to this page and to the main Student Portal page.

Legal Writing 3 and Legal Writing 4. We have added one additional section of each of these courses (details are below). We are working on adding a second new section of Legal Writing 4 and will announce the details when they are available. You may register for the new sections (or any other open section) using the web registration system.

Legal Writing 3: section 431-073, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30-5:25 pm, General Practice, instructor TBA (1 credit).

Legal Writing 4: section 432-010, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30-5:55 pm, General Practice, Prof. Bernard Farber (3 credits).

Fall 2003 Exams. The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. You will be notified of the classroom assignments for your exams this week or next.

U-Pass Notice.
If you currently have a U-Pass, it will be effective through December 19, the last day of Fall exams. New U-Passes will be issued for the Spring semester. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about eligibility for the U-Pass and distribution of the Spring U-Passes.

ASP Teacher's Assistant Applications. If you are interested in applying for a Teacher's Assistant position for the Spring 2004 semester, the deadline for doing so is November 25. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about the application procedure.

Joke of the week. First baker: That's great bread -- can I have the recipe? Second baker: Sorry, but I only share that on a knead to know basis.


Week of November 17, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Thanksgiving vacation begins Wednesday, November 26, at 4:00 pm. Classes resume Monday, December 1. The class schedule following Thanksgiving is as follows:

Monday, December 1: Monday classes meet (Labor Day make-up)
Tuesday, December 2: Monday classes meet (Yom Kippur make-up)
Wednesday, December 3: Thursday classes meet (Thanksgiving make-up)
Thursday, December 4: Friday classes meet and Wednesday classes starting
4:00 and later meet (Thanksgiving make-up)

Read period runs from Friday, December 5 to Tuesday, December 9. Exams start on Wednesday, December 10 and end on Friday, December 19.

Spring 2004 Final Schedule and Registration.
The Spring 2004 Registration Bulletin, which includes the final schedule of Spring classes and course and exam grids, is available outside the third floor cafeteria. Online versions of these documents are linked to this page and to the main Student Portal page. The Registration Bulletin contains instructions on registering online. Registration runs from Friday, November 14 through Monday, November 17. You may register at any time during that period. After the end of the registration period, the registration requests will be processed according to each student's registration priority. In other words, registration will not be conducted on a first-come, first served basis; as long as you register during the designated period, you will have an equal chance of being admitted to a class as other students within your registration priority group.

To learn what classes you have been admitted into, you must check the online registration site on or after Wednesday, November 19. Registering for a class during the initial registration period is no guarantee that you will be admitted into the class – you must check the web site on or after Wednesday, November 19 to learn what classes you have been admitted into.

Spring 2004 Registration for First-Year Students.
Although first-year students have set schedules, you still must register for your Spring courses using the online registration system. Please be careful to register for the doctrinal classes listed for your current section, and for the Legal Writing section taught by your current professor.

Fall 2003 Exams.
The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. You will be notified of the classroom assignments for your exams prior to the start of the exam period.

ASP Program on Preparing for and Taking Exams: Handouts and Videotapes Available.
If you were unable to attend the recent ASP program on preparing for and taking exams, copies of two useful handouts are linked to this page. You can also borrow a videotape of the program from Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE; phone: 312/906-5247; office: 310F).

ASP Teacher's Assistant Applications. If you are interested in applying for a Teacher's Assistant position for the Spring 2004 semester, the deadline for doing so is November 25. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about the application procedure.

Illinois Bar Application: Q&A With Bar Examiners.
Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will be at the Law School on Thursday, November 20, 12:00-1:30 pm (for day students) and 5:00-6:00 pm (for evening students) in the Auditorium to answer questions from third-year students concerning the completion of your bar application. A separate session will be held early in the Spring semester for first-year students.

As announced in previous issues of the Record, first-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should submit a registration application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site at http://www.ibaby.org/. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year.

Teaching Evaluations. Teaching evaluations will be distributed in the coming weeks to elicit students' opinions about the quality of teaching at the Law School. Instructors will review the responses to improve the quality of their instruction and courses. The evaluations are also considered as one important factor in tenure, promotion, and compensation decisions for full-time faculty and are used as a factor in determining the effectiveness of part-time instructors. Evaluations are anonymous and will not be available to professors until grades are turned in.

Joke of the week. Did you hear about the eye doctor who moved to Alaska? He's now an optical Aleutian. (Thanks to Kimberly Myers for this joke.)


Week of November 10, 2003

Spring 2004 Schedule and Registration.
The preliminary schedule of classes for the Spring 2004 semester is available outside the third floor cafeteria. An online version is linked to this page and to the main Student Portal page. The final schedule and Registration Bulletin will be issued during the week of November 10. Instructions for registering online will be included in the Registration Bulletin. Registration will take place Friday, November 14 through Monday, November 17. You may register at any time during that period. After the end of the registration period, the registration requests will be processed according to each student's registration priority. In other words, registration will not be conducted on a first-come, first served basis; as long as you register during the designated period, you will have an equal chance of being admitted to a class as other students within your registration priority group.

Exams on Computer Sign-Up.
Many professors allow students to take their exams on computer (either lab computers or students' own laptops, or both). The deadline for signing up to take exams on computer is November 14. The Registrar's section of the Record has details about the procedure for signing up.

ASP Program on Preparing for and Taking Exams.
The Academic Support Program will present its final Fall workshop on Tuesday, November 11, 5:00-5:45 pm, in Rm. C50 (for evening students) and Wednesday, November 12, 3:00-4:00, in the Auditorium (for day students). This workshop will focus on strategies for preparing for and taking exams and will feature comments from both the faculty and student perspectives. Although the workshop is mainly aimed at first-year students, all students are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

Illinois Bar Exam: Q&A With Bar Examiners.
Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will be at the Law School on Thursday, November 20, 12:00-1:30 pm (for day students) and 5:00-6:00 pm (for evening students) in the Auditorium to answer questions from third-year students concerning the completion of your bar application. A separate session will be held early in the Spring semester for first-year students.

As announced in previous issues of the Record, first-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should submit a registration application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org/. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year.

ASP Teacher's Assistant Applications. If you are interested in applying for a Teacher's Assistant position for the Spring 2004 semester, the deadline for doing so is November 25. Please see the Student Services section of the Record for details about the application procedure.

Joke of the week.
Question: How do you define "plateau"? Answer: It's a high form of flattery!

Week of November 3, 2003

Spring 2004 Preliminary Schedule.
The preliminary schedule of classes for the Spring 2004 semester will be distributed the week of November 3 outside the third floor cafeteria; an online version will be available on the main Student Portal page. The final schedule and Registration Bulletin will be issued the following week.

Fall 2003 Final Exams.
The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. The Student Handbook requires that you take your finals at the times scheduled, even if you have two exams in a row, or one at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the only exception is if you have three exams scheduled consecutively (which rarely happens) or two exams scheduled at the same time. If you believe you have an exam conflict or other circumstances justifying the rescheduling of an exam (see Student Handbook sections 7.2 and 7.3), please complete a Final Exam Reschedule form on the Web for Students site (go to https://webmail.kentlaw.edu/exchange/logon.asp, click on the Web for Students icon, and navigate to the appropriate form). The deadline is Friday, November 7. The Registrar's office will notify you of the rescheduled date, time, and location of your exam.

Availability of Professors' Old Exams.
Many professors make their old exams available for students to review. Exams dating from 1992 and before are bound in volumes available in the 10th floor reading room in the Library. Exams after 1992 are available online by going to http://library.kentlaw.edu/services/students.htm#Exams, and then clicking on the link indicated there.

ASP Program on Preparing for and Taking Exams.
The Academic Support Program will present its final Fall workshop on Tuesday, November 11, 5:00-5:45 pm, in Rm. C50 (for evening students) and Wednesday, November 12, 3:00-4:00, in the Auditorium (for day students). This workshop will focus on strategies for preparing for and taking exams and will feature comments from both the faculty and student perspectives. Although the workshop is mainly aimed at first-year students, all students are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE).

CALI Award Winners for Summer 2003.
The CALI Excellence for the Future Award, sponsored by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, is given to the student or students who receive the highest grade in each section of each course. The CALI Award winners for Summer 2003 courses are linked to this page. Congratulations to all of you who received the award -- you should be proud of your achievement.

Flu Shots.
Flu shots will be available for students, staff, and faculty on Thursday, November 6, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm in Rm. C35. The cost is $15 (cash or check only). No appointment necessary.

Illinois Bar Exam: Q&A With Bar Examiners.
Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will be at the Law School on Thursday, November 20, 12:00-1:30 pm (for day students) and 5:00-6:00 pm (for evening students) in the Auditorium to answer questions from third-year students concerning the completion of your bar application. A separate session will be held early in the Spring semester for first-year students.

As announced in previous issues of the Record, first-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should submit a registration application, which must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org/. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year.

U-Pass FAQ.
You can now find answers to your questions about the U-Pass program in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions document on the Student Services web site. Permanent links to the document can also be found on the main Student Portal web page and in the heading of my weekly Record entries, above. If you have any questions not answered by this document, please contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE; phone: 312/906-5247; office: 310F). Thanks to Jamie for putting this document together.

Joke of the week.
Question: What does a pumpkin wear when it tries to quit smoking? Answer: A pumpkin patch!

Week of October 27, 2003

Fall 2003 Final Exams.
The final exam schedule for the current semester is linked to this page. The Student Handbook requires that you take your finals at the times scheduled, even if you have two exams in a row, or one at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the only exception is if you have three exams scheduled consecutively (which rarely happens) or two exams scheduled at the same time. If you believe you have an exam conflict or other circumstances justifying the rescheduling of an exam (see Student Handbook sections 7.2 and 7.3), please complete a Final Exam Reschedule form on the Web for Students site (go to https://webmail.kentlaw.edu/exchange/logon.asp, click on the Web for Students icon, and navigate to the appropriate form). The deadline is Friday, November 7. The Registrar's office will notify you of the rescheduled date, time, and location of your exam.

Availability of Professors' Old Exams.
Many professors make their old exams available for students to review. Exams dating from 1992 and before are bound in volumes available in the 10th floor reading room in the Library. Exams after 1992 are available online by going to http://www.infoctr.edu/studentservices.html, clicking on Exam Database, and then clicking on the link indicated there.

Flu Shots.
Flu shots will be available for students, staff, and faculty on Thursday, October 30, 11:30 am - 2:00 pm in Rm. 155; and on Thursday, November 6, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm in Rm. C35. The cost is $15 (cash or check only). No appointment necessary.

U.S. District Court: "Courtroom as Classroom" Event.
The United States District Court is offering a program, the "Courtroom as Classroom," for Chicago-Kent students on Wednesday, November 5. The program provides an introduction to federal court practice and procedures. Each law school in the district is given its own day to send students to hear from a variety of speakers drawn as much as possible from graduates of the law school. Details: The program for Chicago-Kent students will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 3:30-5:00 p.m., in the Parsons Memorial Courtroom, Rm. 2525, on the 25th Floor of the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 South Dearborn Street. The Dirksen Building is within walking distance; transportation will not be provided. You should plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early, as it can take time to get through the security checkpoint. You should then proceed directly to the 25th Floor. Please do not bring cameras or any personal protection devices (weapons, pocket knives, pepper spray, etc.).

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Denise Lang (e-mail: DLANG) so that we can provide a rough estimate of attendance to the District Court. Although the program is open to all students, first-year students are particularly encouraged to attend.

Joke of the week.
Question: What time is it when Sir Lancelot looks at his belly button? Answer: The middle of the Knight!

Week of October 20, 2003

Fire Drill.
We would like to thank students, faculty, and staff for their cooperation with the recent fire drill. Compared with last Fall's fire drill, we significantly improved the time it took to clear the building. Although we were pleased with how the drill went, we would like to pass along a few reminders:

*Please use the nearest staircase to exit the building -- do not use the elevators.

*We would prefer that you not take time to gather up your belongings -- your safety is more important than your possessions. If you feel that you must take any valuables with you, please "grab and go" -- do not waste precious seconds or minutes powering down your laptop computer or packing up your belongings.

*Once you exit the building, please move eastward down the sidewalk (toward the lake) so that you will be out of harm's way if any windows shatter. For your safety, please do not cross the street or step into traffic.

Joke of the week. Question: What do you get when you cross a helicopter, an elephant, and a rhinocerous? Answer: Helephino! (say it out loud)


Week of October 13, 2003

Student Health Insurance FAQ.
You can now find answers to your questions about student health insurance in the form of a Frequently Asked Questions document on the Student Services web site. Permanent links to the document can also be found on the main Student Portal web page and in the heading of my weekly Record entries, above. If you have any questions not answered by this document, please contact Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE; phone: 312/906-5247; office: 310F). Thanks to Jamie for putting this document together.

ASP Program on Outlining: Handouts and Videotape Available. If you were unable to attend the recent ASP program on outlining, copies of the handout distributed during the program are available on the table outside the third-floor cafeteria. You can also borrow a videotape of the program from Jamie Lake (e-mail: JLAKE; phone: 312/906-5247; office: 310F).

Joke of the week. Question: What did the the snail say while riding on the turtle's back? Answer: WEEEEEEEEEE! (Thanks to Chad Clemons for this week's joke.)

Week of October 6, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Due to a religious holiday, there will be no classes on Monday, October 6.

ASP Program on Outlining. The Academic Support Program will present the second of three Fall workshops on Tuesday, October 7, 12:00-1:00 pm, in the Auditorium. Although this is mainly for day students (a session was held last week for evening students), all students are welcome. The workshop will focus on different approaches to the course outlining process and will feature members of the Chicago-Kent Law Review, who will share their tips for assembling a useable and complete course outline. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Dean Sowle (e-mail: SSOWLE).

Joke of the week. Patient: Doctor, I think I've turned into a pair of curtains. Doctor: Pull yourself together, man!


Week of September 29, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder.
Due to a religious holiday, there will be no classes on Monday, October 6.

ASP Program on Outlining. The Academic Support Program will present the second of three Fall workshops on Wednesday, October 1, 5:00-5:45, in Rm. C50 (for evening students) and Tuesday, October 7, 12:00-1:00 pm, in the Auditorium (for day students). This workshop will focus on different approaches to the course outlining process and will feature members of the Chicago-Kent Law Review, who will share their tips for assembling a useable and complete course outline. Although the programs are mainly aimed at first-year students, all students are welcome to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Dean Sowle (e-mail: SSOWLE).

Fire Safety. In the event of a fire, it is vital that we clear the building as quickly as possible. You should assume that there is a real fire whenever the fire alarms go off and should immediately take the nearest enclosed stairwell to the first floor and exit the building -- do not use the elevators, and do not take valuable time collecting up your possessions or stopping by your locker. Once you exit the building, please move eastward down the sidewalk (toward the lake) so that you will be out of harm's way if any windows shatter. Failure to leave the building promptly, or failure to follow the directions of Law School personnel, may subject you to a Code of Conduct charge (as happened last year when a student disobeyed instructions of several Law School officials so that he could go to his locker).

Joke of the week. (Here's one for the computer geeks out there.) Question: What do you call a Local Area Network in Australia? Answer: The LAN down under!

Week of September 22, 2003

Contracts Exam (Prof. Warner's Section).
The exam date and time for Prof. Warner's Contracts class were listed incorrectly on the web site. (The Fall Schedule of Classes listed the correct day, but the incorrect date. The Fall Exam Schedule listed the correct day and date, but the wrong time.) The correct information is as follows: Friday, December 19, 1:15 pm.

Trial Team Tryouts. Tryouts for the Chicago-Kent Trial Team will be held this Thursday, September 25, 5:00-9:00 pm in the Marovitz Courtroom. All students are eligible. Details are linked to this page.

Joke of the week. Question: What do you call two dumb guys with Ph.D.'s? Answer: A paradox.

Week of September 15, 2003

Elective Courses Subject to Mandatory Curve.
A list of Fall 2003 elective courses with at least 25 students enrolled, and thus subject to the mandatory curve for elective courses, is linked to this page.

Joke of the week. Did you hear about the short fortune-teller who escaped from prison? He was a small medium at large.
Week of September 8, 2003

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) -- Correction.
In last week's Record, I provided information about applying for the February 2004 administration of the MPRE. The next administration of the exam, however, will be November 7, 2003. Applications for the exam are available in the Registrar's office. The deadline for applying for the November exam is September 30 (the late deadline is October 16). Please see my Record entry from last week (click on the archives link above) for more information about the MPRE.

Joke of the week. Question: What happens if you don't pay your exorcist? Answer: You get repossessed.

Week of September 1, 2003

Academic Calendar Reminder:
In observance of Labor Day, there will be no classes on Monday, September 1.

CTA U-Pass Program. If you are a full-time student and have not yet picked up your U-Pass for the Fall semester, please do so as soon as possible. The passes are available from Denise Lang outside my office (Suite 320C). Details about the U-Pass program were included in last week's Record (click on the archive link above).

Class Ranks/GPA Cut-Offs for Spring 2003. The GPA cut-offs as of the end of the Spring 2003 semester are linked to this page.

Grade Distributions for Spring 2003. The grade distributions for Spring 2003 courses are linked to this page.

Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines. This is a reminder that the Chicago-Kent Legal Writing Ethics Guidelines apply to all Chicago-Kent students, including students enrolled in upper-level writing courses (Advanced Research, Legal Drafting, Research/Drafting combined sections, Legal Writing 3, Legal Writing 4, and all seminars). The Guidelines, which address a variety of issues, including plagiarism, are linked to this page. If you have not reviewed the Guidelines recently, please do so.

Chicago-Kent Law Review: Updated List of New Members. I'm happy to report that the students listed below have been invited to join the Chicago-Kent Law Review based on their academic performance, or their successful participation in this summer's write-on competition. I hope you will take the opportunity to congratulate the students you know.
Michelle L. Albrecht Aaron J. Marcus
Ryan D. Andrews Rayna M. Matczak
Matthew A. Argenti Michael P. Matesky II
Carson C. Block Calista J. Mitchell
John K. Burnett III Tonya G. Newman
Antonio Caldarone Gerard M. Nussbaum
Lindsey A. Daggett Maria Pellegrino
David J. Gonen Sharyn M. Procaccio
Shahid U. Haque Steven M. Richart
Katherine M. Hausrath David E. Robin
Sarah P. Herlihy Kristin J. Rosella
Joseph H. Herron Hart L. Rosenblatt
Bradley C. Johnson Kristin Rylko
Christopher M. Kaiser Heather L. Sauber
Jessica C. Kaiser Michael J. Van Riper
Steven L. Lezell Kirsten K. Wendela
David K. Lutz  

Bar Registration for First-Year Students. First-year students who plan to take the Illinois Bar Examination after graduation should register with the Illinois bar examiners. The registration materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org/. Although you are not required to register as a first-year student, the advantage of doing so is that you will avoid paying a late fee of $350 imposed on those who register at any point after March 1 of their first year. If you are uncertain whether you intend to practice in Illinois, you may want to consider waiting to register and paying the late fee should you eventually decide to take the Illinois bar exam. The application form is very comprehensive and requires you to provide a significant amount of background information, some of which may be difficult to remember or obtain. I suggest that, if you do plan to register by the March deadline, you begin working on the materials sooner rather than later. If you have any questions about the application materials, you may call the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar at 217/522-5917.

All information you disclose on the bar registration application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar registration application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.

First-year students who think they may practice in another state should contact the bar examiners office in that state as soon as possible to determine their registration requirements. Booklets with the addresses and phone numbers of state bar examiners offices are available for you to consult in the Registrar’s office and in my office.

July 2004 Illinois Bar Application. Applications for the July 2004 Illinois bar exam must be postmarked by February 1, 2004. The forms and instructions are available on the bar examiners' web site: http://www.ibaby.org/. Please note: Even if you registered with the bar examiners as a first-year student, you must still file a final application by February 1. If you did not register during your first year, you will need a separate set of application materials, which contains both the registration application and the final application. Please be sure that you obtain the correct materials. If you have any questions about the application materials, you may call the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar at 217/522-5917.

The law school sends a “Certificate of Dean of Law School Proof of Legal Education” to the Illinois bar examiners for every student who graduates in May. Please be sure to file an Application for Graduation so that we will know you plan to graduate in May.

All information you disclose on the bar application should be consistent with answers to questions on your Application for Admission to the law school. Please note, however, that the bar application asks for a considerable amount of information that you were not asked to provide on our Application for Admission. You only need to be concerned about the consistency of your answers for questions asked on both forms. You can amend your Application for Admission, if necessary, by addressing a letter to me setting forth the details of the omission or misrepresentation and the reason for it.

Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). The MPRE is required for admission to the bars of most jurisdictions, including Illinois. The exam is administered in March, August, and November each year. You may take the exam after you have completed the equivalent of two full academic years of law school, i.e., after you have completed two-thirds of the academic requirements for the J.D. degree. Applications for the next exam, on March 8, 2003, are available in the Registrar's office. The deadline for applying for the March exam is February3, 2004 (the late deadline is February 19).

Reminder About IIT's Political Activity Policy. IIT’s General Counsel would like to remind employees and students of the university’s obligation as a tax-exempt entity to refrain from engaging in any partisan political activities. This policy applies to all academic units within IIT, including the Law School. Violation of the prohibition against such activity could jeopardize IIT’s tax-exempt status. While individuals are free to express their opinions and to support political candidates on their own, it must be clear that the individual is acting on his or her own behalf and not on behalf of IIT. In no event may the name, symbols, or resources of the university be used to participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate for political office. Specific examples of impermissible activities include the use of university letterhead, campus mail, or IIT e-mail accounts to solicit support or contributions for a candidate; using university funds to purchase tickets for a candidate's fund-raiser; and putting campaign posters on university property. If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, contact Mary Anne Smith, Vice President and General Counsel of IIT, at 312/567-3034.

Joke of the week. In democracy, it's your vote that counts. In feudalism, it's your count that votes.


Week of August 25, 2003

General Announcements:

Academic Calendar Reminder. In observance of Labor Day, there will be no classes on Monday, September 1.

Student Organization Fair. The annual Student Organization Fair will be held on Tuesday, August 26, from 12:00-2:00 (for day students) and from 5:00-6:00 (for evening students) in the second and third floor atriums. All students are invited. (Please note: For students participating in the on-campus interviewing program, there is a mandatory meeting from 12:00-1:10 on August 26. You will have time to attend the program and still participate in the Fair.)

New Chicago-Kent Master Calendar. A new Master Calendar for the Law School was launched over the summer. The site is linked to this page; it may also be accessed from the main Chicago-Kent web page and from the Record web pages (see, e.g., the link to the right on this page). This site brings together the following different calendars: the Academic Calendar, Admissions Calendar, Alumnae/i Calendar, Events Calendar, and Student Calendar. You can view events in calendar or list format; by day, week, month, or year; and may look at one specific kind of calendar or all calendars together.

CTA U-Pass Program. As announced last Spring, Chicago-Kent has joined the Chicago Transit Authority's U-Pass program. U-Pass cards for the Fall semester are now available from Denise Lang outside my office (Suite 320C). The U-Pass is a discount fare card allowing unlimited rides on all CTA buses and trains. The U-Pass also qualifies holders for discounts of up to 50% at over 750 merchants throughout Chicago. Participating merchants include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Steppenwolf Theatre, museums, dry cleaners, restaurants, and comedy clubs. All full-time students will receive a U-Pass card valid from August 25 (the first day of classes) through December 20 (the end of Fall exams). New cards will be issued at the start of the Spring semester. The charge for the card will appear on the semester bill for each full-time student. Due to restrictions imposed by the CTA, the program is not currently available to evening students or part-time day students. For more details, visit the CTA's U-Pass web site.

Health Insurance Deadline. Continuing students who were enrolled in the university's student health insurance program last year and who are currently enrolled for 12 or more credit hours, and new students enrolled for 12 or more credit hours, will be automatically enrolled in the basic health plan for the 2003-2004 academic year, unless they have waived coverage by submitting the proper forms. The deadline for waiving coverage is September 3, 2003. If you are enrolled for fewer than 12 hours and wish to elect coverage, or if you would like to upgrade your coverage from the basic plan to the comprehensive plan, the deadline is also September 3. For details about waiving coverage, about electing coverage, and about the difference between the basic and comprehensive plans, please visit the Counseling and Health Services Office website at http://www.iit.edu/~shc. If you have questions, please call 312/808-7100.

Notice to Evening Division students: If registering for Intensive Trial Advocacy brings your total credit hours for the Fall semester to at least 12 hours, you will automatically be billed for health insurance unless you waive coverage.

Furniture in the Classrooms. If you have any reason to remove tables, podiums, chairs, or other furniture from classrooms temporarily, please be sure that you return them promptly. Missing furniture can cause serious inconvenience to instructors and students.

Award to Tarek Fadel. I'm pleased to announce that Tarek Fadel, the 2002-2003 president of the Chicago-Kent Student Bar Association, was recently awarded the National Achievement Award for SBA President of the Year at the ABA Law Student Division Annual Meeting in San Francisco. As the winner of this award, Tarek was invited as a guest panelist to provide ideas and advice to SBA presidents and ABA student representatives from across the country. The Chicago-Kent student newspaper, the Commentator, was also nominated for three awards. Congratulations to Tarek for this achievement, and to the Commentator.

To Entering Students:

Student Handbook and Code of Conduct. Please take time to review the Student Handbook, including the Chicago-Kent Code of Conduct, included in the Handbook. For future reference, there is a permanent link to the Handbook on the main Student Portal page.

Amendments to Your Applications for Admission. The Illinois bar examiners reserve the right to check information you disclose to them on your bar application for consistency with the information you provided on your application for admission to law school. The bar examiners also conduct their own investigations to ensure that you disclosed all relevant information on your bar application and your law school application. Some students have had considerable difficulty in the past when the bar examiners found discrepencies between the information disclosed to them and the information on their law school applications, or when they discovered relevant information omitted from both.

I recommend that you review your answers to the questions asked on our application for admission and amend your application if any relevant information was excluded. You can amend your application by sending a memo to my attention describing the omitted information and explaining why you did not include the information on your application. In some cases, disciplinary action under the Code of Conduct may be appropriate. But it is much better to disclose the information now, and suffer whatever consequences may ensue (if any), than to be called before the bar examiners three years from now to explain a discrepency or omission.

Most problems in the past have arisen with respect to the following two questions on the
application:

16. Have you ever been convicted of, plead guilty or nolo contendere to, or received a period of supervision for, any offense other than a minor traffic or parking violation, or is any charge now pending against you concerning such an offense? (A "minor traffic violation" is a violation for which only a citation was issued, e.g., speeding. You must report any other traffic offense, including any offense in which acting under the influence of a drug or alcohol was an element of the offense.) You must disclose each instance regardless of whether a conviction was reversed, set aside or vacated, or the record sealed or expunged.

17. Have you ever been dropped, suspended, placed on academic or social probation or warning, or otherwise disciplined by any college or university, for any reason?

ASP Program on Class Preparation & Socratic Method. On Wednesday, August 27, the Academic Support Program will present a program on how to prepare for class effectively and how to get the most out of the Socratic Method used by most of your professors. The program will be held in the Auditorium from 4:00-5:00 pm. All students are invited to attend. If you are unable to attend but would like to see a videotape of the program, contact Dean Sowle. Hold the dates: The ASP program will also present a programs on Outlining Your Courses (October 1), and Preparting for and Taking Exams (November 12). Details will be announced closer to those dates.

To Returning Students:

Initial Reading Assignments.
Initial reading assignments for many Fall semester courses are linked to the Student Portal page, along with other information you will find useful as the new school year starts (including links to the 2003-2004 Academic Calendar, the bookstore's hours, Trial Advocacy section assignments, the Fall final exam schedule, and changes to the Fall class schedule).

Fall Course Information -- Updates. A list of all changes to the Fall 2003 class schedule since the Fall Registration Bulletin was issued is linked to this page. I would like to highlight three new additions to the Fall schedule:

Intellectual Property Patent Clinic. This new clinical program will be supervised by Adjunct Professor Robert Barrett; it will meet Mondays, 4:00-5:50 pm. See the list of Fall schedule changes for a description of the clinic. Three credits.

Lobbying for the Polish Community. Under the guidance of the Polish-American lawyer Christopher Kurczaba, students will research and prepare to lobby Washington legislators. There is a possibility of a trip to Washington D.C. for some students. The course will meet Tuesday at 3:00 pm, or at a time to be announced. Contact Professor Warner (312/906-5340; e-mail: RWARNER) for more information. One credit.

Building an Online Political Website. This project will be supervised by Dean Krent and Professor Warner. Contact Professor Warner (312/906-5340; e-mail: RWARNER) for more information. One credit.

In addition, the 431-018 section of Legal Writing 3 has been canceled since the initial list of schedule changes was issued earlier this month; and Prof. Dinwoodie's Trademarks class will have a take-home rather than scheduled exam.

Fall Classroom Assignments. A revised copy of the Fall 2003 Schedule of Classes, including classroom assignments, is linked to this page. Classroom assignments are also posted in the front lobby.

Fall Exam Schedule. A copy of the Fall 2003 exam schedule is linked to this page. The Student Handbook requires that you take your finals at the times scheduled, even if you have two exams in a row, or one at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the only exception is if you have three exams scheduled consecutively (which rarely happens) or two exams scheduled at the same time. Please note that you are permitted to register for courses with exams scheduled at the same time; one exam will be rescheduled for you. If you believe you have an exam conflict or other circumstance justifying the rescheduling of an exam (see Student Handbook sections 7.2 and 7.3), please contact Jamie Lake, the Director of Student Services (312/906-5247; e-mail: JLAKE).

Adding and Dropping Courses. You may add an open course without special permission until the end of the first week of classes. During the second week, however, you may add an open course only with permission of the instructor. You may not add a course after the second week of the semester. You may withdraw from any course except a required course, a clinical course, Law Review, Moot Court, or Intensive Trial Advocacy at any time prior to the date of the final exam or final paper (see § 3.10(c) of the Student Handbook). There is no tuition penalty if you drop a course during the first two weeks of classes. You will not receive a tuition refund, however, if you drop a course after the second week of classes.

Trial Advocacy Section Assignments. If you are registered for Trial Advocacy 1 or Trial Advocacy 2 for the Fall semester, a list of section assignments is linked to this page.

Courses Likely to be Offered in Spring 2004 Semester. A list of courses likely to be offered in the Spring semester is listed on pages 13-15 of the Fall Registration Bulletin. Please keep in mind that this list is preliminary and subject to change.

Notice About Upper-Level Legal Writing Courses. Please review the following provisions, which address the Legal Writing 4 equivalents for students enrolled in Law Review, Appellate Advocacy, Pretrial Litigation, or Judicial Externship.

*Third-year students enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the two-credit version of the course (not the new three-credit version).

*Second-year students enrolled in Pretrial Litigation and Appellate Advocacy should also register for the two-credit version of Appellate Advocacy; they will satisfy the Legal Writing 4 equivalency in Pretrial Litigation.

*Second-year students who receive credit for Law Review and are enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the three-credit version of Appellate Advocacy, and should inform Ryan Liebl on the Law Review staff that they are fulfilling the Legal Writing 4 equivalency through Appellate Advocacy (these students will be excused from the Law Review research training sessions).

*Second-year students who are doing Judicial Externships and are also enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the three-credit version of Appellate Advocacy.

*Second-year students who are doing Judicial Externships, and who are not receiving credit for Law Review, Appellate Advocacy, or Pretrial Litigation, should join the Law Review’s research training sessions (meeting Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00) if they want to fulfill the Legal Writing 4 requirement through an equivalent.

CALI Award Winners for Spring 2003. The CALI Excellence for the Future Award, sponsored by the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction, is given to the student or students who receive the highest grade in each section of each course. The CALI Award winners for most Spring 2003 courses are linked to this page. If a section or a course is not listed, that means we have not yet received the name of the award recipient from the instructor; they will be published in a later issue of the Record. Congratulations to all of you who received the award -- you should be proud of your achievement. We will hold a Student Awards Luncheon during the Fall semester to recognize the CALI winners fromthe 2002-2003 academic year.

Grade Distributions for Spring 2003. The grade distributions for Spring 2003 courses are linked to this page.

Class Ranks/GPA Cut-Offs for Spring 2003. The GPA cut-offs as of the end of the Spring 2003 semester are linked to this page.

London Law Consoritum Program. Chicago-Kent offers a semester of legal study in London each Spring semester as part of a consortium with six other schools. If you are interested in the London Law Consortium for the Spring 2004 semester, please pick up a copy of the program brochure from Denise Lang outside my office (Suite 320C). Spaces in the program will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We must submit to the program administrators completed applications from all of our participating students no later than Friday, September 12, 2003. If you wish to discuss the program in more detail, contact Professor David Rudstein (drudstei@kentlaw.edu; 312/906-5354).

Joke of the week. A young man facing a murder charge decided to bribe a kindly-looking juror to hold out for a manslaughter verdict. After a long trial and and even longer jury deliberation, the jury indeed returned a verdict of manslaughter. Before being led off to prison, the young man had a moment to talk with the juror he'd bribed. "Thank you so much," he said. "How did you do it?" The juror replied, "it wasn't easy. They all wanted to acquit you!"


Week of August 18, 2003

General Announcements:

Student Organization Fair.
The annual Student Organization Fair will be held on Tuesday, August 26, from 12:00-2:00 (for day students) and from 5:00-6:00 (for evening students) in the second and third floor atriums. All students are invited.

New Chicago-Kent Master Calendar. A new Master Calendar for the Law School was launched over the summer. The site is linked to this page; it may also be accessed from the main Chicago-Kent web page and from the Record web pages (see, e.g., the link to the right on this page). This site brings together the following different calendars: the Academic Calendar, Admissions Calendar, Alumnae/i Calendar, Events Calendar, and Student Calendar. You can view events in calendar or list format; by day, week, month, or year; and may look at one specific kind of calendar or all calendars together.

CTA U-Pass Program. As announced last Spring, Chicago-Kent has joined the Chicago Transit Authority's U-Pass program. The U-Pass is a discount fare card allowing unlimited rides on all CTA buses and trains. The U-Pass also qualifies holders for discounts of up to 50% at over 750 merchants throughout Chicago. Participating merchants include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Steppenwolf Theatre, museums, dry cleaners, restaurants, and comedy clubs. All full-time students will be issued a U-Pass card valid from August 25 (the first day of classes) through December 20 (the end of Fall exams). New cards will be issued at the start of the Spring semester. The charge for the card will appear on the semester bill for each full-time student. Due to restrictions imposed by the CTA, the program is not currently available to evening students or part-time day students. For more details, visit the CTA's U-Pass web site. We will also distribute informational brochures along with the U-Pass cards. Details about when and how the cards will be distributed will appear in next week's Record.

To Entering Students:

Welcome to Chicago-Kent!
For those of you starting your first year, you chose a terrific law school and we are pleased that you are joining our community. You have an exciting several years ahead of you.

What My Office Does. In my capacity as Assistant Dean for Academic Administration and Student Affairs, I have responsibility for a number of areas that affect your life as a student. I work closely with the Registrar's office on scheduling your courses, administering your exams, and maintaining your academic records. I supervise the Student Services office on Orientation, academic and personal counseling of students, and applying the school's academic regulations. More generally, my job is to make sure that your life at the Law School remains as free from administrative hassles as possible. If you think I can be of help, please call me (906-5130), come by my office (Suite 320C), or e-mail me (SSOWLE). If I'm not the right person to help you, I should be able to point you in the right direction. My door is open without appointment, so long as I am not otherwise occupied when you drop by. I hope you have a great year.

Orientation Week. The final schedule for Orientation week will be distributed in the packets you receive when you arrive on August 18. In addition, the Admissions Office has created a special web page for entering students with links to lots of useful information.

To Returning Students:

Welcome Back! I hope you had an enjoyable summer and that you have a successful and productive year. If you would like to see me with a question, problem, or suggestion, please call me (906-5130), come by my office (Suite 320C), or e-mail me (SSOWLE).

Initial Reading Assignments and Course Materials. Reading assignments for the first week of the Fall semester are linked to the Student Portal Page, along with other information you will find useful as the new school year starts (including links to the 2003-2004 Academic Calendar, the bookstore's hours, Trial Advocacy section assignments, the Fall final exam schedule, and changes to the Fall class schedule). Initial reading assignments received after August 6 will be posted on the second-floor bulletin board as we receive them.

If you have not yet returned to school, you may ask the bookstore to hold your Fall course books for you until you arrive, or for an extra fee you may request that the books be mailed to you. If you would like to take advantage of either of these options, stop by the bookstore or call 312/906-5605. In addition, you may order your course books over the Internet by clicking on the bookstore link on the Student Portal page.

Fall Course Information -- Updates. A list of all changes to the Fall 2003 class schedule since the Fall Registration Bulletin was issued is linked to this page. I would like to highlight three new additions to the Fall schedule:

Intellectual Property Patent Clinic. This new clinical program will be supervised by Adjunct Professor Robert Barrett; it will meet Mondays, 4:00-5:50 pm. See the list of Fall schedule changes for a description of the clinic. Three credits.

Lobbying for the Polish Community. Under the guidance of the Polish-American lawyer Christopher Kurczaba, students will research and prepare to lobby Washington legislators. There is a possibility of a trip to Washington D.C. for some students. The course will meet Tuesday at 3:00 pm, or at a time to be announced. Contact Professor Warner (312/906-5340; e-mail: RWARNER) for more information. One credit.

Building an Online Political Website. This project will be supervised by Dean Krent and Professor Warner. Contact Professor Warner (312/906-5340; e-mail: RWARNER) for more information. One credit.

In addition, the 431-018 section of Legal Writing 3 has been canceled since the initial list of schedule changes was issued last week; and Prof. Dinwoodie's Trademarks class will have a take-home rather than scheduled exam.

Fall Classroom Assignments.
A revised copy of the Fall 2003 Schedule of Classes, including classroom assignments, will be linked to this page and to the Student Portal page, early in the week of August 18. Classroom assignments will also be posted in the front lobby.

Fall Exam Schedule. A copy of the Fall 2003 exam schedule is linked to this page. The Student Handbook requires that you take your finals at the times scheduled, even if you have two exams in a row, or one at 6:00 p.m. and another at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the only exception is if you have three exams scheduled consecutively (which rarely happens) or two exams scheduled at the same time. Please note that you are permitted to register for courses with exams scheduled at the same time; one exam will be rescheduled for you. If you believe you have an exam conflict or other circumstance justifying the rescheduling of an exam (see Student Handbook sections 7.2 and 7.3), please contact Jamie Lake, the Director of Student Services (312/906-5247; e-mail: JLAKE).

Trial Advocacy Section Assignments. If you are registered for Trial Advocacy 1 or Trial Advocacy 2 for the Fall semester, a list of section assignments is linked to this page.

Notice About Upper-Level Legal Writing Courses. Please review the following provisions, which address the Legal Writing 4 equivalents for students enrolled in Law Review, Appellate Advocacy, Pretrial Litigation, or Judicial Externship.

*Third-year students enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the two-credit version of the course (not the new three-credit version).

*Second-year students enrolled in Pretrial Litigation and Appellate Advocacy should also register for the two-credit version of Appellate Advocacy; they will satisfy the Legal Writing 4 equivalency in Pretrial Litigation.

*Second-year students who receive credit for Law Review and are enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the three-credit version of Appellate Advocacy, and should inform Ryan Liebl on the Law Review staff that they are fulfilling the Legal Writing 4 equivalency through Appellate Advocacy (these students will be excused from the Law Review research training sessions).

*Second-year students who are doing Judicial Externships and are also enrolled in Appellate Advocacy should register for the three-credit version of Appellate Advocacy.

*Second-year students who are doing Judicial Externships, and who are not receiving credit for Law Review, Appellate Advocacy, or Pretrial Litigation, should join the Law Review’s research training sessions (meeting Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00) if they want to fulfill the Legal Writing 4 requirement through an equivalent.

Courses Likely to be Offered in Spring 2004 Semester. A list of courses likely to be offered in the Spring semester is listed on pages 13-15 of the Fall Registration Bulletin. Please keep in mind that this list is preliminary and subject to change.

Joke of the week. Did you hear about the woman who was dating a tractor salesman? They broke up when she wrote him a John Deere letter.


CALENDARS

.: Main Chicago-Kent event
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.: Academic calendar

.: CLE calendar

.: Alumnae/i event calendar

.: Admissions calendar

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