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November 20, 2006
A Few Words About CSO-Sponsored Workshops
Greetings. Over the summer, the CSO spent time thinking about how to make its workshops, both mandatory and voluntary, more interesting for you! Among the changes we implemented were smaller sessions for mandatory workshops to make them more interactive and less about us “lecturing” to you; theme weeks for various areas of the law (more to come in the spring semester); more food, since most sessions occur over the lunch hour; and some raffles. We feel that the changes have been positive, and hope you do as well.
However, we would like to comment on a couple of disturbing trends we have seen this semester. Basically, this comes down to asking students to refrain from the following:
1. Please do not assault CSO staff members for leftover food (usually pizza), and do not take food if you do not attend the workshop. We purchase food for specific events, and do our best to order the right amount for the projected number of attendees. If there are leftovers, we usually set them out – if they are set out for public consumption, then you may take them. This food is paid for by the CSO’s budget, and is intended to be consumed by the students and workshop participants. We know that school is expensive, but...we’re sure you understand. Thank you.
2. If you decide to attend a workshop, please plan to stay for the full hour UNLESS you really have somewhere else you need to be (and if that is the case, sit by the door so your exit is not so disruptive). The fact that students are walking out is especially troubling during the attorney panels. Securing speakers for panel discussions is difficult and very time-consuming (we contact two, three or four times as many potential speakers as actually say “yes”) and while the attorneys enjoy participating in these events it takes at least a couple of hours out of their day. It is disrespectful and disruptive to see people walk out, and some speakers may decide not to volunteer their valuable time again. Again, thank you.
Posted by smp20 at November 20, 2006 01:14 PM