Hi Everyone-

I hope the first two days of orientation have gone well.

I wanted to write with some quick updates for the weekend:

• We can accommodate everyone on the waitlist for Jillian¹s, The Institute of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, the Aquarium, and the Scavenger Hunt, so plan to meet in the designated locations http://www3.law.harvard.edu/dos/orientation/

• If you aren¹t on the list or waitlist and still wish to join, please email dos@law.harvard.edu and we¹ll do our best to accommodate you.

• Sadly, because of the constraints on tours due to the Labor Day Weekend, the Sam Adams Tour is fully booked but we have scheduled another set of tours for Saturday, September 15.  If you wish to go on the tour on the 15^th, please email dos@law.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

As we get ready to start the school year, we want to introduce you to the Handbook of Academic Policies (linked under Courses and Academic Programs on the Law School¹s website.

The Handbook contains the School¹s academic rules and policies, including detailed information about the requirements for degrees, registration and submission deadlines for all academic work, and policies regarding exams, academic honesty, and leaves of absence.

The Handbook also includes policies relating to your responsibilities as a member of the Law School and University communities.

Please familiarize yourself with the School¹s requirements, academic and otherwise.  All law students are held accountable for the information included in the Handbook of Academic Policies.

If you have any questions about the rules or policies contained in the Handbook, please contact one of us.

Thanks and here¹s to a great academic year!

Lisa Burns             Ellen Cosgrove

Registrar               Dean of Students

Hi-

Here are some quick tips about staying informed at HLS.

1.            Email

Your Harvard Law School email account is our primary method for contacting you so please check it daily.  You can check here for our office¹s student email archives.

2.            Calendar@Law

This is a daily announcement of events at the Law School as well as Administrative Updates (³Ad Up²)(any non-event announcements – a faculty member seeking a research assistant, an upcoming deadline, a competition) .  You are automatically signed up for daily emails.  Ad Up archives.

3.            News@Law

This is a daily update of media hits for members of the law school community.  You are automatically signed up for daily news@law emails.

4.            Message Me

MessageMe, Harvard University¹s Emergency Notification System, allows the University to quickly distribute critical information to you, wherever you are located, during an emergency.  MessageMe helps you to stay informed in the event of an emergency by sending alerts to your personal electronic device (cell phone, pda, smartphone, etc.) through text messaging, voice, and/or email.  Please sign up here.

5.            Twitter

6.            Facebook

7.            Calendar of  Events

The Law School¹s master calendar is  at www.law.harvard.edu/calendar/.  You can upload  events  to your calendar from here.

The closest thing we have to a University calendar is at http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/section/calendar/gazette-calendar/

8.            Campus Newspapers

Law School student newspaper­ The Harvard Law Record www.hlrecord.org/

University student newspaper- The Crimson  www.thecrimson.com/

University administration newspaper ­ The Gazette www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/

As the new year begins, I want to highlight a number of issues about safety.

1. Our office hosts the Harvard University Police Department (³HUPD²) in an annual safety presentation early in the school year.  This year, the session will take place on Wednesday, September 12 at noon in WCC 1019.
2. Our office sponsors RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes.  This year, we will hold two sessions in the fall on September 14  12-2 and September 27 3:30-5:30.  Please email wellness@law to register for either session.  In the spring, we will host a complete 4 night training session.  HUPD has more information about RAD and other RAD programs on campus at their website.  We are always happy to host other safety programs on request or collaborate with students or student organizations in arranging programs of particular interest..
3. Our office offers a Laptop and Bike Registration program with HUPD.  This year, the registration will take place from Tuesday September 11 through Thursday, September 13^th from 11am-1pm in the WCC first floor.  According to HUPD, the vast majority of crime on campus is property crime (95%). Most of the property stolen is left unattended in public areas or in unlocked rooms.  Never leave your belongings unattended and please insure your laptop and other valuables. Renter¹s insurance is fairly inexpensive.  It may also be the case that these items are covered by your parent¹s or spouse/partner¹s insurance.
4. The University and Law School offer a number of evening transportation options.  Our website has info about campus transportation options including a campus shuttle system and a University evening van service which serves most areas of Cambridge.  For students who live outside the limits of the evening van services, the Law School offers an evening taxi service.  Taxi vouchers are available from the library¹s circulation desk during library circulation hours.  Finally, The University has a campus escort program.
5. MessageMe is the University’s primary tool for emergency notifications to the campus community. MessageMe streamlines community communications allowing crisis support leaders to immediately and simultaneously send messages to the University community via the community members’ preferred contact methods: phone, text messaging, email, RSS, Facebook, or Twitter.  Currently, there are more than 24,000 MessageMe subscribers at Harvard.
6. HUPD has an extensive website – it is really worth your time to familiarize yourself with the site.  From safety tips to resources to crime statistics, it is quite helpful.
7. The website includes a link to the Clery Act statistics on campus crime for Harvard¹s previous academic year
8. HUPD sends occasional community advisories when they wish to alert the community of a particular security issue.  Check the link for archived advisories.

I want to draw your attention to the past two advisories as they involved two rapes that occurred this August.  The first occurred in Harvard Yard on August 10 at 3:15 a.m.  The second happened near the intersection of Kirkland and Oxford streets on August 14 after 11:00 p.m.  More information about each report is available at: http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/advisories.php.

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is investigating these incidents aggressively and has increased patrols in recent weeks.

Although the survivor is never at fault, prioritizing one’s personal safety is a good idea. In light of these incidents, we encourage all of you to take precautions, particularly after dark.  The following recommendations come from the HUPD and the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (OSAPR)

• Be aware of your surroundings and look assertive
• Trust your intuition — if a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative
• Store the HUPD urgent number (617-495-1212) in your cell phone and call it immediately if you feel uncomfortable or afraid, or if you observe suspicious behavior.
• Try to travel in groups after dark, use only well-lit routes or designated pathways, and do not allow yourself to be distracted by phone calls or by using ear buds.
• Make use of campus shuttle buses, and the evening van service
• Make use of the campus escort program (617-348-8237).
• Note the location of blue-light phones.
• Do not permit people whom you don¹t know to piggyback into the dorms or your apartment buildings.
• Keep rooms/apartments locked at all times
• For more safety information, please read the HUPD publication Playing it Safe
• For information on what to do if you have been sexually assaulted, please read OSAPR¹s website
• Call the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response for 24-hour confidential support and information at 617-495-9100.

If you ever have a personal concern about safety, please come to our office.  We can connect you to the appropriate resources.

Here is a list of upcoming Orientation Events

Wednesday, September 5^th – Conversation with Dean Minow and Justice Kagan

5:00pm in Milstein East

Doors will open at 4:30 – First come first served

Overflow seating (if necessary) in Milstein West & WCC 2012

Please note ­ Bags will not be permitted in Milstein East

(As an aside, since this comes up whenever there is a high profile speaker, the security team working the event sets the rules.  Generally, items that fit in your pockets and very small (think wallet sized) purses are permitted – but laptops, laptop bags, book bags, etc. are prohibited). 

Friday, September 7^th – Red Sox Game at Fenway Park (v. Blue Jays)

7:10pm

Tickets available in our office (WCC 3039) between 8:30-5:30

Tix cost $30 (cash, check, credit card (everything but Discover))

Saturday September 8^th ­ Community Service Volunteer Opportunities

• 10:00am-1:00pm : Emerald Necklace Conservancy for the ³Restoration of the Woodlands,² at Olmsted Park in Boston (Meet at WCC South Lobby at 9:15am, depart at 9:30am)
• 9:30am-12:30pm: The Food Project¹s Lynn Farm & Beverly Farm (Meet at WCC South Lobby at 8:15am, depart at 8:30am)

Please email dos@law if you wish to participate

Wednesday, September 12^th Safety Talk with Harvard University Police Department (HUPD)

12:00pm-1:00pm  in WCC 1019

Tuesday, September 11^th  ­ Thursday, September 13^th Bike and Laptop Registration with HUPD

11:00am-1:00pm ­ First Floor WCC

Thursday, September 13^th Public Service Kick-Off

7:00pm,  Austin North

Saturday, September 15^th ­ Sam Adams Brewery Tour

Depart WCC South Lobby at 9:30

Please email dos@law if you wish to participate

The Law School¹s Administrative Board has responsibility for matters involving student discipline, dispensations from and interpretations of the academic rules and practices of the School, Third Year Visit petitions (requests to visit Harvard or visit away from Harvard), petitions to participate in the Berkeley Exchange Program, and leaves of absences.

The Board’s membership consists of three faculty, three administrators, and three students.  Students serve three year terms and are expected to participate in a few meetings each semester (times are set based on Board members¹ availability).

If you are interested in serving, please send a short statement of interest and a resume to dos@law.harvard.edu by Thursday, September 20^th.  Thanks.