Harvard Law School Student Government

I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather!  It is just in time for the Red Sox to be back in town.

Next week there will be a hot dog competition in the Café.  It is the Fenway Frank vs. the New York (Yankee) Deli Dog.  Both types of dogs will be for sale in the Café.  Each day there will be a trivia question posted at the station.  If you guess correctly, you will be entered into a raffle to win Red Sox tickets!

Please share this information with your group.

Have a great weekend!

The Harvard Law School Dining Team

-Marissa

In an effort to be more green, Restaurant Associates has switched to a compostable chili bowl. Despite its appearance to the contrary, this new bowl is the same size as the old bowl (16 oz.) So you’re still getting the same chili bang for your buck.

Just thought we’d clue you in!

-Marissa

So, about a month ago, Student Government conducted a survey regarding how students would feel about shifting from a paper cup system for free coffee to reusable mugs provided by HLS. We received the responses and students significantly support getting rid of paper cups. In sum: HLS students loooooove trees.

So: from here. We’re currently working with DOS and Restaurant Associates to figure out how to best implement the program while addressing student concerns that cut the other way. We’re also waiting on the reusable mugs to be ordered and received.

Just thought we’d keep you up to date!

A quick look at our recent accomplishments:

• Student Government Pub Nights: very popular weekly happy hours for students, with free beer and wine (starting this year on Thursday, Oct. 1!)
• Faculty-Student Lunch Program: every year, we arrange for students to have free lunches with distinguished HLS professors.
• Organize and distribute Unofficial Course Evaluations each semester.
• Solicited, collected, and presented student feedback regarding the grade change to Dean Kagan.
• Solicited, collected, and presented student feedback regarding the switch to the Early Interview Program to Office of Career Services.
• Formed and headed a student committee to meet with President Faust on the new dean search.
• Changed news@law in order to allow students to plan their weeks more conveniently.
• Convinced administration to buy toasters for the 2008-2009 free Monday morning bagel breakfasts.
• Obtained Splenda, strawberry cream cheese, and Heinz ketchup in the Hark.
• Worked with Restaurant Associates to respond to vegetarian students’ needs, including increased quantity of vegetarian sushi and better vegetarian labeling.
• Increased quantity of sweat towels at the Hemenway gym.
• Successfully advocated to see the Hark re-open from 2:30-5:00 to serve students’ needs in 2009.
• Distributed bags filled with candy and faculty advice to the 1Ls when they received their grades.
• Created a database of 3Ls willing to give 2Ls advice on applying to law firms.
• Dodgeball tournament (co-sponsored with HL Central and the intramural sports).
• Approved of many new students groups in 2008-2009.

In response to student feedback throughout the semester, we have been communicating with Restaurant Associates to get the following issues addressed.

• Soy milk out of stock at the free coffee stations.  We have heard that the soy milk at the free coffee stations was running out regularly.  Since our discussion, RA has made an effort to put out more soy milk at those stations.  Is it working?  Is it still running out?
• Sweetened soy milk.  Students have commented that the soy milk at the coffee stations is now sweetened and that they would prefer it to be unsweetened so that they can control the sweetness of their coffee.  RA is under the impression that it has always been sweetened soy milk at the coffee stations, but they are willing to use whichever the majority of students prefer, but only one type.  Which do you prefer?
• Splenda.  They were out for a while.  It was a distributor problem.  They shouldn’t be out anymore.  Are they?
• Protein Bars.  People have asked for a selection of protein bars like Balance Bars or Zone Bars to be carried at the Hark.  RA brought in a selection of protein bars for the Earth Day celebration last week, and has indicated that they would be willing to carry those that sold well during that period last week.  Have you seen any of these protein bars yet?
• Vegetarian Sushi.  We’ve received many requests for more vegetarian sushi – both more options and more quantity.  RA has adjusted the sushi order to add more avocado and cucumber rolls and increase the general amount of vegetarian sushi they order.  How’s the quantity of vegetarian sushi looking now?

As mentioned, we’ve inquired about all of the above issues in response to your feedback.  Let us know what you think or if you have other concerns.

Brian

UPDATE: Dodgeball was a huge success: lots of beer was drunk, balls were thrown, and beers were thrown…

Sixteen teams competed, and congrats to the winning team: “Wish this were softball.”

The HLS Student Government is pleased to announce the return of a great institution: DODGEBALL.

Friday, April 24, you will have license to drink (free) beer and then throw red balls off of your classmates.

Get your teams together. We have room for 16 teams made up of fifteen or more players. The tournament will be a one-afternoon event near the Hark. The opening round will start at about 3:30. The Championship Game should be finished by 7:30.

We understand that getting 15 people together may be difficult, so we will allow you to submit partial teams of either 5 or 10 players. These partial teams will be grouped together to form the proper number. Because of the time and space constraints, priority will be given to the full 15 player teams.

The sign ups will start Thursday, April 15 at noon, first come first serve. We will send another email that morning with these registration details, but have your teams ready!

Tonight’s Hark Pub will be cosponosored by SALSA.  Be sure to come out for some great food and great drinks.

Here’s an event for tomorrow night that is sponored by the HGC that sounds like a lot of fun:

Brian

———-
It’s a (pre-emptive) St. Patrick’s Day Celebration…

“Your Lucky Night”

Thursday, March 12th
9 o’clock pm

McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon (near Faneuil Hall)
148 State Street, Boston
http://www.mcfaddensboston.com/

*NO cover charge
*FREE pint of Guinness for first 100 to arrive

LIVE Irish music 9:30-10:30pm

Grab a buddy and join us at one of Boston’s most dynamic establishments for a
night of Irish-themed revelry. Come early to get your FREE pint o’ Guinness and
stay to enjoy the lively music and pleasant company.

Brought to you by Harvard Graduate Council

The HGC is sponsoring Beer School tonight and Queen’s Head.  And while it’s not free, it still looks like a pretty good opportunity to try some great beer.  Details below.

Brian

“BEER SCHOOL WEDNESDAY 5 PM!

Come grab your tickets for HARPOON BEER SCHOOL, Wednesday at 5 pm at the Cambridge Queen’s Head!

Harpoon will be bringing and speaking about their signature 100 Barrel and Leviathan Series, as well as their Celtic Ale and our very own 1636. Tickets are $10 at the bar, grab them any time during the day.

$10 buys you at least 4 frosty beverages with matched food to go with each. Tickets are going fast, so grab yours today!”

Today Howell Jackson, prospective interim acting Dean, hosted a town hall meeting with HLS students. Because some students were unable to, we wanted to fill you in on some highlights:

• Faculty departures for DC: All courses this year were covered by HLS faculty or visitors. Next year’s curriculum will feature many great visiting professors (especially in environmental law), and there should be no significant effect from the faculty departures.
• Curriculum in general: Along with picking classes this Spring, students will be able to fill out a poll about which courses they’d like to see offered. Some of those courses might be added by next year, but some certainly will be added by the year after.
• OCI will be the week before school starts. Flyout week will be the week of September 14th. There may be events for 3Ls during that time, such as symposia on research opportunities or empirical methods classes. In addition, the school will celebrate Columbus Day, creating a small break later in the fall.
• Financial crisis: HLS’s three priorities are “building a terrific faculty, having terrific teaching, and honoring financial aid commitments.” There may be cuts in other “not central” areas (but not coffee). In addition, the NW Corner project will proceed as planned. Furthermore, Harvard University is working with JP Morgan to ensure that all international students have access to loans similar to those that were suspended because of the financial crisis.
• The search process for a permanent Dean, led by President Faust, has begun. She will likely reach out to students, staff, alumni, and even employers during the process.
• 2L Mixed Transcripts: 2Ls will graduate with Latin honors, based on an averaging of their A/B/C and HP/P/LP grades. The algorithm for that weighting is not public, however.
• Next year’s academic calendar has almost no time between Winter Term and Spring Term. On the other hand, synchronizing with the rest of the University allows for much better cross-registration opportunities. 
• The “Programs of Study” are in beta-test mode now. They will become more significant in the future.
• MyPlan will be fixed, but slowly.

David

Today the 1L class received its first set of grades, officially marking the completion of that class’s first semester at HLS. In celebration, the Student Government handed out more than 250 bags of candy. In addition, each bag contained a letter which, among other things, listed some less-than-stellar grades which HLS’s star faculty earned in their respective first years at law school.

David

The HLS Graduate students have put together another great International Party.  Info below.

Brian

HLS International Fair & Party: It’s your Small World… Love It!

Come celebrate this Valentine’s Day with free exotic food, music and performances from around the globe.

Date:  February 14, 2009

Time:  7 p.m to Midnight

Venue:  Ropes-Gray Room

Drop by this international carnival with your friends and loved ones to enjoy the best of what your colleagues have to offer from around the world.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is hosting a party this Friday and they are opening it up to HLS students, hoping to encourage a little cross school socialization.  The party is the Friday 2/7 from 9:30 – 12:30 at Dudley House.  See the flyer below for more info.

Brian

See below for a Valentine’s Day event sponsored by the Harvard Graduate Council.

Brian

Harvard Graduate Council Presents
Heart/Beat
A Valentine’s Social

This Valentine’s Day, all students of the Harvard Graduate Schools are invited
to one of Boston’s hottest clubs for free appetizers, good company, and
late-night dancing. Whether you’re blissfully in love, bitterly heartbroken, or
anywhere in-between, you won’t want to miss this lavish affair!

When: Saturday, February 14

Where: THE ESTATE, 1 Boylston Place, Boston
www.theestateboston.com
Just a few blocks from the Boylston T stop on the green line.

Time: 7:30pm

Cost: Free admission before 9:30pm.
$20 cover after 9:30pm

See you there…