Earlier in the week, the NYPD cleared out students and other activists from the Columbia University building that they'd seized — Hamilton Hall — and carted many of them off to jail.
I have to say it was a pretty efficient operation, all done within two hours. Plus, Mayor Eric Adams spoke about the global effort to radicalize students, which was good—finally, an official was calling it out and not just thinking this was all organic.
But the reaction by some of the students is something else. They now have a new demand, because of the trauma with which they've had to deal with because the police came in and busted other students.
Student editors from the Columbia Law Review (that's the folks who are supposed to be among the best students in the school) issued a statement calling on the school to cancel exams and pass everyone because the police action with its "violence" has left them "irrevocably shaken," "unable to focus.," and "highly emotional."
NEW: The student editors of the Columbia Law Review have issued a statement urging the law school to cancel exams in the wake of the police operation that cleared the university's encampment, saying the "violence" has left them "irrevocably shaken" and "unable to focus."🧵 pic.twitter.com/BOD87x5mwM
— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) May 2, 2024
The statement claimed that as of April 25, 74.2 percent of the students in the law school were in favor of a mandatory pass/fail and that since then things had happened that would likely up that percentage. The statement continued that many were unwell and "could not concentrate." It said the current system "raises concerns around equity and academic integrity." The statement was co-signed by other law journals.
The Law School has said they aren't canceling exams and right now they are being offered virtually. But apparently the students objecting aren't even happy with that.
But George Washington law professor Jonathan Turley made a great point about this.
Law students need to be able to face such moments without shutting down due to the stress. Our profession is filled with stress and trauma. It is the environment in which we operate. In those moments, we do not have the option of being a no-show. We make our appearance and speak for others. [....]
More importantly, the question is how such law students are emotionally prepared for the pressures of practice when such protests shut them down and leave them “unable to focus.” [....]
Outside of the Columbia Law Review offices is a thing called life. It is neither predictable nor comfortable. We enter the lives of our clients when they are often failing apart. We have to bring our skills and support at those moments without the assistance of a trauma tent or emotional coach. We also cannot ask judges for postponements to allow us to process the stress of the moment. [....]
The response from Columbia Law School should be simple: see you at the exams.
Hard to put it better than that.
I had tremendous real trauma going on in my family during my first-year law school exams, but I wouldn't have even thought of asking to get out of them. What does this say about them as future lawyers if this is their reaction?
The other reactions were even more brutal than Turley's.
Wow. No current member of the @ColumbiaLaw School Law Review who believes in this letter should ever apply to my firm for a job, or seek my help to obtain a security clearance with US Govt.
— Mark S. Zaid (@MarkSZaidEsq) May 3, 2024
You're not up to the task. #Pathetic https://t.co/0yzjMzeyde
They'll make solid lawyers. "I'm sorry your honor, opposing counsel's opening statement left me shaken and unable to focus." https://t.co/zArVE6y1wr
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) May 2, 2024
READ MORE:
Mayor Adams Nails Those 'Outside Agitators': 'Global Movement to Radicalize Young People'
'They Held Me Hostage': Worker Does More to Defend Columbia Than Admin After Protesters Break In
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