BY
Editors lack objectivity, grammar, skills
The April 13, 2000, article about Ann Coulter [“Right-wing columnist calls for Roe repeal”], starting with the headline and continuing throughout, described her variously as: a [r]ight-wing columnist; a conservative journalist; and a conservative pundit. The paper also featured stories about two other issue-oriented symposiums and summarized the opinions of participants in both. The political leanings of most of the participants in these two symposiums appeared to run the gamut from left to ultra-left. Unfortunately, I cannot be certain of this, as no epithets were attached to their names. In the future, could the RECORD place a label on everyone that is featured in an article so that I am not forced to think for myself in evaluating his or her arguments?
On another note, I may have placed a mistake in my letter that you can [sic], as you are (ever so maturely) want [sic] to do to any letter that is critical of the paper. Perhaps that critical eye could better be applied to the staff’s contributions, however, given that I was able to discover six punctuation errors within Mr. Herdman’s article alone.
Happy hunting.
Michael Nunnelley ’02Right-wing studentApril 16, 2001
Dear Dean Clark: We want our grades
Dear Dean Clark:
The Law School Council has passed a resolution to communicate to you and to our professors, on behalf of the student body, the importance of the timely reporting of grades. We have also contacted Registrar Kane for this purpose. He informed us that his office processes grades in a timely fashion but cannot do so when professors fail to return grades by the scheduled deadline. Thus, one professor’s tardiness, especially in a large first or second-year required course, can impact a large cross section of the entire student body.
Late grades impede the determination of student honors, prizes and fulfillment of minimum progress requirements. Late reporting delays the selection processes of student organizations such as the Law Review and the Board of Student Advisers. Finally, it may jeopardize full consideration for judicial clerkships of Harvard students.
Harvard Law School makes abundantly clear to students that we must complete our examinations and other academic work on time or face harsh penalties. We think it is only fair that our Professors complete their grading processes with the same commitment to timeliness. Many law schools impose substantial fines on teachers who fail to meet their grade reporting deadlines. Since Harvard does not impose fines, we must rely on professors to recognize the importance of timely grade reporting and to comply out of consideration for the students’ needs. Please join us in encouraging them to report their grades promptly.
Sincerely,
Michael J. French ’02LSC PresidentApril 18, 2001