South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 1, July, 1975 Page: 3 of 8
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July 1975, ANNOTATIONS, Pfcfe 3
FROM THE E
TOalfot
I have had a number of students come to my office to express
their concern over the grades in one section of Torts for the Spring
Semester, 1975, and to ask questions on the procedure followed in
grading at South Texas College of Law. I was equally upset with
these grades when they were turned in as they were much higher
than our grades normally run.
Our grading policy has not been changed. When a new teacher is
employed, I explain our grading system to that teacher and point
out that generally the grades for the large beginning classes fall into a
rough Bell curve. We know this from past experience; however, each
class is individual and the grades do not necessarily fall into this
exact sequence. I then suggest to the teacher that if he has any
questions about this grades, he discuss them with me at the time his
grades are submitted with the possibility that I might offer some
suggestions as to the necessity or desirability of a curve. This
procedure was followed in this case, but without results.
It came as a surprise to some of the students that I did not have
the right to change grades unilaterally. I never do this, and I am not
going to start it with these particular grades. The main reason is that
it is not morally right for an administrator to change a teacher's
grades unilaterally. The courts have ruled that grades are a property
right, and, therefore, change of grades by the administration could
possibly lead to lawsuits against the ad .jistrator and the school.
While the grades in this course will work a hardship on some of
the students who are competing for Dean's List and Law Journal,
they are, of course, a bonanza to those who received them. The high
grades may be misleading to those students who received them in
that they may relax their study habits in the future, to their
detriment. Our standards of grading have resulted in a very good
product from this school, recognized by the Bar. The bar
examination grades in Texas, and other states, reflect the high
standards which we apply.
The grades in this Torts class were an exception, and are not a
new policy in grading on the part of South Texas College of Law.
Dr. G.R. Walker, Dean
Letters to the Editor
Do we really need an Honor
Code here at South Texas
College of Law?
If you answer that question
in the affirmative, then the next
logical question is, whether or
not it should be enforced? At
the present time it appears that
the answer to this question is
still up in the air.
As for the status of the
present charges which were
brought to the attention of the
Chief Prosecutor, I for one, do
not know what the current
status is - but I would surely
like to know! If the students at
South Texas are going to insist
upon having an Honor Code and
Honor Court, then they are
going have to enforce the rules
and regulations under which
these institutions were
established.
It seems to be ridiculous to
talk about directing the school,
and telling the Dean what he
should do, when the student
body and its representatives are
unable to direct the affairs of
the student body.
Why should the trustees
eprmit a student to sit in on
their meeting and relate what
goes on at that meeting, when
the students are unable to even
give a fair and impartial hearing
to Honor Code charges brought
against a fellow student(s)?
The lack of maturity of the
student body is showing, and the
administration does not need to
take recognition of those who
espouse greatness, but can't even
do the necessary.
-Anthony J. Beislerlll
POSTSCRIPT: 6-26-75 - Chief
Prosecutor Bax gave an entirely
satiffactory explanation of his
actions in connection with the
current Honor Code situation
and his responsibilities. It
appears that the Code needs
work ... lots of work!!!
ANTHONY J. BEISLER III
Yes, this is my first semester. How did you know?
SBA Secretary Reports
By CAROLYN CLAUSE GARCIA
SBA Secretary
As Secretary of the S.B.A.,
one of my jobs is to give you the
minutes. In this short space, I'd
like to ask you for
minutes... of your time.
The constitutional
amendment effective as of May
10 this year gave me the job of
"head homcho" of the outline
and exam files. It's one of the
S.B.A. service jobs and it
benefits you directly as a
student. In 8 school days that
the files have been opened (as of
June 19), 147 check outs have
been made plus 5 unauthorized
outs.
I'd like to ask that you
observe a few rules in the use of
this service that will do much to
make it more effective.
1) OBSERVE THE 24
HOUR LIMIT: we can't afford
to have several copies of 40-50
page outliens. Some of the
biggies are always out. Add
hogging to that and you cut off
access.
2) MAKE LIFE EASY FOR
THE FILORS:, Your senators
give 3 hours a week and other
students not obligated, have
volunteered time so that hours
can be extended. Please comply
with their attempts to keep
things in order.
The contents of the file will
shortly be expanding thanks to
the generous donations of
outlines just received. I'd
appreciate volunteers to help go
over the outlines with me so
they can be ordered and filed
properly.
You might also consider
giving some time on a regular
basis (1-2 hours a week) to help
staff the files. It would serve to
expand hours of access, plus it's
a great way to get to know other
students and be actively involved
in student bar activities.
The exam files have big gaps
as you probably already know.
I've sent a letter to each
"absent" professor asking his
cooperation and am following
that up with personal contact.
If a course you're presently
taking is not on file, ask your
professor to consider putting
one in. The rationale for
cooperating is simple.
First, most study guides for
the law point out that one of the
most useful learning tools is a
practice examination. It serves
to point out the weak spots in
an area of study and is
invaluable in the refining the
most important tool of an
attorney, the ability to express
oneself in words.
Second, there are groups of
"haves " all over the school.
Small cliques of people have had
exam files for a long time. Open
exam files eliminate the "have
nots." I'd like your help to fill
the gaps. Thanks.
Summer Speakers
Program Created
By RANDY STOUT and
BRIAN DAVIS
Senior Senators
As your Senior Senators we
would like to announce our
plans in regards to our
constitutional duty of
estalbishing and running your
Speakers Program.
We are in the process of
creating what is hoped will be a
coñsise well through out and
well organized program covering
a wide variety of topics. The
Summer Program, because of
planning limitations, will consist
of only three (3) speakers.
The Programs for both the
Fall and Spring will consist of
eight speakers each semester and
invitations for these Programs
are being given and notice of the
Programs will be posted in early
August.
Anyone interested in helping
in the Speakers Program should
contact either Senior Senator,
and any help is greatly
appreciated.
By RANDY STOUT
There are several programs
which as Senior Senator I would
like to see established by the
S.B.A. One such program is a
Speakers Committee, a standing
S.B A. committee composed of a
cross section of the Student
Body. The Committee's
objective would be to establish,
organize and run the Speakers
Program at our school.
I have proposed a
Constitutional Amendment
which would establish such a
committee and hope each of you
will favorably consider this
amendment.
As Senior Senator, I believe
that petty disagreements and
childish actions by members of
the S.B.A. are not in the best
interest of any student, and
would hope that we may take a
positive approach to benefit the
whole Student Body by
discussing issues and creating
legislation that positively builds
a better S.B A.
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McGuffey, Paul. South Texas College of Law, Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 1, July, 1975, newspaper, July 1975; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth144351/m1/3/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting South Texas College of Law.