Op-Ed: Delaying Exams Is Not a Request from 'Coddled Millennials'[NOT a parody]

National Law Journal ^ | 12/15/14 | William Desmond

[madprof98]

[O]pponents of exam extensions have declared that to grant these requests [to delay exams for "distressed" students] would be a disservice to the students. Law students, they argue, must learn how to engage critically with the law in the face of intense adversity. Drawing comparisons to events surrounding the Civil Rights Movement and other times of intense turmoil, these opponents portray today’s law students as coddled millennials using traumatic events as an excuse for their inability to focus on a three-hour exam. In essence, law students are being told to grow up and learn how to focus amidst stress and anxiety—like “real” lawyers must do.

Speaking as one of those law students, I can say that this response is misguided: Our request for exam extensions is not being made from a position of weakness, but rather from one of strength and critical awareness.

Although over the last few weeks many law students have experienced moments of total despair, minutes of inconsolable tears and hours of utter confusion, many of these same students have also spent days in action—days of protesting, of organizing meetings, of drafting emails and letters, and of starting conversations long overdue. We have been synthesizing decades of police interactions, dissecting problems centuries old, and exposing the hypocrisy of silence.

I have seen the psychological trauma brought on by disillusionment with our justice system send some law students into a period of depression.

[madprof98]

This is the kind of law student Obama must have been. It's the kind of law student who becomes a Congressman. The country is just doomed. (For fun, read the comments at the link!)

[FlingWingFlyer]

All these morons had to do to keep from becoming “traumatized” is turn off the damn boob tube and open a law book.

[MeshugeMikey]

“We have been synthesizing decades of police interactions, dissecting problems centuries old, and exposing the hypocrisy of silence....MUCH!”

I couldna help myself!

COuld it have been ..the WEED..or was it sharpton’s inspiration that could cause someone to construct a mess like that?

[Hieronymus]

Thanks for the tip regarding the comments.

[Sasparilla]

If these “law students” fall apart and can’t function when there is a legal decision that makes them apoplectic like this, then they should pick another career because every lawyer gets lots of disappointing rulings, but they have to be ready to be in court ready to go with the next case in Court prbably the next day.

Can you imagine a lawyer asking for a continuance/adjournment because they are too upset and emotional to be in court because of a recent ruling. They would be laughed out of the Bar.

[detective]

“over the last few weeks many law students have experienced moments of total despair, minutes of inconsolable tears and hours of utter confusion”

Oh you poor little babies.

Maybe you should try experiencing street thugs screaming obscenities at you, threatening you and physically attacking you.

[Unam Sanctam]

I don’t think the problem is just coddling, but also the turning of academic life into political theatre. I am sure no one would get a break in case of an event not trumpeted by the politically correct.

[Mears]

“Although over the last few weeks many law students have experienced moments of total despair—————”

---

I had a moment of despair just reading this article.

What a pathetic group of students.

.

[Huntress]

I can’t improve on this statement from the comments:

“The ‘everybody gets a trophy’ generation goes to law school.”

[VRWCarea51]

vrwcarea51 has this to say.

What a bunch of Pussies! Their moms need to be smacked and their dads castrated.

[Vision Thing]

Millenials are the weakest generation.

The beheadable millenial.

[Zeppo]

Maybe William Desmond should consider taking up a profession more suited to his “skills” than the law.

I hear that there is quite a demand for good nannies...

[Chode]

feh...

[Milton Miteybad]

I think it's cute...a coddled Millennial asking for a delay in his exams for no good reason explaining why he isn't a coddled Millennial asking for his exams to be delayed.

The week of my senior year in college was the same week John Lennon was shot. I opined, jokingly, of course, that finals ought to be delayed out of respect for the memory of Mr. Lennon. I would imagine that the university administration would not have been amused by my jest, however.

Finals went on as scheduled.

[relictele]

Anything that delays the production more Obama and Holder types, even for a day, is fine with me.

Long may they be traumatized.

[wny]

What a bunch of wussies.....my daughter - a 2nd year bio-engineering major & finance minor just had 5 final exams in 5 days.

[Albion Wilde]

Professional law community: this author does not want to be hired for any position involving placing the needs of clients before his own desires.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I have seen the psychological trauma brought on by disillusionment with our justice system send some law students into a period of depression.

My gosh, is this for real? If this is the case, they should paint their rooms black and never come out. Keep their litigious a$$es from inflicting confusion onto society.

[BenLurkin]

Law students, they argue, must learn how to engage critically with the law in the face of intense adversity.

Yup.

[BenLurkin]

These comments amused me:

How do you expect to be a successful lawyer if you ignore the facts?

Sorry, but that is exactly what lawyers do in order to be successful.

Are you going to protest every time you lose a case?

Oh, hell yes.