Despite outside appearances, it seems that all is not well at the FAMU College of Law. Like the rest of the University the COL is suffering from low morale. This is particularly troublesome as the COL prepares for an upcoming accreditation visit by the American Bar Association. To help calm things down a bit, we understand that Provost Austin has been dispatched to Orlando campus.
We understand that after the ABA’s last visit that the COL had 3 or 4 exceptions. Our sources say, that some arbitrary changes to the COL’s curriculum have been made by the interim dean, without faculty input and which may be outside of the collective bargaining agreement, there could now be as many as 13-14 exceptions.
Further, we understand that graduate student’s (TA’s) haven’t been paid.
Some suggest that this is another case of the serious lack of skills in the FAMU Provost Office.
Why don't we just blow the place up and start over? How could the FAMU COL get so messed up in such a short period of time? How is it that these people are so entrenched and so soon?
ReplyDeleteMachiavelli wrote in The Prince that for a ruler to reign without threat to his throne, he needs to kill everybody that is in the line of succession.In all of the space of 4 short years the inept, reckless and arrogant Administration of the former Dean has initiated a culture at FAMU COL which may reap disastrous consequences for years to come. Faculty are mostly unemployable in the real world and often resort to incoherent ramblings during class because they really don't know the subject matter. From their philosophies of total control, certain faculty members pull the strings of every major decision.They are uninformed AND disingenuous. Fundamental conflicts of interest abound. Obviously, the power of sleaze and pillow talk continue to rule the day. Yet, the Administration is, for the most part, silent – ominously, dreadfully silent. Destroying this ivory tower will take work.
ReplyDeleteYes, 4:48. How, oh how, did the COL get to this place in the span of a handful of years? I mean, it's just beyond anyone's imagination that such a thing would be occurring with such rapid speed as we've seen this snowball rolling. Just leave it to us, though, and we'll screw things up every time. Now, there are some things that we would like to blame on "other" folks, but this? I don't think that blame game will work. For the most part, everything's been in our hands, and what do we do with everything? We screw things up big time. Now, it's going to take a monumental revamping (or at least s semi-sweep to get things back on track, not that they ever were. And then, Debra Austin is not going to help anything., because first you must KNOW what you're doing in the first place on your own J-O-B before you can go cleaning up somone else's mess. God help us all.
ReplyDeleteHow did the COL get into this position? Easy. Just select as your founding faculty a group of people who don't publish scholarship, hang out and gossip with students, refuse to support the hiring of qualified faculty from other schools, and spend most of their time conspiring to get rid of their enemies. One of our founding faculty consistently spills the beans about faculty meetings to current and former students. They tried to mess with my girl Jennifer Smith this year but she was too smart to fall for the okedoke. There are good people at the school and there are good things taking place everyday. There are many motivated, intelligent students and the school provides an opportunity for many who would otherwise not be able to get a legal education. We just need to change the culture. Stop worrying about how much other people make, who the students like, and who is dating who. Work, work, work.
ReplyDeleteCan we just get beyond the former dean and fire the founding faculty?And what's all the talk about sleaze & pillow talk? Can the men in power please start to think with the head on their shoulders?
ReplyDeleteincorrect in thinking it was just the men with the pillow talk..and incorrect in thinking that a change will come. the students are some of the best around but the culture is at times muay malo.
ReplyDelete13-14 exceptions?Please explain for those of us who aren't familiar with ABA accreditation requirements.
ReplyDeleteLook what they said about one of the tenured professors' much celebrated FindLaw article on Hurricane Katrina. And, so please advise how in the hell is she on the tenure committee when her writing has been described as "academically dishonest"?
ReplyDeleteAs a poor attempt at affording the reader a synoptic view of a well established legal defense, Langston's article lacks depth and is void of any analytical intention. The theoretical justification for Langston's argument rests on very simple assumptions. Under any conception of necessity (justification per LA law), the defense is available when the legislature says so. The LA statute obviously says so. End of story. Langston never articulates sound reasons for her position and resorts to incogitant verbosity. There was no need for Langston to go on and on with the prolonged discourse: "We have watched, night after night ... footage of the plight of the citizens in New Orleans." Yada, yada, yada. Blah, blah, blah. Langston could have even discussed the possibility of the broad equitable discretion of the LA courts to tailor injunctive relief for necessity (justification), irrespective of whether there is a legal defense of necessity (justification)in any LA statute. Law professors like Langston should not stoop to spinning platitudes and refrain from regurgitating the banal remarks spoken by the bobbleheads on CNN and Fox News. In order to initiate and facilitate rational academic discussions, one must engage in scholarship that is thoroughly researched. Langston fails to demonstrate her capacity to properly discuss issues with sound legal authority. Langston's article is inexcusable sophomoric chit chat. It is academically dishonest.
There are students that were research assistants from last fall (one calendar year ago) who still have not been paid. Some have graduated, some are still current students. I was one and luckily I got paid, but there are several (more than a dozen) who did work and did not get paid. So, since this is an "at-will" state, the research and work performed was not property of the school and so all of them did not turn in the final culmination of work. I don't blame them, why should they? They didn't get paid. But FAMU still has their hand out for that tuition money.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, 90% of the class has not gotten their financial aid disbursements. I wonder who in Tallahassee messed that up? Good thing I can pay out of my own money for tuition. I'd be starving to death if I was waiting on my disbursement check. One student was evicted for non-payment of rent because her finaid check never came in Sept. or Oct.
Hey Professor Smith, it's good to see you on here at 9:01 am. You gave yourself away with the okedoke verbage.
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to do constructive work like publish law review articles when you spend most of your day figuring out ways to get rid of your enemies. There are only so many hours in a day.
ReplyDeleteWe always manage to shoot ourselves in our own feet. This time we have no one to blame for the sordid mess at the COL except ourselves.
ReplyDeleteWhen you mention that we have no one to blame but ourselves, are you referring to the students as well?
ReplyDeleteIt is not the fault of the students of why they don't get their finaid checcks, the senior faculty don't publish, the faculty as a whole don't get along and try to seize what little power is floating around, the Dean search is still not complete, and by the looks of it will not get accredited.
Blame the faculty, the Administration, and the staff for SHEER INCOMPETENCE instead.
There is a huge cake in the center of the building with decorative letters that read "Power of the Law School" and the senior faculty have divided it up in unequal slices and have gobbled it, while the junior faculty are scrambling for the crumbs. Remember, two or three crumbs does not equal a slice.
Stop stabbing each other over crumbs and rise up to overthrow the fat pigs of the senior faculty.
Why don't you all go read the book, "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson. I think it will put things in perspective.
Is there a commonality of purpose at the FAMU COL? Shouldn't we be thinking of that which is much bigger than ourselves - the continuation of a rich educational heritage? I hate that the original students like Alcee Hastings, John Due, Jessie McCrary have to witness this crap. Too many people lost their livelihoods to make this law school happen THE FIRST TIME! Now we have a bunch of ghetto crabs in the place. Will the next Gwen Cherry (oh yeah the lame a** FAMU COL professors didn't know who she was) please step and stop the madness?! Instead of reading "Who Moved My Cheese" read Larry Rivers' book about the closing of THE ORIGINAL FAMU COL and imagine being Arthenia Joyner and her 1968 classmates when the movers showed up and began carting their law books out of the library during their final exams and moving them down the street to FSU. But that might just prove too hard for a bunch of selfish glorified welfare mongers with JDs. LLMs, SJDs. (The FL legislature should've put the law school in the Pork 'n Beans) Just show up to work, talk a bunch a crap, pretend to be an intellectual, and pick up yo' bi-weekly check.
ReplyDeleteeven people in the Pork N' beans would have more respect for the law school being there. Just remember to duck so you don't get shot. they didnt know who Gewn Cherry was...shame
ReplyDeleteAnon, 2:oo a.m.: I'm only referring to the adult administrators at the COL who are running the show and are, for the most part, screwing things up,not students. The students are there, of course, to get a legal education. They (the students) are suffering greatly because of all the madness that's going on there, instigated, perpetuated and mitigated by the adult folk in charge.
ReplyDeleteOMG! You mean to tell me that there are professors at the FCOL who didn't have a clue as to who Gwen Cherry was? This is just horrible and simply reprehensible! Knowing the foremothers and forefathers of the Original FCOL should be a required, introductory seminar of sorts for everyone, but especially for anyone who call themselves a "professor" of anything. For shame!
ReplyDeleteProfessor Bernier needs to pack her bags and go back to where she came from. Oh, you can't go back to the school you came from because you know that you did not have tenure and can't show any proof to us at the COL. All you do is talk about everyone behind their back and keep a lot of shit going on at the COL. All of us (faculty) know what you are really about. That is bull-shit and you need to find yourself another job. You don't want to see the law school be successful. You talk about all of us and we are sick and tired of your shit. Do you like anyone at the law school? Just do your job and stay out of the light and teach your classes. You should have not sent your child to a boarding school up North. What kind of mother are you? I remember one time you called your own daughter a bitch. I could not believe my ears. That is a shame how you feel about your own child.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, when FAMU loses it ABA accredidation (they have been on provisional for two years now, must apply for full; won't get full with all this nonsense) the state will take over the school and fire all the professors and rehire back only the competent ones like Abrams, and then hire more people. The committe that would decide on new hires was full of people who were scared to bring in people more-qualified than them-- people who would upstage them.
ReplyDeleteFinally, then the wounds can heal and the students will have a chance to be proud FAMU grads. Please please please lets stop all of this nonsense!!! We are hurting ourselves!
To Anon. at 12:29 am:
ReplyDeleteBarbara Bernier is a nice lady, taught me a whole lot of things, had high standards in class, did not "baby" anyone through a paper or test, and had some real discussions. I really like her a lot. I'm glad I got to have such a GREAT professor before I graduated.
Don't knock her. Instead, knock on the faculty who don't encourage students and start crap all of the time.
From what I know, she is good to her daughter. She told me that she sent her to Lake Highland Prep, a VERY expensive and prestigious prep school downtown Orlando. It costs like $16,000 a year. No "bad parent" pays that much for their child's education, now that's love! At least Bernier knows the importance of sending her girl to a nice school.
As for the "bitch" comment, even if you did hear that(which I doubt because you are obviously trying to knock on the reputation of a more-qualified person than yourself), all teenagers test their moms at some point. Their argument is their business! Bernie is a single parent trying her best; give her some slack. By the way, who are you to be eavesdropping by her office? Stick your nose in your book!!!
Or better yet, as you indicated in your post, you are a faculty member. If that is true, why don't you just confront Barbara yourself instead of writing such mean things about her in a public forum without leaving your name? I am sure that if you give it some effort, the two of you could someday come to an understanding and be friends. Why don't you try learning things from one another up at the school instead of fighting against each other? I wish everyone could get along!
-MB, graduate
Anon, 2:43--
ReplyDeleteSo when did $$ equate to love. Damn, you're shallow as hell. Plenty folks do that sort of thing when they don't want to be bothered with their children. What does money have to do with it? What's sending someone to an expensive school got to do with one's horrible attitude. You obviously are not a parent, because a "good" parent/mother doesn't call her child a bitch, no matter what the kid does or does not do. Apparently you were called such by your own mother, that's why you have no problem with someone calling their own child one. Some folks don't need to have children. The professor just might be one of them.
FIRRT BLOGGER: Be careful what you write on this thing about blowing up shit, cause you never can tell how the system works. 'Fore you know it, mfers'll be knocking on your door, trying to put permanent bracelets on your wrists. We all must be careful about what we write here.
ReplyDeleteCan we just write without the expletives?
ReplyDeleteTo 10/12/2006 2:55 PM Anonymous:
ReplyDeleteWow, I can't belive it. I was actually trying to stick up for a classy lady and add some positive things to this board. How can you make such drastic conclusions about my relations with my parents? Why accuse me of being shallow because I drew a link between caring enough for your child to give them the best education you can? I was not implying that people who can't afford it don't love their children as well.
Wow, you have some serious issues. I hope you get some help. Actually, what AM I doing on this board, when all I try to do is stick up for another person and add some positive light to be torn and ripped down in such a way by another blogger?
I guess this is why the school is in a bad position. Whenever anyone tries to fix things or make a step in the right direction, there are 3 others to tear them back.
--MB, graduate
Oh yeah, and you know what, I have no shame in hiding my name. The comments by --MB are from me, Ms. Bernard c/o 2006.
ReplyDeleteI am sure that you know someone with my contact info, so why don't you explain to me why you are so vengeful and hateful? If you don't like someone else that you work with, just move on and start doing your own thing. It would help the school and the current morale.
And Barbara is a nice lady.
Ms. Bernard c/o 2006:
ReplyDeleteIt appears as if you know the id of Anon @ 2:55 PM. Who do you think is this this trifling jealous person?
To the one who wrote, "now we have a bunch of getto crabs". What an ignorant comment! That self-righteous attitude will carry you real far. As an outsider looking in, the problem with black america are (most of) the black women. Black women like yourself get to law school and believe the misconception that other blacks are not as good. That's why I tell all my successful black friends to date getto crabs or white women. I advise them not to under go the "successful black women" ego. P.S. Professor Abrams specializes in Water Law; WOW! let me guess, a black women thinks that he is competent because he is a white man in his 60s'. As a white law school student, I stand in awe!
ReplyDeleteTo 10/13/2006 8:57 PM:
ReplyDeleteHell yeah you're an outsider looking in! So get your head outta my house window! You don't even understand the comment! As typical, w/ your stupid arrogant (white man's) thinking - dismiss it as ignorant b/c you have no reference point for understanding. Don't fool yourself - we Black folk ain't that concerned about you and what you think. Don't believe YOUR hype. White men do not stand in the center of the universe. And, sorry to burst your bubble, but if integration was all about YOU WHITE FOLK- FAMU would not exist; the movie Drum Line would have featured the USC Marching Trojans; Hip Hop would not rule Madison Avenue; Snoop, Yung Joc and 50 cent would be sampling Guns 'n Roses; and, Beyonce' would be looking for a booty reduction. Sistahs are a unique breed that your own mama tries to emulate but can't really duplicate. If I had a dime for every time a white girl said, "You go girl!" While so called white feminists (bank rolled by white men) were trying to reconcile the term "girl" sistahs made the term empowering as our own. Strength is my inheritance as well as the ghetto crabs (who tend to forget) and no white boy is gonna make me deny it. I can talk about mine, but you can't! YOU CAN'T TELL MY STORY!!! As T.I. says, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME (OR MINE)!!!! We make our own world and if you want to experience a part of it, then it would behoove you to make an effort to understand us w/out such a myopic, jaded & flawed opinion. I hope that you won't be one of the white folks who are bringing down the bar passage rate at the COL. Ever see the ethnic breakdown of the bar passage for the COL? 3 outta 4 of us are passing on the first shot. What about YOU PEOPLE?
I honestly don't know who the Anon at 2:55 pm who is bashing Bernier is, but I do have one main suspect. However, I would not step low and reveal the name.
ReplyDelete--Ms. Bernard c/o 2006
Peace!
to 9:37 p.m.
ReplyDeleteYou have just proved my point. I called you out on your condesending tone (getto crabs) and you turned it into a racial issue I fail to understand because i'm white. You upper-ty black folks is what my friends call you. One thing I do know is that black america is deeply divided- and negroes like yourself (who refuse to give back, but instead critize other blacks for not being on your level) is the major cause of that. I feel sorry for black america- they will suffer because of black women like your self. P.S: why do you assume i'm a man; my successful black boyfriend thinks I got it going on!!!!!!!So believe me, I am in the know. you "ain't sayin nothing!"
To the stupid white chick at 10/14/2006 12:09 PM
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Honey get a spell check-"condesending" Where's the "c"? I definitely won't dignify you with a response 'cause you really don't need to know. So continue on with your Mandingo-white-girl adventure (oh we know how you, your mama, and your grandmama discuss "the size of his shoe") and stay outta this conversation where you clearly don't belong! And, by the way ... if your man is a "successful black man" (as if that is some kind of oxymoron) ... he more than likely has a strong black mama you obviously haven't met! Don't let me take off my earrings, girl!
To anonymous white chick at 10/14/2006 12:09 PM ... Do you know what happens to flip mouthed white chicks like you? Did you witness the body language during the exchange between Condi Rice and Barbara Boxer? Did you see the scene in Waiting to Exhale? No? You better ask somebody ...
ReplyDeleteThere goes your "C"-condescending, good one- you've put me in my place "girl friend"!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy get angry, I belong in this conversation because I am a law school student at the COL. Why are you so angry (black women), what is it, you are lacking a mandingo adventure at home; I'm sorry, perhap if you set your ego aside and stop being judgmental, and realize that you are no better than the "getto crabs" you spoke of, then maybe a mandingo would take you home. Until then, you're better of likely a black lesbian chick with your demeanor; that's the way to go for you so-called "sucessful black women" right? the problem are the men, not you, right?
P.S: Boxer would beat the living delights out of Condi. That demeaning "sucessful black women" is nothing but the white house whore! You better ask somebody!
so... now we all know what a zoo the COL has become. Thank you insiders for the enlightenment.
ReplyDelete{looking elsewhere for legal council}
Hello everyone. I have a 3 step solution to solve all the FAMU problems:
ReplyDelete1. Fire Dean Douglas
2. Fire Ms. Witherspoon
3. Fire Ms. Washington
Everything else will almost immediately correct itself without the total incompetance at these positions.
Well I guess I'm an *OUTSIDER* too, but only as it relates to FAM. Whoa!! Some of you have issues. First of all to be fair, it's ("its") *being race relations* not a black or a white problem it's an American Problem. These issues impact us all whether we accept that reality or not. Whether it's interracial dating or socioeconomic disparites as well as what's in between, they affect us all. And both blacks and whites (mostly >>>whites) HAHAHA, contribute. Second I don't even feel like "going there" as it relates to black male/black female relationships, By the way(I'm a black female)and I will become successful, however I am 100% heterosexual thank you and I love black men. I simply dont have the the GB capacity or the energy right now, because I'm fine tuning these logic games so I can score competitively on the lsat next week. Look I ran across this blog by accident because I was trying to find a FAMU Law student blog so I can obtain an "insiders" perspective of Famu's law school, because I am considering attending. My email address is earthdiva1@yahoo.com if anyone is willing to give me the scoop. Or you can share with me any and everything to do with the school on this blog. I would greatly appreciate any insight, tips, and advice. Oh I'll be sure to come back later to criticize the black men (especially if they date white women), have verbal altercations with the white women (which is AlWAYS more entertaining than it should be, Especially in traffic or the grocery store), and play devils advocate too. HAHAHAHAHA Thanks Much.
ReplyDeleteLater, Bree
To this sistahs responding to the white trash from the COL, don't. She doesn't have a clue as to what we experience everyday living in AmeriKKKa. Just because she's at the COL doesn't make her a Rattler either. No, we don't care about your opinions because you always have the option of transfering to a neighboring law school such as lily white Stetson. What happened, could you not get into UF, UM or FSU. You people also seem to seek out everything we have from our men to our ass....Damn, can't have anything!
ReplyDeleteAnd because you married an obviously pathetic Black boy, doesn't make you an expert on Black women so..."get cho some business".
And you have the nerve to call us negroes, your husband is a serious negro if he is romanticly linked to you.
There are some Black men that we donate to the hopeless...yours is one.
Out of sheer respect for the profession of law and for FAMU as an institution I am writing to request a greater level of decorum in the comments and messages we are putting out there. Anyone could read these and take it as a representation of our school which in my opinion would be incorrect. Regardless of administrative, individual or procedural problems I truly believe the students at FAMU COL are dedicated, intelligent, driven individuals and would want their achievements, not the school's shortcomings, to be at the fore front. We all feel the frustration. Personally, I believe if the student body is motivated and has pride in the hard work and long hours they are putting in it will spark some much needed change.
ReplyDeleteGood Evening Rattler!!! I have a three step soluation to the law school problems.
ReplyDelete1. Keep the Dean's and all the wonderful and talented faculty.
2. Keep the staff.
3. Keep all the students.
The law school is a team and everyone is working hard to accomplish one goal.
Witherspoon, Saleem, Faculty, Staff and Student's want the best for the College of Law. Please continue to support them.
To anonymous said 11/22/06.
Dean Douglas is no longer at the law school. Dean Witherspoon and the entire school is working hard to get the school accrediated. Ms. Washington gets the job done and can handle all problems, situations and concerns.
Nobody at the law school is incompetance. Everyone one is their for a reason and talented in different areas.
FAMU does not need to fear the legislature for making changes to FAMU, but rather we should fear each other. Some of these comments are beyond defamation and I cannot believe that in this day and age with all the education that we have obtained, that we can continue to assassinate each other's character.
ReplyDeleteGet a grip Rattlers, this is not what we are about. Enough already.