Disclosure- Input appreciated Forum

[woodstocker]

thanks

[narkizopoint]

word choice bro, all in the word choice...way too verbose

[03121202698008]

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance...

During the spring semester of my sophomore year, I collaborated with a friend to create a blog entry which was intended to satirize her pessimistic attitude. In accordance with her daily commiserations, the entry expressed, in very strong language, an intense dissatisfaction with the materialistic values of certain individuals on campus, and a disapproval of her instructor’s pedagogical methods. It was written in an aggressive tone in order to show my friend how farfetched her worries sounded to me. Being my satiric interpretation of her outlook, my name was affixed to the entry’s title.

XXX College Administration, unaware of the farcical nature of the entry, located it through a social networking site and questioned me as to the purposes of it. Cautiously assuming the blog was a therapeutic outlet for a disgruntled student, the administration referred me to the campus counseling center. Upon my visit to the center, the innocent basis of the blog became clear. I was advised to delete the blog entry and was lectured on the importance of not posting potentially misleading statements in public forums such as the internet. No formal disciplinary action was taken by the college. Through this experience I learned to respect the universal accessibility of the internet, and have since demonstrated prudence in my online interactions.

Specifically what question (specific verbiage) on the application is leading you to disclose this? I'm not sure this is worthy of disclosure. You wrote a blog entry protected as free speech, was advised to delete it, and did. As far as I can tell from this entry, you weren't investigated for anything. Investigated is different than questioned.

BTW, even if your entry was for real, I doubt the school would have grounds to do anything. Criticism is not illegal and the truth is a defense to libel/slander. A single critical entry would not violate any states cyber-bullying laws (which are pretty new and likely didn't exist then anyhow). The fact that they referred you to a counseling center shows they were more concerned about you flipping out then anything disciplinary.

[woodstocker]

thanks for the help

[03121202698008]

Yeah, I have heavily debated whether or not to disclose this but I decided to be cautious and do so. I don't know if it was documented and I don't want it to come around and bite me in the ass when the Bar does its fitness background screen.

That's what I am saying. This isn't anything that would impact a fitness examination. You committed no crime and were not disciplined. Even if you wrote a blog entry each day critical of your school it would be protected speech. I vote for don't disclose. (While over-disclosing may sound like a good idea, it may make the school wonder why you disclosed at all.)

[cendien]

Yeah, you didn't technically do anything wrong. I wouldn't add additional risk to your app by submitting this... No part of any app I've seen requires this type of disclosure.

[woodstocker]

For the purposes of a LS application, what is an appropriate definition for "any disciplinary action"?

[CardinalRules]

I agree with all of the posters here. None of your actions can be defined as criminal in any way; if anything, the incident reflects well on you insofar as you promptly heeded the instructions of the higher authorities. I don't think that any law school needs to know.