someones alt wrote:Jesus, I just looked at the orientation schedule from last year and it made me want to die. so many mandatory funtivities over 5 days. sigh. summer orientation seems a lot better, they crammed 4 days of boring into 2 and then let them start class.
Is any of this optional, or do we all sit through lectures on "computer training" the "duke honor code" and "how to make friends in lawl school"? I get that a lot of people enjoy this type of thing, but I really hope we're allowed to skip out on it and just do the fun things like go to a Bulls game or the community service stuff.
To answer your question about which activities are mandatory and which are optional, from last year:
Monday August 17:
Registration & Breakfast
-Yes-ish. You need to show up by the end to get all your stuff, and it would be nice to be able to talk to some of the other students and get something to eat, but you don't need to be there right when it says it starts.
Dean's Welcome
-Yes. Boring, but you should probably go.
Lawyers as Leaders Lecture
-Yes. This will most likely be different, but if I remember correctly this was the first in the "Dean's Lecture Series", which is a class. You have to go to all of them. However, I would be lieing if I told you they take attendance or that everyone remembered to attend all of them.
Where Do You Draw The Line?
-Yes. This is a small group thing, and they will notice if you are not there.
Professionalism Alumni Luncheon
-Yes, but you want to go to this. Free food!
Transfer Student Orientation
-Only if you are a transfer student, which none of you are.
Duke Blueprint and Honor Code
-Yes. Rather important, and I think this is where they pass around the form you have to sign.
Free Time
-Non-event, so you figure it out.
LEAD Fellow Reception
-No, but I think last time they had beer and it was my first opportunity to really interact with the other students on a more casual level. I would pop in if nothing else.
Tuesday, August 18:
Breakfast
-Nope, but if you want free breakfast you can have it.
Public Interest & Pro Bono Primer
-Probably should (I think they also explain how PILF works here), but no one will really notice if you sleep in and miss it.
Screening of 18 Years Lost: The Trials of Darryl Hunt/Q & A with Darryl Hunt
-No, but this was INCREDIBLY interesting. I don't know if they will do it again next year, but whatever they do will most likely be just as cool. I would go.
Community Service Kick-off and “Q Shack” BBQ Lunch
-Yes. Tasty food, and you have to meet up with your group for...
12th Annual Dedicated to Durham
-Big Yes. You get a T-shirt, and nothing helps you get to know your class like 4 hours of work pulling Kudzu out of the gardens (or whatever your service project will be).
Durham Bulls Game
-No. I didn't go. Didn't have time to go to a Bulls game till spring, but it was a blast--although it was more because of who I went with than the actual game. I don't know how fun the game will be when you are there with relative strangers. Still, the people who went last year seemed to have a good time, so if you are feeling up to it go for it.
Wednesday, August 19:
Breakfast
-Again, No. But again, free food.
Building Relationships
-I am 90% sure I slept through this, and I am 90% sure I remember thinking it was the best decision I ever made. Go if you want, but I am pretty sure it was pointless. Maybe ask someone who went's opinion.
Living with Purpose/Living with Purpose Roundtable
-Meh. This was about the Rec policies, Student health, who to go to if/when you are feeling suicidal, things like that. I went to this, and I remember the panelists being unsure as to what the actual Duke policies were with regards to grad students. They mostly handle the undergrads. I think it left us more confused than we were going in, but at least it told us what to be confused about. If you don't go, know that your Duke Id will get you into the gym, and if you look up online for "Healthy Devils" you can find all the health info you need. Sometimes used the first bit of info, never used the second.
Healthy Living Lunch Fair
-Tasty, but the way they had it set up last year was awful. you had to wait in a really long line every time you wanted a mouthful of food. Hopefully they fix this logistically.
While I am on the subject, don't eat at the refractory. They are ok usually, but they charge ridiculous prices. If you don't want to go get free lunch at a lunch event and you didn't bring yours in a sack, I would either head over to the business school or down to the normal student union. The refractory should be your last resort lunch when you have no time for something that is not in the Law School.
Making the Most of Class
-Yes. Go, if only so you can get a feel for what Professor Coleman is like in case you have her for Torts. She is just going to be talking about IRAC (or FIRAC, don't remember which she says). But she usually opens it for questions, and she is incredibly frank and open with her answers.
Legal Analysis, Research and Writing classes
-YES. This is an actual class, so you have to go.
Duke Bar Association ("DBA") Cook-out
-Go. Good food, and you might get to meet my dog. But you don't have to if you don't have a mentor (I forgot to sign up for the program, so I did not).
Thursday, August 20:
Academic Advising
-I honestly don't remember this.
Practice Professionalism
-Again, don't remember. I think I was worried about Legal Writing at the time.
Lawyers as Advocates
-Was this interesting? Was I there? Maybe I passed out this morning. Weird that I cannot remember any of these.
Student Lunch Panel: Life in and outside the classroom
-Free food, and students talking to you instead of the Faculty. Once I know who it is that will be sitting on the panel, I can tell you if you should listen to them or not.
Optional Computer Training
-Hell no. This is for the people who don't know where the on button is. You can find all this info on the website.
Alumni Trivia Night
-This was fun, but it was packed. Hard to get food and beer, and hard to hear the questions once they started. Also, I would try and get someone who went to Duke undergrad on your team.
Friday, August 21:
Legal Analysis, Research and Writing classes
-Again, yes. You will have an assignment due, so you need to go at least to turn it in.
Optional Computer Training
-Same exact thing as before.
New Student Welcome Reception
-No, but you should go. The faculty are there, and you can meet them before you start all your other classes on Monday.
Hope that helps!
Thats what were paying so much for.
