Chris just got called on in ConLaw II, and asked the most on-the-spot question ever in law school — especially at a conservative Catholic school like Notre Dame. In essence, though not in so many words, it amounted to, “So, Mr. Aemisegger… Roe v. Wade: right or wrong?”
Just curious as a student at another Catholic law school where I would characterize both the student body and administration as extremely liberal, exactly how conservative is ND? The students? Professors?? How does this conservatism permeate life at NDLS?
As someone who is pretty liberal (but with what some consider “conservative” opinions on issues like abortion and stem cell research), I don’t think conservatism permeated life at all. Catholicism certainly did. But I took Con Law II with Tidmarsh who’s pretty liberal — so is Mason, who teaches it now. I can pretty much honestly say that though I was aware of my professors’ personal politics, I don’t think it affected their teaching. Seriously. And some of them are a tough call; I don’t think many people know that Tex Dutile is probably the most liberal member of the faculty.
As I understand this, he was asked “right or wrong” BASED on an anaylsis of other cases, and NOT a pure moral/legal opinion of the case itself.
C’mon B, it’s tantalizing to take the quote out of context, but this one is just too easy.
NQR, it isn’t a quote, it’s a paraphrase. Hence my saying “not in so many words, it amounted to…”
You’re right that he was asked to give his opinion “BASED on an anaylsis of other cases” — but isn’t that what Constitutional Law is? Analyzing the case at issue based on the Constitution and prior caselaw?
Certainly he wasn’t asked to give a “moral…opinion.” If that were the case, I would have said the question was “abortion: right or wrong?” But I said “Roe v. Wade: right or wrong?” because it was his opinion of the legal merits of Roe v. Wade that was at issue.
In any event, first of all, I don’t believe I’m taking anything out of context; secondly, I was just making light of it, not criticizing or otherwise saying anything serious, so I’m not sure what the big deal is; and third, Chris said it was OK to post this, in precisely the manner that I posted it, so clearly he didn’t think it was grossly inaccurate.
As for Anonymous’s comment: I asked Chris if I could mention his name in the context of quoting the question, but I don’t have his permission to quote (or paraphrase) his answer, and since I don’t quote students’ comments in class without their permission, I’ll have to leave his answer to your imagination. :)
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February 8th, 2007 at 2:17:35 pm
For the record, in case anyone was wondering, this amusing anecdote was blogged with Chris’s permission. :)
February 8th, 2007 at 2:54:53 pm
Correct answer: Yes!
February 8th, 2007 at 3:16:29 pm
So, what’d the prof say?
February 8th, 2007 at 3:29:44 pm
This is why I sometimes oppose anonymous grading.
February 8th, 2007 at 5:19:26 pm
What did Chris say?
February 8th, 2007 at 6:39:44 pm
Just curious as a student at another Catholic law school where I would characterize both the student body and administration as extremely liberal, exactly how conservative is ND? The students? Professors?? How does this conservatism permeate life at NDLS?
February 8th, 2007 at 6:49:20 pm
As someone who is pretty liberal (but with what some consider “conservative” opinions on issues like abortion and stem cell research), I don’t think conservatism permeated life at all. Catholicism certainly did. But I took Con Law II with Tidmarsh who’s pretty liberal — so is Mason, who teaches it now. I can pretty much honestly say that though I was aware of my professors’ personal politics, I don’t think it affected their teaching. Seriously. And some of them are a tough call; I don’t think many people know that Tex Dutile is probably the most liberal member of the faculty.
February 9th, 2007 at 7:59:58 pm
That’s true. Dutile is quite liberal in a lot of ways, but he’s also one of the most deeply Catholic.
February 10th, 2007 at 12:03:11 pm
As I understand this, he was asked “right or wrong” BASED on an anaylsis of other cases, and NOT a pure moral/legal opinion of the case itself.
C’mon B, it’s tantalizing to take the quote out of context, but this one is just too easy.
February 10th, 2007 at 12:47:32 pm
NQR, it isn’t a quote, it’s a paraphrase. Hence my saying “not in so many words, it amounted to…”
You’re right that he was asked to give his opinion “BASED on an anaylsis of other cases” — but isn’t that what Constitutional Law is? Analyzing the case at issue based on the Constitution and prior caselaw?
Certainly he wasn’t asked to give a “moral…opinion.” If that were the case, I would have said the question was “abortion: right or wrong?” But I said “Roe v. Wade: right or wrong?” because it was his opinion of the legal merits of Roe v. Wade that was at issue.
In any event, first of all, I don’t believe I’m taking anything out of context; secondly, I was just making light of it, not criticizing or otherwise saying anything serious, so I’m not sure what the big deal is; and third, Chris said it was OK to post this, in precisely the manner that I posted it, so clearly he didn’t think it was grossly inaccurate.
As for Anonymous’s comment: I asked Chris if I could mention his name in the context of quoting the question, but I don’t have his permission to quote (or paraphrase) his answer, and since I don’t quote students’ comments in class without their permission, I’ll have to leave his answer to your imagination. :)