New Format, Same Bullshit

Oh peanuts, everything is so frustrating.

Well, it looks like it's time to update the ol' blog.  Here's a rundown of the changes:

• Now it looks shittier different.
• Professor Hollyfeld will be writing in the first person.
• Wait, I'll be writing in the first person. 
• Semi-regular updates.  Stress on the semi.
• Probably some other stuff.  All of this ether is making me forgetful.

OKAY - with that out of the way.  What's the newest buzz on the block?  Well, it appears a Suffolk Law professor is really mad at the giant flag hanging in the lobby and has taken it out on The Troops.  Who are the troops?  I don't know.  We can explore this after the jump (new!)

So for those who haven't read the email that is setting off a firestorm at Fox News, here's the original post on another super impartial Conservative website.  And, for those who'd like to see what some members of the legal community think, here's the ATL coverage (masochism kicks in at the comment section).

So here's what I think:  I don't care.  Of all the stuff that bugs me about the law school, a lefty professor doing acting like a lefty isn't at the top of my list.  For chrissakes, his resume lists a year at the University of Moscow in '69 - when is was extra Commie-y.  A far cry from fucking children in the showers I'd say.  But people are going nuts, and good ol' Barry "Button-down Out On The Town Heavy Is The Head That Wears The Crown" Brown and whatsherface the new dean felt the need address the email and lock down the school (show your papers!), because clearly appeasing wingnut South Shore teabaggers will get SULS out of the rankings basement.  Right?  No, of course not.  Ugh.

Here's the deal - of all the problems facing us (no jobs, no jobs, debt, debt, debt, and, uh, no jobs) - this is hardly a blip.  Is the timing not great?  Sure - Veteran's Day is probably not a great holiday to start calling US troops baby-killers.  Is there a conversation worth having surrounding this?  Yes, absolutely.  But why is this the issue that our venerable leaders are addressing?  Maybe they're hoping that we'll focus on this, forgetting that tons of money is flowing into the university and not much is flowing out.  We have some of the lowest faculty/admin pay among New England law schools (with the exception of former President Sargent), financial aid awards that are not only insultingly minuscule, but recognized as being in the lower quartile of ALL LAW SCHOOLS.  Yet we pay some of the highest tuition in the country. 

So, as my old man used to say, "we're getting fucked without the courtesy of a kiss".