Vol. 23 No. 13 (November 25, 2002)

Indiana Law Annotated Vol. 23 No. 13 (November 25, 2002)

Table of Contents

• STUDENT EVALUATIONS: HOW ARE THEY USED?
• ANONYMOUS GRADING: HOW DOES IT WORK?
• EVENTS & LECTURES
• NEWS FROM STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
• ANNOUNCEMENTS
• CALENDAR

STUDENT EVALUATIONS: HOW ARE THEY USED?

During the last two weeks of the semester, students are asked to complete evaluations of their courses. The evaluations are used in a variety of ways at the school. First, and most obviously, many professors read the evaluations in order to assess their effectiveness as teachers. The evaluations are used by the school in setting salaries and are read during the promotion and tenure process as part of the information available to the school about a professor's teaching. Professors may see their evaluations only after they have graded their exams and submitted the final grades to the recorder's office.

ANONYMOUS GRADING: HOW DOES IT WORK?

Examinations at the Law School are graded anonymously. Students are required to obtain an examination number each semester. During the exam period, professors are given a list of the exam numbers for students in each of their classes. The list contains no names and is used for two purposes. First, it allows professors to check the numbers on the exam booklets against the numbers on the list to assure that all students have turned in their exam booklets. Second, grades are reported to the recorder by placing the grade next to the examination number on this list. Two copies of the examination grades are given to the recorder, who initials and keeps one copy. The second copy is then returned to the professors who wish to adjust grades for class participation, along with a key identifying students by name.

The requirement that initial grades be turned in before members of the class are identified by name assures that professors will not know the identities of the class members until they have relinquished control over their initial grades. The recorder keeps the initial grade sheet on file as well as the sheet adjusting grades for class participation. If a question arises over whether a change was made in a grade after a student's identity was revealed, the exact nature of the change can be learned from the recorder.

As noted above, professors cannot read their student evaluations until their final grades have been turned in.

In order for this system to work, it is very important that students do nothing to compromise their anonymity. If you are typing your exam, please do not tell your professor. If you need to speak to her or him, please do not do so with an examination booklet in your hand. Thanks!

And happy Thanksgiving!

EVENTS & LECTURES

ACS PANEL ON HATE CRIMES TODAY AT NOON

On Monday, November 25, 2002, the American Constitution Society will host a panel on hate speech/hate crimes at noon in the Moot Court Room. IU Law Professor Jeannine Bell will serve on panel discussing hate speech and hate crimes in the context of her recent book on the convergence of these areas, Policing Hatred: Law Enforcement, Civil Rights, and Hate Crime (NYU Press 2002). Professor Bell will be joined on the panel by IU Political Science Professor Jeffrey Isaac, who is a leader of the organization Bloomington United Against Hate, which is dedicated to tolerance in the community. Professors Bell and Isaac will be joined by John Krull, the Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ICLU), who has other views to share on hate speech. The event promises to feature exciting exchange between these panelists. Please make plans to join us. Refreshments will be provided.

NEWS FROM STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

FEMINIST LAW FORUM CELL-PHONE DRIVE

Are you a technophile? Do you know someone who always has the latest cell phone? Not sure what to do with all those old phones? Donate them to Middle Way House; they will use your phone to save a life. The FLF will have a collection table outside the library from 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving as well as Monday through Wednesday after break so you may bring those old cell phones from home.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHANGE IN PROCEDURE FOR SCHEDULING EVENTS

ALL e-mail about reserving classrooms must be sent to BL-LAW-EVENTS. Debbie Eads will no longer be scheduling rooms, so it will avail you naught to drop by her office. Mail must be sent to the correct address, bl-law-events (for Outlook users) or bl-events-law@exchange.indiana.edu (for non-Outlook users). Please include the date and time of event, length of time room will be needed, classroom requested and number of people attending event. Requests should be sent at least one week before the event and include the name of the person requesting, the organization planning the event, and an e-mail address. Confirmations will be sent by reply e-mail. Thank you!

AUDIO - VIDEO SERVICES

Requests for AV services may be sent to Beth at av@exchange.indiana.edu. Please include the name of your group and the e-mail address of the contact person, a description of what you want to do, and the date, location, starting time and duration of the event. Requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance and will be confirmed by e-mail.

CALENDAR

Nov. 25: Hate crimes panel, noon, Moot Court Room

ILA: Please visit our Web site at www.law.indiana.edu/pubs/ila/ilacurrent.html. The ILA is published every Monday with news about the coming week. If you have questions about an item appearing in the ILA, please contact Leora Baude (e-mail lbaude@indiana.edu or phone 855-2426).

Submissions: Information and articles for the ILA should be submitted by Friday at 10 a.m. for inclusion in Monday's edition. Please e-mail all submissions to ila@indiana.edu.