September Letter
Greetings from your law school! We are anxiously awaiting your arrival. Our 2Ls have just finished On-Campus Interviews (OCI) for summer 2012 jobs, 2Ls and 3Ls are currently registering for classes, and we’re looking forward to meeting all of you in a few short weeks. Some dos and don’ts for you over the next two and a half weeks:
DO review the June and July letters carefully and make sure that you have completed all the necessary tasks.
DO keep an eye on the orientation schedule. We’re reconfirming all of your speakers, etc., and will be posting revised schedules as we get closer to orientation.
DO come prepared to participate in orientation. In general, you will be fully booked Monday, September 19 – Wednesday, September 21 and on Thursday, September 22 if you are participating in the optional Professionalism and Leadership Day. The schedule is designed to allow you to get to know your classmates, your Bigelow Fellows, your professors, and your law school. You’ll have plenty of time to unpack, buy books, get your first assignments, and generally settle in between orientation and your first (non-Bigelow) class on Monday, September 26.
DO RSVP for the Entering Students’ Dinner by September 15. You should have received an emailed invitation from Dean Schill’s office August 22 or August 23. If you are sure you did not receive the invitation to your uchicago.edu email address, please contact Lisa Alvarez at lalvarez@uchicago.edu before September 15. (Because of the caterer's deadline we will not be able to add you during orientation.) The dinner is a special occasion – a dinner held by the Dean and faculty of the Law School in honor of your class. Suggested attire for the Entering Students' Dinner is business. Many of you have asked what business attire means – it generally means a suit, or something else you would wear for an important meeting or interview.
DO select a service activity by September 15. You can sign up at: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/ClassOf2014ServiceDaySign-UpForm.
DO decide whether you want to participate in the Inaugural Professionalism and Leadership Day on Thursday, September 22. In order to participate, you must register by September 15. This day has been designed based on feedback from alumni and current students and, along with the other leadership and professionalism programming various Law School offices will be offering throughout the year, is intended to prepare you for success at the Law School and in the legal profession. Participants will have first priority for certain programming offered later in the year and are invited to list their participation in this day on their resumes. The tentative schedule and more information is available at: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/Class2014ProfessionalismSignUp.
DO get your UChicago ID (Chicago Card) if you arrive in town by Saturday, September 17. (Otherwise you can get it after orientation.) For more info on where to get your Chicago Card, what you can do with it, etc., visit: http://ipo.uchicago.edu/uchicagocard.html. Be sure to click on “Check our office’s hours on a specific day” before heading over.
DO read "Common Sense," an important safety publication that contains helpful emergency phone numbers. The University of Chicago Police Department reports an increase in incidents around campus at the beginning of the school year when there are new students on campus who are unfamiliar with the area. Common Sense has information about our shuttle service and SafeRide program, as well as Umbrella Coverage designed to ensure your safe passage from one campus location to another after hours. See http://commonsense.uchicago.edu/.
DON’T worry about your Bigelow section assignment. In accordance with long-standing tradition, you will receive your Bigelow section assignment the Friday before orientation. To get your section assignment, you must log in to the cMore system at https://cmore.uchicago.edu/ To log on to cMore, you must have claimed your CNetID. (See the June and July letters.)
DO call if you have questions. Some of the most frequently asked questions are answered below, but we’re happy to answer other questions that may come up.
What is the dress code for orientation?
There isn’t one. Most people wear some variation on casual or business casual for Monday and Tuesday, clothes they don’t mind getting dirty for Wednesday (due to the service activity), and a suit for the Entering Students’ Dinner Thursday night. Note that for certain service activity locations, you must wear long pants and close-toed shoes but you can pick up your assignment on Tuesday during orientation so you will know in advance. You will also receive your class T-shirt to wear for the service activity and class photo. The dress code for Thursday's leadership and professionalism day is business casual.
What should I bring for orientation?
A notebook and pen and cash or check if you want to purchase books from the book sale and/or T-shirt sale on Monday. You should also bring your laptop on Tuesday if you want to have a security tag affixed to it by the University of Chicago Police Department during lunch. You will be given a nametag on Monday and are expected to wear it all four days of orientation. It is especially important to wear it Thursday night for the Entering Students’ Dinner when you will be meeting many faculty and staff. You will be carded on the boat cruise if you wish to consume any alcoholic beverages.
What do I need to get done before I arrive?
Review the June and July letters and complete the tasks listed. If you can, get your UChicago ID (see above).
What about the first meetings of student organizations?
Several organizations plan to hold BBQs, bowling parties, etc. during orientation. As soon as they submit final event information, the orientation schedule will be updated online. You will also receive more information after you arrive as those student groups finalize their plans.
I really want to make sure I get into Bigelow Section [X]. What can I do?
Nothing. Your Bigelow section assignment is done randomly by a computer program.
What about registering for my other classes?
It's done for you based on Bigelow section assignment. See the June letter for more information.
How can I see who is teaching 1L classes?
On the Law School website, go to Students, then Course Offerings, and sort by 1L required courses on the drop-down menu.
How do I know what books to buy?
On the Law School website, go to Students, then Registrar, then Book List.
Where can I buy my books?
Once you receive your section assignment, you will be able to purchase your books. Greenbooks, a Law School student organization, will be selling used books at the Law School on Monday, September 19 during the resource fair. By purchasing your books from Greenbooks, you support the environment, students working in public interest, and environmental student programming at the Law School. Law School textbooks will also be available at the University Barnes and Noble during Orientation. This bookstore is located at 970 E. 58th Street. Purchasing your books, whether at Greenbooks or the University Barnes and Noble, on Friday during Orientation will give you ample time to prepare for your first class meetings.
Course materials will be sold at the Law School on Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on Monday, September 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The copy center is located on the lower level below the Law School Clinic in the far southeast corner of the building. Reggie Williams is the manager of that center.
Where can I buy UChicago T-shirts?
The University Book Store has a large selection of UChicago T-shirts, pens, hats, etc., and has expanded its Law School-specific offerings. For the largest selection of Law School apparel, wait until the Chicago Law Foundation T-Shirt Sale on Monday during orientation.
When do we get our lockers?
You will receive your locker assignment on the first day of orientation. Note that you do not need to bring your own lock -- there is a lock built in. You are strongly encouraged to not leave valuables in your locker.
What is the deal with the boat cruise?
The boat cruise is an architectural tour of downtown Chicago with a dessert buffet. It’s a chance to meet your classmates and get to know your new city. The ride lasts two hours and each student is limited to two drink tickets. You cannot purchase additional beverages on the boat, and the boat does not make any interim stops.
Can I drive from the Law School to the boat cruise Monday night, or do I have to take the bus?
If you do not plan to consume any alcoholic beverages on the boat cruise and want to drive directly home from the boat cruise, driving directions to the boat will be available on Monday at the orientation check-in table. Note that if you drive, you need to give yourself plenty of time to park and walk back to the boat. Also note that, while Navy Pier does have a parking ramp that you can use, parking costs will not be covered by the Law School.
Do I have to go on the boat cruise?
No -- it is entirely optional. If you are prone to seasickness or just don't want to go, that's fine. You'll have plenty of time to get to know your classmates during orientation without going on the boat cruise.
Is there an assignment for our first Bigelow class on September 19?
Yes. It will be forwarded to you as soon as we receive it from the Bigelow Fellows. Because all sections will have the same assignment for the first class, you will not need to wait until September 16 when sections are announced to begin the assignment.
What else should I be doing?
Relax. You’re about to start an exciting chapter in your life. Now is the time to relax and just get ready to enjoy the ride.
In short, rest up and get ready for a great year.
See you soon,
Dean Gardner & Shannon Bartlett