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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy Hour at AALS: save the date for Thurs Jan 8th at 9ish (confirmed)
Some very exciting news: we will once again be hosting a happy hour with our friends from Concurring Opinions and the Empirical Legal Studies blog during the AALS conference in San Diego. Please mark your calendars for 9pm on Thursday January 8th. Place (now confirmed): The Marriott's Lobby Lounge.
Importantly, this year we will be joined in sponsorship by our very generous friends at Indiana University Maurer School of Law — Bloomington. The first couple hundred drinks will be thanks to them!
Posted by Dan Markel on December 31, 2008 at 11:58 AM in Blogging | Permalink
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"this year we will be joined in sponsorship by our very generous friends at Indiana University Maurer School of Law — Bloomington.The first couple hundred drinks will be thanks to them!"
You mention this without saying anything about the ethical implications of it. Law professors ought to pay for their own drinks.
How can a public law school justify sponsoring a couple of hundred drinks for law professors? Even aside from the potential liability in case someone drinks too much and gets in a car accident, the money that's being spent for two hundred drinks ought to be spent for legitimate law school purposes, not for getting law profs liquored up. Those of you who are IU alums or students might want to keep this in mind next time your dear old alma mater asks for a donation
Posted by: AYY | Jan 1, 2009 5:39:25 PM
AYY,
Most of the law professors are staying either at the hotel in which the happy hour is based, or at one in short walking distance, so there is little likelihood of car accidents; further, there is little risk of excessive drinking, since we normally have at least 100 people at the happy hour who order drinks. Further, the AALS has numerous receptions sponsored by law schools, both public and private, in which food and alcohol are served. If IU alums should be upset about a celebration designed to mark the school's recent good fortune, then so should all other alums at schools that do the same thing to build the reputation and public good will toward their law school.
That's not an argument against the notion that law professors should pay for their own drinks, of course! But that statement should be defended also; compared to whom? and must they pay for what they eat too? Next thing you know, you'll ask us to pay for our own clothes too...
Posted by: Dan Markel | Jan 1, 2009 11:39:18 PM
Thank you for your courtesy in replying, but the question isn't what other law schools do, it's what they should be doing or not doing. (If some other law schools jumped off the Empire State Building, does that mean IU should jump off the Empire State Building?) So yes I do think the other alums should be upset.
Those law schools shouldn't be spending money for these things unless they can justify them as legitimate expenses, and I don't see how they can justify expenses for drinks at Happy Hour. That's not the kind of reputation I would think a school would want to build. As far as liability goes, that's great that there's little risk of car accidents, but all you need is one.
Posted by: AYY | Jan 2, 2009 12:32:55 AM
AYY,
law schools, like most institutions and organizations, spend money on food and drink to recruit candidates, to facilitate networks for collaboration, and yes, to celebrate achievements and milestones. These are not, to my mind and those of others, illegitimate reasons, though of course excess is possible and execrable. I don't think our little get-together crosses that line. But your mileage may vary. As to your concern for just the one car accident, I agree. Let's play it safe, and just eliminate cars. And liquor. :-)
Posted by: Dan Markel | Jan 2, 2009 1:29:43 AM
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