By
The Wildcat Opinions Board
James E. Rogers, generous benefactor and namesake of UA's law school, has struck again. This time, he donated the "seed money" for a $137 million interdisciplinary program within the James E. Rogers College of Law. Unlike the $115 million donation that prompted the law school's name change back in 1999, the amount of this donation is undisclosed. Whatever the amount, we wonder whether Rogers' money wouldn't be better spent actually providing degrees to UA's law school students.
The UA Rogers Program in Law, Philosophy and Social Inquiry consists of about 35 students and faculty attending 10 workshops throughout the academic year. At these workshops, topics covered include the psychological behavior of criminals and the social implications of law, the goal being to stimulate interdisciplinary work and thought on the relationship between law and society.
"I'm hoping to stimulate interdisciplinary research to build bridges between the law school and other departments at the university," Bernard Harcourt, program director, said in Friday's paper.
That's all well and good in theory, but if there aren't too many students crossing those bridges, then they won't do much good. And why might students be hesitant to cross such a bridge? The workshops in the program are not for credit, and without credit there is little impetus for taking time out of an already demanding law school schedule to attend these workshops.
One law student who had participated in the program suggested that others were hesitant to join the program despite their interest in it because it doesn't offer any credit. Even the volunteer work law school students do is required by the college for graduation.
The decision not to run the program for credit becomes even more perplexing in light of the fact that the College of Law already offers interdisciplinary degrees. For instance, a student can pursue both a J.D. and a Ph.D in philosophy through a joint program with the College of Law and the philosophy department. These workshops, with their focus falling outside the realm of traditional law school topics such as jurisprudential history and patent law, seem the perfect way to cement the existing relationship between the two otherwise far-flung departments. This works for any other of the college's joint programs such as J.D./Ph.D. Psychology or Economics. There's even plans for joint research in law and anthropology!
How is it inappropriate to give credit for these workshops? What's more is that there will be additional coursework within the program and an annual conference. OK, so the workshops are only convened 10 times a year. Maybe a full three credits isn't a viable option, but could you toss them at least one credit for their efforts? Two post-graduate degrees these students graduate with, give them some credit!
Eventually, the program may offer a certificate, for what that's worth. But for now, 35 students will just have to be content with the experience they gained in acquiring their joint degrees. No credit for their work, no certificate for their participation. C 'mon, throw 'em a bone!
