End-of-Semester Enmity
I’m usually among the most even-keeled people you’ll meet, with near-infinite reserves of patience. It’s why people like having me around in “crisis” situations. ((When you’re not afraid to fail, it’s really easy to think clearly and succeed.))
But even I get snippy when it’s the end of the semester and homework is weighing me down 
I was late getting up this morning and raced to class terrified that I’d go over on my allowed absences. When I walk in the classroom door, I notice on the projection screen that we’re supposed to be filling out professor evaluations… and a half-dozen or so of the class’s high achievers are engaged in a vocal across-the-room conversation about how much they dislike Prof Tax because of the take-home final she assigned to us. ((Two lengthy essay questions, including a 6-part question with a 4-page fact pattern 
))
Now normally I wouldn’t care; people complaining about professors is how I’ve learned who to take and who to avoid over the years. But Prof Tax said at the beginning of the semester that she was going to give us an in-class exam and these people protested. They protested with sufficient intensity that the Prof let the class vote on whether they wanted a take-home exam or an in-class exam, and these people voted for the take-home over the objections of those of us in the back of the room.
So after the “Prof Tax is evil for giving us what we asked for” convo went on and on (and on) I got annoyed and posted a status on Facebook.
My Facebook status (top); the pre-cartoon Gchat convo with Negative Nancy (bottom)
That prompted one of the complainers to bellow across literally the entire room ((I sit in the next-to-last row out of ~15 rows.)) “GREG, THAT’S NOT EVEN RIGHT!”, me to reply “The truth hurts.”, and her to start a Gchat conversation with me explaining how my opinion on the class was irrelevant since I never turned in the first-of-two homework assignments. ((Don’t ask me how one logically relates to the other; I couldn’t figure it out either 
))
Prof Tax then walks in the room, and the first thing she announces is that at least 3 people have cheated on the 2nd assignment
Two have practically identical responses, and a third is copied not-quite-verbatim from a professional supplement. Predictably the Prof was displeased, the individuals in question will be getting 0’s on the assignment and referrals to the law school’s Disciplinary Committee… and I added a comment to my own FB status (posted to the right).
The ensuing Gchat conversation is what set me off.
For all of NCCU Law‘s merits — see, for example, the “Why NCCU?” entry linked above — we’ve got a small-but-vocal group of students who do nothing but complain all. the. damn. time.
And I don’t mean substantive complaints that point out correctable flaws, or folks who complain but offer solutions. I mean people who constantly gripe in general terms, and on those exceedingly rare occasions they offer any specific critiques they then categorically refuse to offer any constructive advice (and even when their concerns are addressed, no resolution is ever good enough).
A summary of the first 15 minutes of Tax class
They’re such an annoyance to other students that I actually wrote a memo to the faculty back in September proposing changes to the types of folks we admit in an effort to address student concerns.
I get it: some people just aren’t happy unless they’re unhappy. Every school’s got them, as anyone in Student Government or a Student Bar Association can attest.
But I’m pretty sure this is the first time any of them had the metaphorical cajones to claim *my*Â comments made the school look bad…
…so I pulled up Dan Awesome’s Rage Maker and cobbled together a comic summarizing the first 15 minutes of class. ((First, the guy’s got an awesome last name. Second, if you’re unfamiliar with the rage comic internet meme make sure to educate yourself at KnowYourMeme.com. 
)) 
Excessive? Maybe.
Deserved? Absolutely.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving, I need a few days off from these folks…
Just goes to show, you can’t be good to people, they won’t let you.
Yeah I think everyone’s abnormally testy this year. I don’t remember being this high-strung last year or 1L year…
Thanks for personally inviting me to your blog, because after your comments made on Facebook about our tax class, I had a lot of things I wanted to say to you that probably were not Facebook appropriate. First, thank you for caring more about your blog than tax class. You’ve really helped out the curve. Those that were upset in class about our tax final are the ones who actually care about their grades. Your lack of attendance and admittance that you have the lowest grade in the class is really helping the rest of us out about now. Second, you might want to reconsider being a politician because pissing people off and making fun of them is not the way to win over people. No amount of bullshit is going to compensate for that. As an SBA president, it’s probably best that you not make fun of the peers you supposedly represent.
I wish I had time like you to write elaborate blogs and waste time in class, however, I am busy each day paying attention in tax class and studying for my final exams. To be the President of the SBA at NCCU Law you surely do bash the student body on a regular basis and do not advocated for the students AT ALL….smh
Your status and cartoon were both on point T, people have been so disrespectful all year it’s crazy. Not sure what the clowns above are complaining about. The Class of 2013 appreciates you man, I’ve been a loyal reader since before I was a 1L. Don’t let the haters get you down!
NCCU Law Student bashes enough for the whole school – ” These ninjas this and this ninja school.” I am sure you can teach a class about bashing and complaining.
Dear Amy
I dont think he was saying anything about grades it was more about people complaining all the time and not having a solution to what they are complaining about.
(1) This is absolutely HILARIOUS!!!! HILARIOUS!!!! HILARIOUS!!!!
(2) There is nothing wrong with you having a blog – since it is your Constitutionally Protected Right to maintain one. My advice to anyone who may be offended, DON’T read this. It’s funny how I hear certain people around the school ALWAYS complaining, and ALWAYS talking about other people. So why are you offended by this???????? Get over it – its a blog. If you are offended, create your own blog, and if you ever become important enough for other people to read your thoughts, CONGRATS!
(3) I don’t think this BLOG – let me say that again – BLOG – has anything to do with your representation of our student body. You have been a great leader who has always put the entire student body before even your own needs, and you get stuff done. – A REAL LEADER!!!!So, its funny how people have a problem with your representation of our student body, when nobody else wanted the job. I would suggest : To those people who don’t care enough to lead, or make any substantitve contribution to our SCHOOL, please shut your mouth or leave!!! ASAP!!!! Please!!!! I will even advocate for you to get into another school!!! Just go!!!
(4) Keep on blogging buddy. I am officially reading your material AND the comments from now on. Some good ole’ fashion entertainment.
Wow this entry blew up unexpectedly. Sorry for not replying yesterday, I was in a meeting with about two dozen student leaders and school administrators getting feedback on things going on at the law school.
The Facebook status was directed to those short-sighted folks who overturned the apple cart for everybody (we used to call that “tyranny of the majority” in undergrad poli sci classes), then wanted to complain that their apples got dirt on them. You could almost hear the collective screams from Room 100, the “omg we have to do actual work on a take-home final we requested in a required course given out 2 weeks before it’s due?? Nnoooooooooo!!”
The cartoon was for the intellectual reprobates who’ve spent years criticizing our law school at every opportunity to anyone who will listen, and then have the unmitigated gall to act injured when someone else criticizes cheating students (“students,” for those not near a Black’s Law Dictionary, is a different noun and entity than “school”).
If I’m doing a poor job representing the questionable-judgment and sanctimonious-hypocrite demographics, I not just consider that high praise — I’d happily take an F in Tax for the honor.
To everyone else: thanks for the support and more importantly thanks for reading, I appreciate y’all!
Tres Bien, Mon Presidente!!