The serious nature of alcoholism and the complications resulting from the disease, though important, are not the primary issues raised by the literary piece about law student drinking.
Addressing the high correlation of alcohol to practicing attorneys is important, and as a means of calling that to public attention I applaud the author. However, I think a more applicable study to “evidence” this national correlation reflected specifically by the USD Law community would be the rate of alcoholism in practicing South Dakota attorneys.
Inserting national statistics on the small state of South Dakota, and our law school, is likely misleading as national statistics often do not accurately mirror South Dakota reality.
It is my shared contention with many that the problem was incorrectly placed on unsuspecting students. The law school has maintained a focus on providing students with various outlets to address problems in-house. This issue has exploded unnecessarily. Instead of addressing the problem within the law school, the author blew the whistle and by doing so has drawn negative attention to my friends, colleagues, peers, family, and most importantly future lawyers, judges and influential individuals.
Is the law school too inept to properly communicate, analyze, and facilitate resolution of this issue? Are the efforts by faculty and staff to address alcoholism too minimal to even mention? Seeing that within our “hungover studies” many of us focus on negotiations, arbitration and resolution it is probable that some sort of compromise could have been made. In an already tight market why would the author, a law student mind you, choose to put a bad taste in potential employer’s mouths about USD law students?
I agree that alcoholism is prevalent among legal professionals, and the national statistics remain alarming. However, the conclusions made about USD law students were unwarranted. Make no mistake I do not mean to degrade either the author or commentators sharing his opinions regarding USD law students’ “lack of professionalism.” My commentary is solely related to the issues raised by the article.
Robbie Rohl
USD Law Student
29 comments
Did you READ the article??? While using the phrase "booze-soaked rampages" was probably a bit overboard, The orgininal article definitely went out of its way to sensationalize and blow way out of proportion what actually goes on at these socials. Further, the article made it appear as though it was the lawschool who supported the socials. Try being a little less biased!
These would be valid arguments if 1) the problem of alcohol abuse was new to the law or the law school 2) if you hadn't argued that the law school was somehow separate from the rest of the university or local community such that the issues facing these university students and faculty were irrelevant to anyone not part of the team 3) the law school had ever effectively dealt with the issue of alcohol abuse among students or 4) the original article had slandered lawyers, law students or the law school rather than just pointing out the well known facts that most social events at the law school involve or revolve around alcohol and that the alcoholism rate among attorneys is high. The hyperbole didn't come from the initial article, it came from the defensive and overblown responses of law students and lawyers. The venom with which the author has been attacked says everything that needs to be said about those students and lawyers. It's an embarrassment for the law school and the state bar.