To: CLS Participants (via e-mail)
From: Nicholas Johnson
Re: CLS/Assignments
We're off to a good start. Now, some items for your attention.
1. Am I using your preferred e-mail address? If not, and you get this anyway, let me know what you'd prefer.
2. The list of names I'm currently using includes both those on the official Dec. 16th registration list, and a prior list. (a) If you did not attend class January 12th I am assuming you are not taking the class. But, for clarity and as a courtesy, please send me an e-mail or note that you are not taking the class if that is the case. We're overcrowded and want to finalize our class list as soon as possible. (b) If you attended class, and signed the attendance sheet, I'm assuming you are in the class. If you are taking the class I'm also assuming you've taken whatever formal steps are necessary to get yourself on the next official class registration list.
3. As a reminder, if you're new, our class Web page is located at:
http://www.uiowa.edu/~cyberlaw/cls00 [those are zeros not letter "o"s]
4. Recall that you are to prepare and get to me a one-page bio by next class period. (You can leave it with my assistant, Ms. Sharlee Feller, in Room 433.) The details of what it's to contain are now be available on our Web page. These bios have not, in the past, been posted to the Web. They are made into hardcopy booklets only, and distributed back to you to better enable us to know each other. (When you delay it just holds up the whole project for everyone, since we don't "go to press" until we have them all.)
5. Recall also that you are to think of whom you want to select as your class "ombudsperson." You'll vote next Wednesday. (Not much pay, but high honor.)
6. And, if I'm lucky, I will have an excellent photographer to take some class pictures then, too (as I mentioned last night). (As I also said at the time, if anyone, for any reason, would prefer not to have her/his picture taken don't skip class; just let me know and we will try to honor that. If you don't mind, but miss class, we can set up another time.)
7. Just an early heads up: I will be in San Diego the week of our Wednesday, February 2, class. We will reschedule it for another day. In my past experience, either Thursday afternoon, 3:00 to 5:00, or Thursday evening, 6:30 to 8:30, have worked best for the most students. If you cannot come at either of those times on Thursdays, please let me know.
8. If you think you have been approved by the main office, or me, for writing credit, please send me an e-mail to that effect, along with the number of writing credits that have been approved. I need to know how many of you there are. We will set up "mileposts" (i.e., events and dates) for accomplishments along the way. Hopefully, outlines, first drafts, edits, second drafts, and presentations will, thereby, be completed before the last week of school, giving you some extra time to study for exams.
Everyone will benefit with a (free) "subscription" to the online "Edupage." It's highly recommended, but not required. But if you're still looking for a paper topic it's almost essential that you look through the last couple of months of issues. You'll find dozens of fun, hot, topics there.
9. Before long (hopefully) I'll have at least your first reading assignment for you. "Privacy on the Internet" cases/issues. If you have a favorite case or statute to propose, send it along.
Finally (not official class business), I will be introducing former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich tomorrow, Friday January 14, 9:30, law building -- I think it will be Room 245. You're a lively bunch, and he's a lively guy. Entirely your call whether you come or not, of course. I just didn't want you to miss it because you didn't know about it.
Nick