MichiganTipster's Profile
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Dear LawOpen:
Since it seems to have caused considerable consternation, I would like to clarify my actions and objectives in regards to the Student Funded Fellowship program.
I, like many people, have expressed concerns to SFF about the manner in which they distribute grants for a number of reasons. Board members, for the most part, have been incredibly receptive to taking suggestions under consideration. It has become apparent, over time, however, that the two most fundamental changes that I think should be made are areas where SFF and I will not see eye to eye.
The first is that of elected board members. At present, the board members are appointed by the board itself. Any students really wishing to change the organization can only do so at the board's discretion. I believe an organization distributing such a large amount of federal and school funds should have some outside check and accountability.
Secondly is that I wish to have SFF be more open in both how it spends its money and how it chooses applicants. While they have made a good faith attempt to clarify some things, certain things still don't add up and, again, I think students should be able to see how this money is being spent.
SFF board members are hard working volunteers doing the best they can and we disagree on issues that definitely have two sides. I realize SFF will probably never have an elected board. However, because I have a codified right to greater disclosure, I exercised it. I did not do so lightly. I had a conversation with the University's FOIA Officer so that any burden my request makes will fall mostly on the school and is narrowly tailored as to create as little burden as possible. This FOIA request is not designed to, and under FERPA no FOIA request could, obtain any information about applicants or even who the applicants and grantees are.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I applied for and did not receive a grant. I would like to think that I would be acting no differently had I received a grant or not applied at all, but I have no idea if that is the case. I don't maintain a belief that I should have received a grant, I have no idea if I should have, nor do I think that in doing this I will receive any kind of assistance for the summer. I simply think that something as important to our school as SFF should be more accessible to students with ideas and more open with how it is conducting business.
Sincerely,
Matthew Talley
talleymj@umich.edu
Dear LawOpen:
Since it seems to have caused considerable consternation, I would like to clarify my actions and objectives in regards to the Student Funded Fellowship program.
I, like many people, have expressed concerns to SFF about the manner in which they distribute grants for a number of reasons. Board members, for the most part, have been incredibly receptive to taking suggestions under consideration. It has become apparent, over time, however, that the two most fundamental changes that I think should be made are areas where SFF and I will not see eye to eye.
The first is that of elected board members. At present, the board members are appointed by the board itself. Any students really wishing to change the organization can only do so at the board's discretion. I believe an organization distributing such a large amount of federal and school funds should have some outside check and accountability.
Secondly is that I wish to have SFF be more open in both how it spends its money and how it chooses applicants. While they have made a good faith attempt to clarify some things, certain things still don't add up and, again, I think students should be able to see how this money is being spent.
SFF board members are hard working volunteers doing the best they can and we disagree on issues that definitely have two sides. I realize SFF will probably never have an elected board. However, because I have a codified right to greater disclosure, I exercised it. I did not do so lightly. I had a conversation with the University's FOIA Officer so that any burden my request makes will fall mostly on the school and is narrowly tailored as to create as little burden as possible. This FOIA request is not designed to, and under FERPA no FOIA request could, obtain any information about applicants or even who the applicants and grantees are.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will say that I applied for and did not receive a grant. I would like to think that I would be acting no differently had I received a grant or not applied at all, but I have no idea if that is the case. I don't maintain a belief that I should have received a grant, I have no idea if I should have, nor do I think that in doing this I will receive any kind of assistance for the summer. I simply think that something as important to our school as SFF should be more accessible to students with ideas and more open with how it is conducting business.
Sincerely,
Matthew Talley
There is no edit feature, lawopen.
However, not removing the name violates ATL policy, and I have informed them so it may be taken down. This isn't AutoAdmit.
There is no edit feature, lawopen.
However, not removing the name violates ATL policy, and I have informed them so it may be taken down. This isn't AutoAdmit.
I'm next what? I don't post through UMich's network ever, I'm not e-mailing you and if I did, I'd proxy anyway.
You also can't get an IP address "from an e-mail address".
2. LawOpen concerns: In light of the most recent Above the Law thread, does something need to be done about LawOpen?
from LSSS agenda for tomorrow's meeting
I've had nothing but good interactions with Career Services.
However, that whole only 191 employers at OCI thing is a doozy!
By the way, Sidley NYC isn't showing up. Any other Symplicity lists out there missing SidleyNYC? Maybe they're in trouble, or maybe they just hate us!
34,
Interesting! We have DC, Chicago, and LA.
It's okay, I hear NYC is DONE anyway, according to ATL.
I hope all you current Michigan students are glad I gave the school some positive spin by sending on Dean C.'s e-mail!
Maybe my image will improve somewhat after the whole FOIA thing. ;)
191 employers at MLaw. over 700 last year? nice.
9 - yes. "191 employers" on Symplicity right now.
You're welcome.
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Above The Law today!
best lawopen response (from the OP)
just to compare: when someone applies to Michigan Law and is rejected and then whines that they didn't get accepted in spite of having better "numbers" than other students who WERE accepted, most students at the school would argue that Michigan looks at the whole candidate, not just their numbers, which is why we generally have a better student body than many of other law schools (in my estimation). so to argue that your numbers were better is immature and ignorant, because there is more to an application than your numbers.
similarly, when someone is upset that he/she did not get SFF money because they weighted the factors inappropriately, it seems a little bratty. filing a FOIA request makes it even more ridiculous because it likely creates more work for the students who VOLUNTEER to take on this huge responsibility - work that they now have to do two weeks before finals.
and sure, maybe you requested the info from them directly, but don't you think they have an interest in trying to protect the privacy of all the other students at the law school who likely do not want anyone at the law school to know personal info about them unless they choose to share it?
all this FOIA does is encourage the students who might volunteer to run SFF to not do it or to think twice. so programs like the SFF auction or even the granting of SFF funds will not run as smoothly or as well because fewer students want to take the risk that they will have to deal with this type of problem that will put them against their fellow classmates. this is not in the collegial spirit of MLaw.
lots of people don't get funding every year, but this year it must have been especially difficult considering the economy. perhaps taking that into consideration, students should not whine when they don't get money, but instead search for funding elsewhere. everything is tough these days - just be glad you only have to survive for one more summer before you come back to school and your precious loans. you have two years to figure job stuff out. some people have to pay back their loans in 6 months and have no clue how to do that.
so my point: grow up! whoever this 1L is who is filing this FOIA should think about how he/she is affecting other students at the school and whether your reasons are really legit. do you deserve the money more than someone else? how do you know? did someone else deserve to be a student at the law school more than you? it's impossible to say and filing a FOIA isn't going to make it more clear. it just makes you seem like a really obnoxious and ungrateful person. you're at a good law school, the economy will straighten itself out. in the meantime, stop taking out your anger on other law students and start searching for summer funding.