Dear Students,
I hope that the first few weeks of the quarter have gone well for you, even though we have been unable to gather together as a community. At this time, we are looking ahead to resuming activities at the Law School beginning this coming Monday, January 24. As we prepare for next week, I want to share some important updates on University and Law School protocols.
CLASSES
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On Monday, January 24, classes will resume in-person instruction. All students should plan to return to Chicago if they have not done so already. Courses marked as “remote” on the course schedule will continue to meet via Zoom. Courses marked as “in-person” on the course schedule are not eligible for remote attendance. Regular absence policies will be in effect.
RECORDINGS
We will continue to provide audio recordings of all classes (except for some clinics, workshops, and Greenberg seminars). Students absent due to COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test may access the recordings. Recordings will be accessible via the course Canvas page.
COVID PROTOCOLS
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Just like Autumn Quarter, if you wake up in the morning and have any symptoms, first and foremost, please stay home and do not come to class or the Law School. You do not need to wait for permission or confirmation from the Dean of Students Office to do so. Our priority is to keep our campus community safe, and the University protocols require you to self-quarantine once any symptoms appear. Students with a confirmed COVID-19 test should immediately self-report to [email protected]. As always, please also report any class absences to [email protected].
MASKING
The University’s masking requirements remain in effect while in the Law School and other campus buildings. However, lowering masks while speaking in class is no longer permitted for students, faculty, or visitors. We strongly recommend that you use an N95 or KN95 mask if at all possible. The Law School will distribute two KN95 masks to all students during the first three days of the quarter.
BOOSTERS
As a reminder, the University announced that every student must receive a COVID-19 booster shot once they are eligible. Those who are currently eligible for a booster must meet the requirement by January 24, 2022. Please review the announcement for steps to confirm your booster status.
BUILDING HOURS
The Law School will resume regular building hours on Monday, January 24. The Law School will be open from 8:00am – 10:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am – 10:00pm on weekends, with the D’Angelo Law Library available for study. The Law School Café will resume its operations, Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm and Friday 8:00am – 3:30pm. The Student Services suite on the library’s third floor will be open for student appointments from 9:00am – 5:00pm during weekdays.
LIBRARY
Starting Monday, January 24 the D’Angelo Law Library Circulation Desk and Reserve Room will be open Monday – Thursday 8:00am – 8:00pm, Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm, Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm – 8:00pm. Reference librarians will be available for in-person reference assistance and virtually through Ask a Law Librarian.
Please note that starting January 24, you will be able to check out books from the reserves room, including course materials, and that we will no longer provide scans of reserve materials. Please see this news post on the D’Angelo Law Library website for more information about library services. If you have questions about library services, please refer to this news post on the D’Angelo Law Library website.
EATING & DRINKING
The only place where one may lower their mask to eat continues to be the Green Lounge. Students should briefly lower their masks while actively eating and drinking and should return their masks in place between bites or sips. Tables and chairs should not be moved from their locations to create larger seating areas. Eating is not permitted in classrooms, hallways, the library, or the area around the lockers. Individuals may very briefly lower a mask in class when it is necessary to drink water.
LUNCH TALKS
Our regular Law School and LSSO lunch programs will resume in-person on Monday, January 24. Lowering masks while speaking at a lunch program is no longer permitted for speakers, regardless of vaccination status. Our policy of no food in classrooms during lunch programs remains in effect. LSSOs may continue to have food to take away after a program. All lunch programs should end by 1:10pm to give students time to eat before afternoon classes.
OTHER EVENTS
Most large events involving unmasking, food, or alcohol have been postponed until late February or beyond. Both the Law School Musical and the CLF Auction will now take place in Spring Quarter. For 2Ls, the Midway Dinner has been tentatively rescheduled for Thursday, March 3. Moot Court Semi-Finals will continue as scheduled on February 24. We will pilot the resumption of Coffee Mess next Wednesday, January 26 and assess its feasibility on a week by week basis.
GO FORWARD
If you have questions about University protocols, policies, testing, or exposure, please consult the goforward.uchicago.edu website.
I look forward to seeing you all back in the building next week.
Warm regards,
Charles Todd
Dean of Students
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.