So, first day of classes as a senior. After a summer of being the young grasshopper on my trading desk, I technically fall in the old-hat tier of the student hierarchy. I am now that senior experiencing everything “for the last time”: a rather depressing way to look at things, if you ask me. It’s been three year’s worth of hard work, regaining the title of “senior”, and the one marked difference I noticed that separates doe-eyed freshmen from savvy seniors is comfort. After three years of being a Cornellian, first days are second nature. I know exactly where classrooms are located. I do the schedule once-over and easily identify any potential pitfalls to your schedule (no, you cannot scarf down your lunch in 15 minutes as you walk from Sibley to Warren). I pick up course syllabi and can immediately gauge work loads for classes: light, medium, or start reading NOW. And, of course, no class on Friday.
So for freshmen, dive in, get immersed in classes. You’ll find that Cornell is a comfortable place.
My brother taught me a new expression the other day: “hhhnnnnnnngggggg!!! It supposedly captures the feeling of ready-to-explode stress/agony/pain.
I came home from NYC last Saturday to find that I had Jury Duty the following Monday. Under normal circumstances, I would have given the LA County Superior Court props for calling me in when I’m actually in town, but during my sole 2 weeks of freedom? Not especially thrilling.
To make things worse, I wasn’t picked to be on the 12-person jury–I was Alternate #2. I had to show up and listen to the proceedings, but in the end, I didn’t even have a say as to whether the defendant was guilty or not guilty.
The law system may well be one of the most inefficient. Worse than the DMV, because if you don’t show up, you are breaking a law. Yikes. One of the days panned out like this:
11:00am-11:30am–Arrive at Courthouse, wait outside court room
11:30am-12:00pm–One witness testifies
12:00pm-1:30pm–Lunch recess. Because 30 minutes in the courtroom really beat us down.
1:30pm-1:50pm–Lunch coma lag. Waiting outside the courtroom again.
1:50pm-2:10pm–Another witness testimony, and judge immediately calls for a 20-minute break
2:10pm-3:10pm–That was a long 20 minutes.
3:10pm-4:10pm–Longest courtroom session yet. Closing statements and a good 30-minute droning of the Judge.
4:10pm–Instead of using the remaining 20 minutes to deliberate, the 12-panel jury decides to reconvene tomorrow. Great. I have to come in again, NOT participate in deliberations, and listen to the verdict.
Total time spent in courtroom: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Total time spent waiting to enter the courtroom: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Does the ratio seem a little off to you? While it is our civic duty to serve on a jury, it’s hardly acceptable that attorneys and the whole system to treat us like dispensible units.
I guess the biggest disappointment was forming an opinion on the proceedings, yet not being able to voice and reason with the other jurors. The verdict (guilty) was surprising to me, and it would have been interesting if I could sit in the deliberation room and have at it with the jurors. Personally, I don’t think the evidence and witness testimonies could have proven the defendent guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but the decision was not mine to make, unfortunately.
Well, look on the bright side. I got plenty of my summer reading done, I earned $15 dollars for a day’s worth of waiting (enough to cover lunch), and completed my service. With a hesitant pursed smile.