*Why You Should Vote "Yes" to Make This Class P/F*

Written By A Concerned Classmate

Dear Fellow Classmates,

In light of our vote, I want to take a moment to encourage you to reconsider and vote yes on transitioning this course to pass/fail. Below are 10 reasons why this change would benefit not just Eben, but all of us:

• (1) First and foremost, Eben has openly shared that his request to transition the grading scale stems from his health challenges. Voting "No" would only add to his burdens, requiring him to take on additional work that could impact his well-being. This is a small act of solidarity that could make a big difference.

• (2) Taking this class pass/fail is completely in line with this class’s purpose. We are being challenged to rethink and free ourselves from arbitrary grading systems—why not start here?

• (3) We already have pass/fail courses on our transcripts, including LPW I & II and Legal Methods I & II—courses that provide some of the most transferrable skills for legal practice.

• (4) Receiving a letter grade in this course would be particularly arbitrary, as it is based on a single paper with minimal feedback rather than a comprehensive assessment of our skills.

• (5) If you’re hoping to receive a high letter grade, consider the risk. The grading curve means you have a much higher probability of receiving a less-than-favorable grade. If your goal is to boost your GPA, this course may not be the safest bet.

• (6) We have all chosen to use our one elective in 1L on a non-doctrinal, “Law & ____” course. If a hypothetical employer truly cared about seeing a letter grade, they likely would have preferred a Black Letter course instead. You’ve already stepped outside the prestige bubble—why not fully embrace the value of this course for what it is?

• (7) The longer Eben has to grade, the longer you’ll wait to get your final grade—which could impact your job search if that’s your concern. A pass/fail designation speeds up the process for everyone.

• (8) One pass/fail class will not hurt your job prospects. Firms and employers look at the bigger picture, and this single course won’t define your resume.

• (9) We are already stretched thin. This course is not required to graduate, and taking it pass/fail allows your other, more heavily weighted classes to shine.

• (10) Please.

Next Steps

To ensure fairness, I propose a recount of the poll *in class on Thursday, April 3,* allowing space for discussion and addressing any concerns. As of me writing this, 36 out of 57 people (63%) have already expressed support. This is an opportunity to stand in solidarity rather than let unnecessary division weaken us (especially in a time such as this).

As a personal anecdote: I once had a screener interview with a Cravath partner, Ben Gruenstein, where most of our conversation was me explaining what Law and Contemporary Society was. We discussed Oliver Wendell Holmes and “The Path of the Law,” and then he started grilling me on my opinions of Holmes. If you’d prefer to avoid this, don’t let this class stand out unnecessarily on your transcript—especially if it could come with a risky grade.

There’s still time to reconsider and come together. Let’s choose solidarity.

In Solidarity,

Dayo Adeoye

(If you would like to sign on to this letter, please use the "Edit" function to add your name.)