SS 2610 Introduction to Law and Society

Spring Semester 2011

Susanna Peters

Lecturer/Coordinator Law and Society Program

Department of Social Sciences
Office Location: 218 Academic Offices
Office Phone: 906.487.2391
Email: speters@mtu.edu

Office Hours: MTWTh 11-12

                        W 2-3

                        and by appointment.

Course Policies 2011

Schedule of Readings (whole semester)

Schedule of Readings (Part II) (post exam I)

Schedule of Readings 201

• Readings Week 1 (Intro)

• Readings Week 2 (Ethics)

• Readings Week 3 (Am Law -Legislation/Sources)

• Readings Week 4 (Civ Procdure)

• Readings Week 5 & 6 (Torts)

• Defamation handout (wk 6)  
• Exam - Feb 22

• Readings Week 7 & 8 (Criminal Law)

• BREAK

• Readings Weeks 9 & 10 (Crim Pro - searches/ Restorative Justice & Contracts) (for week 9 print out the following two chapters)

• Readings Weeks 11-14 (Including exam April 5 and debate days)

Announcements

Exam I -- Tu Feb 22, 2011

Exam II - April 5 or 7

All Ongoing and Upcoming Field Event Options

(attend a minimum of 3)

March 22 -7:30 MM Bldg U115

World Water Day - LECTURE: SUSTAINING LAKE SUPERIOR - by Nancy Langston (discussion of climate change, toxics, forests and fisheries in Lake Superior)

GLBT Sponsored Events

for Pride Week

1)Monday March 28, 8:00pm

Fisher 135 - Film and discussion "Prop 8 The Mormon Proposition" (film documents controversy over Mormon Church involvement in the passage of California Prop 8) (caveat - this could be a bit a diatribe against the Mormon church - so please look at it critically, this film and discussion is a field report opportunity - but that does not mean it is (or is not) accurate and balanced

2)Weds March 30 7:30 MUB Ballroom- Presentation by Jac Stringer

(billed as entertaining and informative on GLBT issues)

FILM FESTIVAL WEEKEND

Three film options for field reports (excerpts from the flyer)- Northern Lights Documentary Film Festival Next weekend - McCardle Theater (you can use one film for this!) (descriptions courtesy of Northern Lights.. not me)

(McCARDLE Theatre)

1) Thurs March 31 7:00 2010

Sundance Jury Prize-Winner GASLAND will screen at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31. When filmmaker Josh Fox was approached to lease his land for natural gas drilling, he embarked on a journey to find out how this drilling (or “fracking”) was affecting people in other parts of the country. Liberal Arts senior, Wes Kolbe will provide an introduction to the film and moderate discussion following.

*2) Friday April 1 7:30 PM

,UK documentary, ERASING DAVID. As a citizen in a country with four million closed-circuit TV cameras, filmmaker David Bond attempts to disappear without a trace. An investigation into data collection and use, Bond attempts to evade capture by two security experts.

3) 7:30 PM Saturday April 2

Academy-Award nominated WASTE LAND. The story of the awe-inspiring collaboration between Brooklyn artist Vik Muniz and an eclectic band of garbage pickers ("catadores") who work the world’s largest garbage dump in Muniz’s native Brazil. A testament to the transformative power of art, this film by Lucy Walker, João Jardim and Karen Harley recently won the Sundance Audience Award for Best World Cinema Documentary and numerous other festival awards internationally.

IMPORTANT DATES

2/1- Interview on Justice (20 pts) (Due Feb 1)

1/28 – Last Day to Drop w/o a grade (no refund)

2/4 – Last Day to Drop with “W” grade

2/9-2/12 Winter Carnival Recess

March 5-March 13: MTU Spring Break

Exam 2: April 5 approx 80-100 pts

Field Reports:  3@15 pts, 45pts total (due class period directly after event) – all due by 4/21

Assignments (Reading Responses etc)  total 50-100 TBA

Oral Arguments/Debates (15 pts + 10 pts)  TBA (weeks 13 and 14 (4/12- 4/22)