Welcome to another year of Obiter – brought to you by the Law School's’ own Phineas and Ferb. Yeap, we are the poor souls who came into Uni in January during our 104 days of summer vacation to produce this exceptional piece of journalism that you’re currently holding (and with any luck, won’t be leaving on a table in the library for us to find later).
This isn’t just any year though. Not only does 2023 mark both the University of Canterbury and Faculty of Law’s 150th year, as well as LAWSOC’s 100th year. 2023 marks Obiter’s 50th Anniversary. Having first started as a weekly newspaper back in 1972, Obiter has evolved into the quarterly magazine that it is today. Our kaupapa is to celebrate the past, connect the present, and create the future. We will be sitting down with and showcasing some of the very best to have ever done it. From Law School Legends interviews with former LAWSOC Presidents, to reviews of old Law Revues with former Producers, to grading our predecessors on how good (or bad) their editions were, the list goes on. To justify our exec position (and perks) we will also be making YouTube videos later this year, so keep your eyes peeled for those! And in the meantime, if you aren’t too busy, which let’s be honest you’re probably not because it’s still February, then head over to our YouTube Channel, and check out the awesome content from a couple years back to see what Obiter is all about. Here at Obiter we pride ourselves on our ability to turn a phrase. We could sit here and tell you to simply 'dive in' and 'strap yourself in'. But that just wouldn’t be our style. There’s more to it than that – life is a journey, and if you fall in love with life, you will be in love for the rest of it. So we’ll leave you with this instead – do what you love during your time at Law School, and we promise it’ll be worth it. E mihi ana, Isaiah Ong and Oliver Fradd - LAWSOC Obiter Co-Editors 2023
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As part of the new energy we bring to this magazine, we plan to introduce the readers to something new with every edition with a segment we like to call Have you heard of… For this edition, we bring up the sport kabaddi, a sport that my previous knowledge consisted of accidentally stumbling upon on Sky sports when there was nothing else to watch. So equipped with google, i begun a search to find all there was to find about the sport, with my findings below:
So how does it actually work? In simple terms, it is a contact sport between two teams of seven people where one person at a time attempts to cross into the opposing teams half, tag as many of the opposition as possible and make it back to their own half without being tackled and in one breath. You score points for each person you tagged or for stopping the tagger from returning to their half. If you are tagged or tackled you are out of the game until you are revived by your teammates scoring a point from a tag or tackle. The more you know, aye? As exciting as it sounds it is probably not recommended to play this in Meremere for a multitude of reasons but luckily Ilam fields is just across the road. Brayden Cottom For the majority of this term, a group of about 7 Law Students would pull a reverse Troy Bolton every Sunday, getting their heads in the game for half an hour to escape the theatrics and puffery of the lives we've been put in.
None of these people do a BSci, but the chemistry that they displayed on the court this season would have their lecturers proposing they do PhDs. Despite a point differential of 80 points and 3 wins to their name, the LAWSOC team played for 3rd place on the 23rd of October. It was a close and defensive affair, with the teams scoring all but 24 a piece by the half and low 40s by the buzzer. Through some gritty d and ground out offense, LAWSOC managed to come away with the win, final score 44-41. They now eye up the next season, looking to secure the team's first chip since the legendary 2019 run. Jeremy Wright Often the best part about ‘Tea Party’ (and any party for that manner), is the pre-drinks beforehand. You get all excited to go where you’re gonna end up eventually, you drink probably a bit more than you should to escape having to pay the UCSA drink prices and you have a solid chat with your mates because lord knows that's not happening in a mosh.
Now with the circumstances this year and ‘Tea Party’ being canceled, those pre-drinks turned into the main event. While I wasn’t sour at this idea, I also wasn’t sure how it’d work. I spent most of the day hopping from flat to flat and that ‘pres’ vibe was prevalent everywhere I landed. The classic pre-drinks staples were so evident; the overly competitive games of beer-pong, the music blasting, the deep yarns in the corner and of course the one bruiser who had pushed the boat out a bit too far. I was conflicted. These parties had the ‘pres’ energy we all love, but the anticipation of eventually moving on to the main event was also slithering in the background, leading a lot of people to call the day very anticlimactic. I found that this also led to a lot of people being in bed by 3pm and kick-ons consisting of Netflix binging. While it was a great day and a good way to celebrate the end of lectures, this hang up crept in the back of my mind and I couldn’t help to ponder what ‘pres’ meant to me anymore. What is ‘pres’ without the ‘mains’? What purpose do they really serve? I’m sure I’ll forget all about it next time I’m going somewhere and the ‘pres’ end up being better than the place I end up. Jeremy Wright Lawn Bowls is a game of subtlety, poise and grace. In a way, it is synonymous with how those studying and practising the law should compose themselves. As it is in a courtroom, there is strategy, there is respect and there is honour. Now did we live up to this standard on that faithful Wednesday? Probably not. Maybe it was the time of year leading up to exams or maybe it was the cheap jugs, but I would not put anyone in attendance that day in consideration for the New Zealand squad anytime soon. We arrived to the friendly faces of the club members and after a quick lesson and some snags, we got right into it. We got a few rounds to calibrate ourselves and we started some games. The key with lawn bowls is to allow for the curve that occurs due to the weight imbalance in the bowls. This imbalance is clearly labelled on the bowls as one side says inside and the other outside; the 'inside' side being the direction the bowl will curve. Despite the obvious labels and clear instructions, this concept took a while for some of us to grasp. Overall though, it was a great outing and we would like to thank the Papanui Bowls Club for hosting us and Lane Neave for allowing for the event to run. A bloody good end to the LAWSOC social calendar for 2021. Jeremy Wright Here at Obiter we try to present a diverse and well rounded representation of the world. After focusing so much of our attention on what we know - sports, we felt we needed something to add balance. Now very few are aware of this but Christchurch is actually home to a thriving brass band scene. As a member of this group I am privileged enough to reveal some insight into what goes on behind closed doors and how brass music unites people.
However, I will start by addressing the elephant in the room. The fact that brass bands cannot play jazz. Ask any brass band player and they will dispute this as a myth, but having been a member of the award winning jazz band at high school I can testify that they are not the same. The awkwardness one feels while being a band that can’t swing rivals that of being asked a question in LAWS110. The analogy doesn’t end there though because as musicians, and on the whole competent ones at that, there is no reason they should not be able to swing. The same applies to the baffling silence faced by lecturers, because we all know the answers yet the silence ensues. While I didn’t intend to compare brass bands to law school I’m not ashamed of this development. Back to the issue at hand, a lack of swing. I can't really put my finger on the issue but all I know is that when the notes start becoming jazzy our collective minds seem to implode and the result is a stilted attempt at swing. Even when the groove appears to be on, the quavers just don’t seem to ‘do wop’ like they did in the jazz band. I am proud to say that my band, while not permanently disproving this well known fact, did somewhat dispel this while performing at the Canterbury Provincial contest. We played not one, but two pieces with jazzy origins and both pieces were received very well while a large majority of the members boogied on the stage. The tears welled up in my eyes as each section contributed to the feel we were after. So I guess, while you may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, you can teach a brass band new swing. Brayden Cottom A question that has plagued young law students since the beginning of time, what is law? By now most of us have some grasp of this concept and what it could mean but here at Obiter we wanted to see how the other half lives. We have taken unsuspecting members of the public (our immediate friends and family) and subjected them to curly questions regarding the law and law students.
What do you think law is? I don’t know, like a set of rules and regulations that keeps order in the country sort of. That's the plan I think at least. Probably just people speaking in a room. Trying to get their point of view across. How justice is decided The rules of the land. Established by common rules or experiences that may shape the law. Am I meant to be giving a definition? Law, law ok law is a bunch of rules that are put in place that are put in place by I don't know the government or something. Maybe it's an international governing body, then lawyers make sure they are abided by. *Long pause* The guidelines with which the ruling class expect the general population to follow. What do you think lawyers do? As little as fricking possible. The way they write things, think they get paid by the word. Help clients deal with different legal matters that come up, in contracts, a lot of people deal with when selling property, relationship break ups. Involved in all sorts of life especially with contracts. Really drink lots and party hard, oh wait maybe thats law students and not lawyers Speak on behalf of their clients. Help people get away with murder. They don’t sleep. Interpret the law and how it applies to their clients situation to get the best result for their client. Lawyers, they need to convince the judge that they're right, despite being wrong half the time. Although there are multiple types of law obviously. The stereotypical law is when you're in a courtroom. But obviously I'm an intelligent lad and I know law isn't just about being in a courtroom. Depends on the lawyer, doesn’t it? Some of them adhere to it as best as possible and some of them deliberately try to subvert it. Are you putting the ums and shit in as well?(only when appropriate) You think that's funny bro? Stop typing. If you were a lawyer, what type of law do you think you would practice? Contract, they get money Relationship property would be quite interesting. Sports law, representing sports people. Actually get to talk to people who are famous. First I would find out what types of law there are. I don't think they are particularly well known by the general public. I play sports and know you've talked about sports law so that would be what I'd go for. I’d probably be Intellectual property or human rights. The other ones appeal to me less. What do you think of law students? They’re pissheads I think they drink a lot and should focus on their studies a bit more (very targeted) To be fair, they’re actually quite respectful, I was quite surprised and impressed. Despite the fact they can drink like fish. If you want to learn to drink at uni, join LAWSOC. Recommended wolf juice recipe goes in obiter. They like to talk a lot, answer a simple question with lots of words without actually answering the question Law students? Hmm, they think they're better than everyone else don't they? They love to say that they are law students. Probably similar to what they think of engineering students to be fair. Literally the saddest group of individuals on the face of the earth. *very long pause* I have in general a negative attitude based primarily on anecdotal evidence from the interviewer. What effect do you think clubs like LAWSOC can have? Makes people more confident. Links you to the main law companies and gives you contacts. Get to meet like minded individuals Makes people more drunk. Real important, because the law school has a close community feel within campus. Gives you a support network, the concept of it is good and gets you friends not just in your year. Everyone seems to try help each other out No effect. Let's have a think, LAWSOC can help people find possible dating options. A good place to get on the piss. Offer free piss, which is always good as a student, especially if you are flatting. They offer free semis to anyone who turns up to the shows when they do the male strip. To me, ‘like LAWSOC’ muddies the waters a bit. In general, uni clubs range in quality but that's just what people do. However, if there were a lot of clubs like LAWSOC, I’m not sure there would be a university to contain them. Again, this is based on general anecdotal stories from the interviewer. For a club revolving around the law I hear a lot of law breaking involved in the club. Not to say I am above breaking the law but it is funny to watch those degenerates ravage themselves. If you were boat, stranded in the middle of nowhere with 2 other people and to survive you ended up killing and eating one of the people do you think you should be charged with murder? That’s a law case mate, I know that's a law case. I just don't remember the outcome and I'll tell you. No, I’d become vegan instead. Couldn’t stomach the idea. Yes, they should be. Because they killed a guy. That's all good then if out of necessity, kill whoever you like. How do they know we killed him? Would all 3 of us have died (yes). It is still murder, but I don't think a life sentence, a few years maybe. Self defense in a way well not self defense but self preservation. It's quite a vague scenario. I think I could be a lawyer without even doing the papers. I have an issue with the premise of the question. First of all I'd probably be the one that got eaten, secondly I'd dump the corpse. I suspect that you would have to go down for murder, because like first of all there's no guarantee from a prosecution that the person died ahead of time or even willingly. Not that you can give permission to be killed. Looks like you two killed the third and ate him. Many lecturers, organisations and general people on campus will be telling you round this time what you should be doing in the lead up to and during exams. This battler however, has some 'don'ts' that I have learnt in my measly three years of Law.
Don't leave it last minute. This may seem obvious and this is often the one 'don't' that is echoed by all, but no one actually takes it on. Think of it like this; imagine you have to eat a certain amount of food in a day or you will explode (dramatic effect so you'll take it on board). If you wait until 11:50pm to eat all the food, you're not gonna have a good time, whereas if you start earlier and eat in small amounts over the course of the day, you'll be able to do it. I was hungry when I wrote this one, can you tell? Don't get on it. If you're a fan of certain recreational beverages or other ingestants that make you feel good at the time, but can have dire consequences in periods following, you might want to consider a break from them for the next couple of weeks. Dusty days are the killers of productivity. Any and all plans will go out the window and that study plan you've made will be ignored. Up to you what you do with your time of course. Don't start new things. Another one that might seem obvious but it extends past hobbies. Exam time should be about getting in a healthy routine, so as well as I suggest not starting to learn guitar even though you've been meaning to forever, I would also, if you can help it, not start new romances. I know the library can be an asylum for mistaking study stress for sexual tension, but if you can think with your mind rather than your downstairs for three weeks max, then the hot girl/boy/person summer you've been planning will be all the better. Don't hesitate to get help. Exam time sucks. It can be so overwhelming and sometimes it seems like there’s nowhere to turn because everyone's so busy. Whether it be help with material or your mental health, there will always be avenues to go down in order to get it. Tutors, study groups as well as friends, family and other loved ones are great resources to lean on when shit gets hard. So those are my 'don'ts' for this exam period. I do, however, suggest you follow them, as well as find your own routines and habits that work for you. Also, in the end, you're doing this for a piece of paper, so don't go racking your brain too much. Kia kaha me aroha nui whanau. Jeremy Wright Hi there,
I am writing in because I strongly believe that law lectures should continue to be online next year, however, there could be a compromise. This year, as everyone already knows, has been borderline impossible at times with online learning. We all know the benefits of going to class every day and we are reminded that time and time again in the school of law. However, returning to the days of no recordings would not benefit us as students. Having to fully rely on another person's notes to gain a genuine understanding of some difficult topics just isn't fair. I believe recordings should be made available for a certain time period, or at the end of each topic, to encourage students to continue attending class but not stress us out if we miss one for whatever reason. I do believe big turnouts equate to a better learning environment, but sometimes being able to go back to a difficult lecture towards the end of the year really helps. When you zone out in class for 10 minutes you know you can return to the explanation in the future or sometimes it just does not make sense the first time around. Some students are not always comfortable speaking up in a room of over 100 to ask for something to be repeated. Just my opinion. Payge Swanson Obiter put out a call for articles from students who were either for or against continued recording of lectures. No 'against' articles were received. |
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February 2023
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