It’s law school exam time - the time where students’ creativity finds an outlet in colorful phrases about the difficulty of particular tests. When I say colorful, I mean sexually charged and often vulgar.

One university, Northwestern University of Law, is asking students to watch their language this year. The SBA sent out this warning to students (emphasis added):

In recognition of that diversity and collegiality, our Dean’s Statement on Community makes it clear that we, as the standard bearers of the legal profession, are to be mindful and respectful of each other’s varied experiences, and, at a minimum, refrain from the “unthinking use of stereotypes and engaging in humor at the expense of community members”, irrespective of the context in which the words are uttered (whether it be in an intellectual debate or in casual discourse). Therefore, to be clear, saying things like “that’s so gay”, “that exam raped me”, or any racial or sexual epithet, are inappropriate and unacceptable. Accordingly, we ask that every student be cognizant of the critical role you play in maintaining NUSL’s vibrant diverse, collegial and supportive student culture and refrain from using such language.

Let me say very clearly: phrases like “that’s so gay” are offensive and shouldn’t be used. The SBA took their message a little too far, though, in its attempt to prevent (or reprimand?) people for saying “that exam raped me” to protect rape victims. Everybody’s got their own personal list of things they would prefer not to hear. It seems a fair bit of overreaching from a bunch of busy-body PCers to try to impose that list on others.

What I really wanted to say (and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get to my point) is that the SBA missed an opportunity to impart a more important message - that you are students in a professional program, building your reputation as lawyers. This type of language is inappropriate because it is crass and careless. If you don’t want to be perceived as a crass and careless lawyer when you graduate, then knock it off. If you don’t care what people think of you in this shrinking job market, then by all means be as vulgar and profane as you like.