waiting for angelina...

Well, this first term of second year here at the little law school on the prairie has certainly been an interesting one. The law students have practically been refugees, between the crazy housing market and the absence of a law school, we've been bouncing from one refugee camp (Kirk Hall) to another (Albert Community Centre). At this point, the highlight is an expected visit from Angelina Jolie. Isn't she due for another tour of refugee camps, and another possible adoption (just think I could call Brad Pitt "daddy").

This term, we have been refugees on the main campus. I have classes in five different buildings across campus, when they are back to back it's particularly challenging to make it. Classes, normally taught in two 90 minute groups are now being taught in one hour blocks three times a week in whatever available space we could eke it.

The reason we're refugees is the construction of the new home of the LLSOP. Originally promised for September, then October, and then November things we're finally looking up for a home of our own. Just as they were slowly letting us into the new building, the university support staff went on strike.

Naturally being Saskatchewan, there is a lot of support for unions (despite this week's election results) and many of our professors and some students didn't want to have to cross a picket line. Now, it's important to note CUPE did not ask us not to cross, but faster than Angelina adopts a child, we were refugees once more.

Teased with only a small taste of our new home, we were forced off campus to the Albert Community Centre. Now, true we are back to being in one building, but the building is shared with several dance schools, the pottery guild and all sorts of arts classes. It's interesting to walk around and see signs like "no tap shoes in the hallway". Being in classrooms with ballet bars and walls of mirrors can be quite distracting (and yes I can still get my leg up that high).

We're being told that we're benefiting from the exposure to real life that this gives us, but that's fine for the young kids who have never been out of school. However, the school forgets many of us have already been in the real world, know what it's like, and went back to school to get away from it for a while.