Final Course Meeting, part 2

Final Course Meeting, U.S. Constitutional Law, American Resource Center

The final course meeting for U.S. Constitutional Law was held at the American Resource Center (in advance of my "Christmas in Florida" presentation).

The purpose of the meeting was to return all papers, exams, course materials, and for me to sign the matricula, fill out final grade sheets for the Dean, and to award certificates.

The "matricula" is like a little passport that contains the student's transcript. Each semester professors record students' grades and sign these books.

Final course grades are not A, B, C, D, F, but numeric grades from 1 through 10.

Since I come up with a final grade based on 100%, I was able to just move the decimal point and round up or down to calculate the final grade using this 10-point scale.

Apparently grading (during Soviet era) was also based on 5-point scale as in the U.S. (A thru F), but, after becoming the Republic of Moldova, schools switched to this 10-point scale (which is apparently similar to Romania's).

It is the scheduling of the final exam that leads to generating the final course rosters on which I could record students' final grades. On this "Fisa de Examinare" I recorded each student's grade and signed my name by each grade on the list.

For the last several years at USF we have been "paperless." I submit course grades online, using Blackboard. I have not received a paper copy of a roster for years. I access my course rosters (with photos!) online using Blackboard. So it was odd going back to an entirely paper-based system. Yet there was something very special about these "matricula" -- a tangible record of all of one's coursework, with entries from each of one's professors -- to have and to hold.

"Christmas in Sunny Florida" American Resource Center

On Wednesday, December 22 Peggy and I gave a presentation at the American Resource Center, operated by the US Embassy, about Christmas traditions in sunny Florida.

Peggy shared stories about boat parades, sand angels, decorated golf carts, lighted palm trees, flamingos with Santa hats, Santas with surfboards -- and, our favorite --the holidays at WaltDisneyWorld!

Curtea Constitutionala, Oral Argument

On Tuesday, December 21st, I returned to the Constitutional Court to hear the oral argument in the case that the President of the Constitutional Court had advised us of in our meeting the week before. Unfortunately, none of my students could join me, as they were in review sessions for their exams. (Unfortunate for them, as I wanted for them to hear an oral argument; unfortunate for me, as I was without a translator!)

When I arrived, I signed in. There was no real security check (I didn't walk thru a mag, or have my small purse searched.)

At the U.S. Supreme Court, after thorough security check, all bags and personal items are to be stored in lockers before entering the courtroom. Visitors cannot bring anything into the courtroom, not even a notebook or pencil to take notes. (Only those seated in the press section are allowed to take notes.)

At the Constiutional Court I was permitted to bring in my small purse, a notebook/pen -- and I was even permitted to take photographs during the oral argument! (I did ask first.) (No cameras of any kind are permitted at the U.S. Supreme Court, not even for members of the press.)

The seating for observers seems to have a capacity of about 25 people. As I looked at those in attendance, it seemed as if they were all members of the press.

In the lobby, there is a big screen/closed circuit television, in case there is an overflow of visitors who wish to hear the case.

This case had attracted a great deal of media attention. There were 7 television cameras spread throughout the courtroom. The woman sitting next to me would get up from her seat every 10-15 minutes or so, and go out into the lobby to do a stand-up with the live feed. (I knew this would be a big case when I arrived outside the courthouse to find all of the satellite TV trucks.)

As far as the format of the oral argument --

5 Justices were sitting to hear the case; there is currently a vacancy on the Bench.

The 1st speaker, the petitioner, sitting to the left of the Justices, made a long opening statement; he was then asked questions by the Justices; then a speaker to the right of the justices, the respondent, stood at his seat, and questioned the first presenter directly. Later that party had the opportunity to speak directly at the podium.

Here is the statement about the case that was distributed to the press corps by the Serviciul de presa al Curtii Constitutionale:

"Marti, 21 decembrie 2010, ora 10.00, Curtea Constitutionala va examina sesizarea unui grup de deputati in Parlament din partea PCRM privind controlul constitutionalitatii unor modificari si competari operate, pe 21 mai a.c., in Legea cu privire la Curtea Constitutionalal, Codul jurisdictiei constitutionale si Legea contenciosului administrativ.

"Prin noile norme, Curtii Constitutionale i s-a retras competenta de a examina acte cu caracter individual emise de Parlament, Presidentele Republicii Moldova si Guvern. Actele exclusiv politice si cele administrative cu caracter individual emise de aceste autoritati nu pot fi atacate nici in instantele de contencios administrativ. Totodata, autorii sesizarii contesta si stabilirea Listei persoanelor oficiale de stat, exponente ale unui interes politic sau public deosebit, care sint exceptate de la adresarea in instanta de contencios administrativ."

Click here for more information about the Constitutional Court:

http://www.constcourt.md/

International Cooperation

I taught my U.S. Constitutional Law and Judicial Process in the U.S. courses in conjunction with the Law Faculty and my Campaigns & Elections in the U.S. course in conjunction with the Political Science Faculty, but I was "housed" in the Office of International Cooperation. This department oversees all of the international faculty at ULIM along with organizing many weekly events and programs.

The Vice Rector for International Cooperation, Gerhard Ohrband, and his staff did a truly amazing job. They worked tirelessly to make sure that all went well with my courses. I was very fortunate to be placed at ULIM and to work with such wonderful colleagues.

I wanted to host a Thank You/Multumesc reception for them. Originally I planned to have them over my apartment, but by this final week, suitcases were strewn all over the place, and grocery shopping/preparing a meal no longer seemed realistic with everything else I was trying to accomplish. When I won the gift certificate for Roberts Coffee, that seemed to make the most sense as the venue for our last visit.

Roberts was the coffee place across the street from ULIM and my apartment building. My favorite spot for meetings.

In addition to the International Cooperation staff, I also included some of the other staff I had the pleasure to work with, from the Library, the Rector's Office, the Political Science faculty.

Peggy came, too, and she was busy with her Russian princess coloring books while we enjoyed our visit. The added bonus: my friend Larisa was able to translate them for us. And showed us how to write "Princess Peggy's Adventures in Moldova":

Приключения Принцессы Пегги в Молдове

Since it is so hard to say La Revedere, as we parted we decided to get together for dinner one night this week at a Moldovan restaurant.

Licurici, part 2

Licurici

On Sunday we went to the puppet theater -- Licurici -- with friends of ours (a professor from Moldova State, a former Fulbright Scholar to the US, who teaches with the American Studies Center, and her daughter) We had talked about getting the girls together for ages, but schedules are always so hectic. When we saw each other at the "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement" conference we decided we must come up with a plan.

We had been wanting to see a show at this puppet theater, but just hadn't gotten there yet. We were thrilled we could finally have our playdate - and see a show at Licurici!

There was such a big show before the show - that I wondered if there was still a puppet show! The pre-show was with Santa (Father Christmas?) and helpers. Very cute.

And then the puppet show itself was quite well done. It was about a snowman and snowwoman who gave away their scarves, hats, carrot noses, and, eventually, themselves, so that their forest friends could be warm. Very sweet. It reminded me of the book The Giving Tree.

Click here for more information about Licurici

http://www.licurici.md/theatre/ru_en.htm