PSI syllabus

Personal and professional responsibility during this pandemic

1. As a scholar who studies risk, I take the ongoing covid-19 pandemic very seriously. As a member of this community, I take our responsibility to each other very seriously. As a lawyer, I take the obligations of our profession -- particularly to the more vulnerable and the less powerful -- very seriously. As your professor, I expect that you do as well.
2. I expect that, unless your medical provider has advised you otherwise, you have received a full course of covid-19 vaccination.
3. I expect that you will effectively cover your nose and mouth at all times while you are in my classroom. "Effectively cover" means that you will correctly wear a mask that offers adequate protection to those around you -- in other words, a properly fitting mask designated as or equivalent to N95, FFP2, KF94, or KN95. If adequately maintained and correctly worn, surgical masks are also acceptable, although they may not offer you as much protection as rated masks. If you cannot find or afford appropriate masks for this class, I will help you.
4. I expect that you will not attend class physically if you are sick, feel sick, think you might be sick, have been exposed to covid-19, or have reason to believe that your presence could endanger your colleagues. I will work with you on alternative arrangements.
5. If you have any concerns at any point about the safety, propriety, or practicality of your attendance or participation, I invite you to talk with me. You are not alone. I will offer at least as much flexibility as my discretion allows. The class records that I maintain will document the quality rather than the form of your participation.

Professor

1. My name is Bryant Walker Smith, and you are welcome to call me Bryant.
2. My virtual office hours are by appointment.
3. You can contact me by email.
4. My Twitter handle is @bwalkersmith, but this is not a reliable way to reach me.
5. My bio is at here, and my publications are available here. You absolutely need not read these.

Logistics

1. Class
   1. Time: Wednesdays (3:15pm - 6:30pm) (except as announced)
   2. This is a hybrid course. I will be online for most of our sessions. You are welcome to participate online or (if you can be confident you do not pose a risk to others) in person. Provided you communicate with your team, you may switch your form of participation at any time.
   3. I will provide the link to our Zoom classroom by email. You may access this room at any time for course-related work.
   4. Our physical classroom is #####.
   5. This course also requires significant work outside of class -- both individually and in teams.
2. Website: https://newlypossible.org/wiki/Michigan_Problem-Solving_Initiative
3. Required materials (unless you make other arrangements with me):
   1. Access to reliable high-speed Internet
   2. A webcam and earphones (if in person) or either headphones or earphones (if online)

Objectives

1. Relate legal and technological developments to each other and to broader social, cultural, political, and economic changes.
2. Understand the roles of uncertainty, responsibility, and trust.
3. Assess the utility of analogies to previous emerging technologies.
4. Appreciate technical perspectives and proficiencies.
5. Perform and critique cost-benefit analyses within appropriate systems.
6. Analyze legal issues from a variety of public and private perspectives.
7. Articulate policy rationales for particular legal and technical approaches.
8. Recognize key legal issues implicated by emerging technologies.
9. Demonstrate practical skills relevant to public- and private-sector legal work.
10. Read, listen, think, write, talk, and behave like a competent lawyer.

Expectations

1. Try!
2. Prepare.
3. Respect others.
4. Challenge yourself.
5. Comply with the honor code.
6. Behave like the lawyer you will become.
7. If you have concerns (general or specific), talk with me.

Sensitivity of subject matter

1. Recognize and respect that your colleagues’ experiences may be different than your own.
2. Some students may be personally familiar with the kinds of tragedies, biases, and conditions present in our materials.
3. All of us (including me) will make mistakes in what we say and how we say it.
4. If you have concerns about particular topics, I invite you to talk with me.

Multitasking

1. You must be fully prepared prior to class.
2. You may not participate in any class session or other course activity while driving.
3. Use the bathroom and take a break when you need to do so.
4. During class, you may engage in activities conducive to your learning and participation, including communications that are relevant to our discussion.
5. During class, you may not engage in activities that are distracting to you or your classmates, including communications that are irrelevant to our discussion.
6. Familial obligations are an exception to this last rule: While I strongly encourage you to arrange for the care of your dependents during class time, I recognize that this is not always practical, and I support your efforts to balance these multiple responsibilities.

Community norms

1. Student Handbook Section VIII(B) contains our law school's honor code. Read it, know it, and comply with it.
2. Students who commit to the Carolina Creed "oppose intolerance by promoting integrity within our campus community."

Accommodations

1. You deserve equal access and opportunity.
2. You may, but you need not, speak with me about your SDRC-directed accommodations.

Interpersonal violence and mandatory reporting

1. You deserve to be safe.
2. Confidential reporting officers can provide confidential and anonymous support.
3. All other employees (including faculty) must report incidents of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and partner or relationship violence to the university’s Title IX Coordinator.

Wellness generally

1. Law school is stressful, and the practice of law is stressful. Your physical, mental, and emotional health matters.
2. If you are lonely, scared, desperate, or unsure, you are not alone. Please reach out. Every semester I hear from students in crisis.
3. Our law school, university, and community have people who care about you and resources that are available to you. These include:
   1. Our in-house counselor, who provides free mental health support services to the law school community
   2. Our Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Office of Student Affairs
   3. Food pantries at our law school (room 106), university, and community
   4. Our university's crisis hotline (+1-803-777-5223) and counseling services
   5. A specialized team dedicated to helping people you identify as potentially in need
   6. Lawyers Helping Lawyers (+1-855-321-4384)
   7. An expansive network of creative and connected people throughout the state and country
   8. And many others.
4. For people in their early 20s, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death. Aggressive, distracted, drowsy, and intoxicated driving are unlawful and irresponsible. Jokes that trivialize texting-while-driving are not funny. We owe better to each other.
5. Please take care of yourself and others. Prepare now by visiting MyHealthSpace.