An Ode to (Public) Law

For my sins, I am one of a group of lecturers nominated for the Academic Idol competition being run at Vic by the student magazine, Salient.

The competition involves the candidates submitting a short response to a quirky question each week.  Each week, people vote and the lowest polling candidate gets voted off the island.

So far I've survived the first 3 rounds:
http://www.salient.org.nz/blog/academic-idol-round-one-2
http://www.salient.org.nz/blog/academic-idol-round-two-2  
http://www.salient.org.nz/blog/academic-idol-round-three-2

This week was a difficult task, but quite fun: "Write an acrostic poem using your name that explains why students should study your subject."

And I was pretty pleased with the result - despite my severe lack of poetry-writing skills.  I thought folk might be interested in reading it:

http://www.salient.org.nz/blog/academic-idol-round-four-2

AN ODE TO (PUBLIC) LAW
Daring adventures in the common law
Examining judgments for their every flaw
Abstract, though, the law is not
Ne’er the people should be forgot
King, Queen, and Guv’nor lead our realm
Nay, their ministers at the helm
In our names, they serve and reign
Good governance is our refrain
Hapu, family, plumber, and more
Tis people at the heart of law

[PS: To vote, text the name of your favourite lecturer to 027 CUSTARD (027 287 8273) or email editor@salient.org.nz.  Just saying.]