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opinions
A Little Sheep Told Me: A case against peer sabotage
ANGIE SHEEP
Arts & Culture Editor
where down the road. Therefore, when you
refuse a helpful hand (when it’s so easy for you
to do so) or resort to sabotage, you are really
holding yourself back. That person may end up
losing a mark or two on this one exam, but you
end up losing all your credibility and
networks.
In this issue I have decided to deviate from my
usual fashion focus and speak to something that
had concerned m e all last year and continues
to do so this semester. This article
therefore, will be more on the serious side but hopefully it’ll be more
It Draws People In
helpful and longer lasting in your
brilliant minds than the usual clothIf you support and enable the people
ing rant (though I’m sure that’s
around you to achieve their goals, you
extremely important to everyone
become a common denominator to their
as well!). The issue or perhaps the
success. This attracts more peers who
more appropriate word, problem, at
want to be a part of your life and come
Osgoode is the occurrence of saboto you for advice. This is what a leader
tage. I’m not referring to the minor
does. And, more immediately, do you
jokes or friendly competition, but the
really want to be the person who cannot
deliberate attempt and intention to
find a partner when a group project is
jeopardize a peer’s path to success
assigned?
in an already difficult environment
(I think criminal law has had more
It Strengthens Relations
of an effect of me than I thought). I
To a certain extent, we all embody
am not, however, suggesting that the
some Type A personality
practice of sabotage is runIT SEEMS THAT THE RESERVE
traits. We like organization;
ning rampant in Osgoode’s
COPIES OF THE BUSINESS
we like control. I’m challenghalls, but I believe it’s
ASSOCIATIONS TEXTS HAVE
ing you to lessen the grip
existent and should not be
FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE on that control, especially in
overlooked. Thus in this
OBITER’S OFFICE. NOT GOOD, scenarios where you have to
issue I will make a (hopeSAYS EDITOR ANGIE SHEEP.
collaborate with your peers.
fully convincing) case
First of all, it becomes too
against sabotage and for
chaotic when everyone tries
bringing out greatness in your peers and why
to assert control over the rest of the group;
you may want to do so.
this results in wasted time and unwanted arguIt Expands Your Circle
ments. Second, when you are so obsessed with
being the “dominator”, you risk others feeling
When you sabotage someone, you inevitably like they’re being used as instruments instead
push people away and your peers are the last
of equal partners. Too much control also stifles
people you want to alienate. I’m sure you have
individuality and creativity and prevents the lisheard the phrase “it’s not about what you know
tening to each other that’s needed for a good
but who you know” uttered numerous times. No
mark, career, relationship, etc. And though you
matter how skeptical you are of it, it’s true to
may hate to admit it, someone else’s idea may be
a greater extent than you’d expect. And since
actually much more brilliant than yours.
you don’t know now exactly who you may need
help from in the future, expand your “who’s”
You Are Already Great
and behave as if you will need all of them some-
advance with confidence
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monday - september 30 - 2013
Look at the opportunities you have. You are
already a lot better than most of the human
population. There exists people who would give
anything to go to school (let alone law school);
you have that and beyond. This may sound like
a guilt trip or a “be thankful for what you have”
rant but there is a reason why this notion comes
up again and again; it lets you consider the big
picture. Sometimes we become so absorbed in
our studies and immediate circumstances that
we lose perspective. To combat the itch of sabotage, it can be useful to take a moment to regain
that objectiveness. Looking to the world helps
you remember how insignificant some things
may be to risk your reputation and friendships.
Start Being A Great Leader Now
When you think about whom you consider as
“great” leaders or organizations (Martin Luther
King? Google?), how many can you count? The
number of great leaders remains to be quite
small when considered in conjunction with our
entire human history. What they do seems to
always run counter to the rest of their peers
or the industry standard, so why don’t you?
Leaders inspire us and we respect and follow
them because we want to; we believe in their
cause. What is your cause when you refuse a
helping hand or sabotage? And do you expect
people to be persuaded by it? Why not change
your objective to something that the majority
of your peers will praise and follow? I believe
most Ozzies want to study in an encouraging
and sabotage-free environment. In order to
realize this objective, it’s important to enable
that atmosphere and give everyone a chance for
greatness.
Some of you may argue that law school is an
inherently competitive environment so it is
important to “get the upper hand” however you
can. You may also say that the sabotaging is
temporary and when you’ve “finally made it”,
you will be the most supportive leader. To the
first argument, I would like to ask you what
kind of person and lawyer you aim to be; but
perhaps this question is too ambiguous and
far in the future to have a persuasive effect. I,
therefore, put to you this: the success in something almost always depends on practice and if
you repeatedly delay practicing the qualities of
a great leader, how will you be a natural and
inspiring one when the opportunity arrives?
You don’t have to change your attitude and
solution towards law school competition now,
but do a little each day. You don’t have to go out
of your way to help a peer, but when you can,
give them a chance to be great. So when the
real thing comes, you are ready for it.
the obiter dicta