[Jessica Boucher]

On one hand, I think the jokes are made to light-heartedly tell us to not be nitpicky when it comes to the rules.

On the other hand, I feel that FIRST is within a growing stage. We have gotten to the point where we have changed the face of engineering culture, but we're still working on that general culture thing. With that, we're partly making jokes about other professions to make ourselves feel good that we're all on a better track that is different from what we make fun of. I strongly feel that the next step for FIRST is to recognize that just because you're in the program doesn't mean you're going to become an engineer or go into something science-based...but it means that you have an appreciation for the healthy integration of technology into our everyday lives....no matter what profession you go into.

But then again, I think it's just that Dean likes to make fun of lawyers (just like I like to make fun of Brandon just because he's Brandon ), and we all follow along because it's Dean. Which isn't a bad thing, necessarily...it used to be that Dean's speeches weren't complete without a lawyer joke thrown in there. That's just how he is.