Northwestern '11 Forum

[rmyoun06]

rmyoun06, are you coming to NU?

No, sorry. I'm just inappropriately posting in the thread

Not awesome enough?

I liked Nortwestern's students and faculty a lot better, but I just kinda liked the feel of Philadelpia over Chicago. Added to that were the marginally warmer weather and significantly lower cost of living, and I was sold

[Merrill]

Wait--you're choosing Philly over Chicago and you've actually been to Philadelphia? Wonders never cease.

Best of luck at Penn!

[ALilMusicFactry]

I just kinda liked the feel of Philadelpia over Chicago.

To each his own, I guess. Penn's an excellent school.

[Merrill]

--LinkRemoved--

Well, at least I know he won't be my commencement speaker.

[mumbling2myself]

--LinkRemoved--

Well, at least I know he won't be my commencement speaker.

He might be. We'll see how this year's ceremony goes.

I went to Wisconsin for UG; the year before my graduation the commencement speaker was Jerry Zucker (super conservative, hilarious guy) and mine was Bradley Whitford (super liberal, hilarious guy). Neither one gave a particularly weighty speech, but both were really enjoyable. I would much, much prefer to have an entertaining cap on the day than a cliched speech about how important being a lawyer is (seriously, if you don't get that after 3 years of law school, you're not going to). The school has a last lecture and plenty of other graduation speeches to go over the usual "go out there and make the world a better place, hour by billiable hour" speeches; I like that there's at least a possibility of a speaker who has done a lot of interesting (if controversial) things with his life and his degree.

Ultimately, I really don't care who the speaker is. It doesn't really have any bearing on the education or future of anyone from the school, and hopefully will just serve as an interesting set piece in an otherwise dry proceeding. I can think of many better commencement speakers, but also far worse. (UVA's speaker this year is the commissioner of the PGA tour... probably a good speech, but who's excited about it?).

[Merrill]

I don't know--I would have thought that out of the thousands and thousands of NU grads they could find someone who's interesting and accomplished without being something of a clown.

There may be something to the "keeping it interesting" factor, though--I avoided commencement ceremonies for both my UG and my advanced degree because they just sounded so tedious. I guess if I'm going to go to my law school commencement, I might as well be entertained.

[mumbling2myself]

Apparently Springer was not the first choice, but the third. It's tough to get someone who's both interesting, relevant, and not exorbitantly expensive. He's a bit of a clown w/ respect to his show, but he's actually done quite a bit of non-clownish stuff (and, ideally, that will be the focus of his speech).

In the end, it's just something of a non-issue. I don't really understand the hooplah about it, and I don't really care who gives my commencement address :/

[iwasgoingtobeasenator]

This letter was written in response to Springer's announcement.

Dear LLMs/LLMKs;
I am compelled to write this letter of distress and disappointment to you in regard to the announcement that Northwestern University Law School has asked Jerry Springer to be its commencement speaker on graduation day for the graduating class of 2008.

Our fellow students and I do not believe that a sensationalist television talk-show host such as Mr. Springer truly represents the ideals and educational pursuits for such an esteemed institution as Northwestern University Law School. Although we understand that in some respects Mr. Springer represents the best (and also the worst) of American First Amendment rights, we do not believe that he is worthy of addressing the Class of 2008.

Our graduation from law school will be a lifetime memory, and our ceremony will be etched forever in our hearts and minds as we remember back on our special day. With that being said, I and our fellow classmates wish to express our deep sense of anger, embarrassment and surprise to hear that it would not be a State Senator, or Supreme Court Justice or Civil Rights leader or the like addressing us with words of wisdom and support and encouragement as we enter the next stage of our lives and careers. Instead, the sensationalist, ratings-seeking, instigator of daytime television.

In light of the above, I and our fellow students with strong heart and voice respectfully say no to having Mr. Springer speak before us. There is still plenty of time to find someone more worthy of our pride and joy on graduation day, and who will represent and honor the name and institution which we chose to attend to receive our LLM in law - Northwestern University.

If you are concerned about having Jerry Springer be our speaker, please contact:

Seriously? I'm not saying you're stuck up.. it's just that you have this slight bit of entitlement that rubs me wrong... kind of as if you were... well... stuck up.

[Merrill]

Seriously? I'm not saying you're stuck up.. it's just that you have this slight bit of entitlement that rubs me wrong... kind of as if you were... well... stuck up.

I lol'd.

On the one hand, I see where the author of this letter is coming from--the public image JS has created for himself is not professionally inspiring. But on the other hand, after three years of law school, do you really need someone appropriately "important" addressing you "with words of wisdom and support and encouragement?"

I think Jerry Springer is a poor choice for commencement speaker, but honestly, the whole idea of marking a transition from one complex experience to another with something like a commencement ceremony with all its manufactured solemnity is kind of silly too. I know ceremony is important to some people; I'm just not one of those people I guess.

[ALilMusicFactry]

Ultimately, I really don't care who the speaker is. It doesn't really have any bearing on the education or future of anyone from the school, and hopefully will just serve as an interesting set piece in an otherwise dry proceeding.

Credited. It's not as though this is going to go on your resume, right? Firms are not going to rescind offers because a low-brow TV host was your commencement speaker. These LLMs should get over their sense of self-importance (wishful thinking in this profession, I know).

[BlueDevilSarah]

Of course Springer wasn't the first choice......he was behind Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Seriously, we're just coming off as a bunch of whiny brats who can't take the time to organize prior to these "problems" being aired.

I'm all for Springer. I think he's brilliant and he has a lot of contributions beyond his tabloid appeal. Man knows how to make money without exploiting people (anyone who thinks those people don't know what they're in for are kidding themselves). I think he wins.

/end rant/

[Merrill]

Can any admitted students remember how long it took after being accepted to receive anything in the mail?

[Corsair]

..

[Merrill]

Strange--in my acceptance letter, it said I had to fill out all these forms, which were not included in the acceptance letter. I just assumed they'd come via snail.

[Merrill]

That's confusing. I called and found out that all of the forms I need to fill out are on the admitted students website, which I wouldn't know my password to unless I'd called. Just in case anyone else was wondering...

[typodragon]

yeah I actually had that same problem. I think J J Abrams must be taking over the admissions dept at NU.

[Merrill]

yeah I actually had that same problem. I think J J Abrams must be taking over the admissions dept at NU.

lol--I actually had to look that up.

Hm, my password isn't working, and I get an error message when I call. Meltdown at the admissions office?

[Merrill]

Wow--I am always impressed with how calm and nice most of the people who work at the admissions office are.

[typodragon]

Wow--I am always impressed with how calm and nice most of the people who work at the admissions office are.

maybe they just seem calm and nice compared to the manic depressive types you meet on law school message boards.

[gedmem2]

Springer actually had a career in politics and journalism before the show (which he himself admits is trash).

He was a pretty popular mayor of Cincinnati, even despite a prostitution scandal. He's also supposed to be an awesome speaker. Hear all about it at: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_E ... pisode=258

It sounds to me like the people who wrote the above e-mail didn't even bother to glance at his Wikipedia entry.

[YesPrimeMinister]

I've had the same experience. The admissions-folk are great.

What forms do we need to fill out? I didn't know there was anything on deck after the deposit.

[Merrill]

It's just the form you send with the deposit--the intent to enroll, I think it's called.

[ALilMusicFactry]

There will be health forms and orientation forms later on (I think in July), but there's not much to do otherwise. They won't be mailing you updates every week or anything.

[Merrill]

There will be health forms and orientation forms later on (I think in July), but there's not much to do otherwise. They won't be mailing you updates every week or anything.

Shoot and I was expecting a weekly, "Hey Merrill, we're glad to let you know that you're still accepted!"

[ALilMusicFactry]

lol. My general point was: don't get too worried if you don't hear anything from them until much closer to orientation. Some people freak out about it.