NU deserves better than JerryNotorious talk show host Jerry Springer will speak at Northwestern Law School's commencement this June, several news outlets reported late last week.
The choice of Springer, Law '68, was defended by law school dean David Van Zandt, who said in a statement, "Mr. Springer is an alumnus who has held public office as a city council member and mayor of Cincinnati. We look forward to his participation."
What Van Zandt failed to mention, besides the trashy nature of Springer's daytime "talk show," is that Springer resigned from Cincinnati's city council in 1974 after using a personal check to pay a prostitute. Or that in 1998, he was caught on video having sex with a 21-year-old porn star while her stepmother watched.
The key factors in choosing a speaker should be reputation, an ability to motivate and a message that resonates with graduates. Any message Springer delivers will seem incomplete, however, without a few flying chairs and a bald bouncer. No word yet on whether law students plan to greet Springer with chants of "Jerry, Jerry."
With no announcement yet on the undergraduate commencement speaker, we'd like to take this opportunity to request someone with at least some measure of dignity.
Knock down Norris, start overN orris University Center has been an issue since 1984, when the Associated Student Government president at the time suggested that the school invest in renovations. Despite the successes of numerous past enhancements, such as the installation of a Starbucks on the first floor, Norris has failed to become a vibrant and welcoming home for student life.
The solution is to forget about Norris altogether. Norris was constructed during the 1970s, an era when schools were paranoid about riots and unconcerned with whether student unions emitted friendly vibes. Norris is lined with concrete walls, has no central staircase and is not conducive to student gatherings.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 8
Ellen
posted 4/28/08 @ 9:30 AM CST
Whoever wrote the portion of the editorial bashing Jerry Spring is very short-sighted.
Before Jerry Springer was the host of a trashy tv talk show, and before his sexual indiscretions, he was a heralded and beloved political figure in Ohio. (Continued…)
Exactly right
posted 4/28/08 @ 12:59 PM CST
Maybe NU can get Paul Reubens to speak at commencement. I hear he used to be popular, too.
Not really...
posted 4/28/08 @ 8:33 PM CST
If we knock down Norris and build a fancy schmancy new building, who's to say it won't get the same reception it is currently harboring in 30 years? Knocking it down is far more expensive than renovating the current floors that do need work (those neon signs HAVE to go). (Continued…)
Connor
posted 4/30/08 @ 9:08 AM CST
Ellen is right. Springer cannot be judged on the personality he adopts show: this is a media-created character designed to keep ratings high. Taking this character to be the real Springer is to mistake an actor for the character that he plays on screen. (Continued…)
Connor
posted 4/30/08 @ 9:18 AM CST
As for Norris, it represents the architectural style of a particular period and fits in well with the Modernist feel of the campus as a whole (the library, McCormick, Pick Staiger etc. (Continued…)
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