OT: Clinton to be Convocation Speaker

French Rage · March 04, 2004, 03:09:34 PM

Mike,

As you were on the committee, let me say - Kick ass choice!

Todd

Becca · March 04, 2004, 07:25:46 PM

Mike, I'm delighted that you guys were able to get Clinton for the convocation! I'll be able to hold this over my cousin '02 - who had Danny Glover - for the rest of our lives.

Beeeej · March 05, 2004, 02:29:58 AM

'93 was Matt Ruff, and I'm reasonably sure '94 was Mae Jemison. I was also pretty sure that while HRC spoke twice at Cornell during my years there, neither was at a Convocation.

Incidentally, Ruff is a great guy and an incredible writer. The class of '93 just didn't give him any guidance as to what to talk about, and he ain't a natural speaker. The book-in-progress he read from, "Sewer, Gas & Electric," ended up a masterpiece.

Beeeej

KeithK · March 05, 2004, 11:37:41 AM

Yeah, Ruff seemed like a decent guy but was in over his head for a convocation speech. The crowd didn't treat him very well either. I felt kind of bad about it at the time.

jtwcornell91 · March 05, 2004, 11:46:27 AM

[Q]KeithK Wrote:

Yeah, Ruff seemed like a decent guy but was in over his head for a convocation speech. The crowd didn't treat him very well either. I felt kind of bad about it at the time. [/Q]

I've heard the phrase "Fool on the Stage" used to refer to him.

pfibiger · March 05, 2004, 11:51:38 AM

Sewer, Gas & Electric was pretty great, but I think it's every Cornellian's duty to own a copy of Fool On The Hill

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0802135358

in a relatively uncontested category, I'd say it's the best piece of fiction set on the campus of Cornell University

Beeeej · March 05, 2004, 02:41:44 PM

dss28 · March 05, 2004, 05:52:03 PM

every time I see "Fool On The Hill," I think it's the latest in the Al Franken series...

jtwcornell91 · March 05, 2004, 07:28:58 PM

For some reason, I had pretty strong visual associations with Fool on the Hill. I had a good idea of how many of the characters looked (even though some of them contradicted the description in the book). But the one I was absolutely sure about was Kiefer Sutherland as Ragnarok. Anyone else with me?

jeh25 · March 06, 2004, 02:17:12 PM

[Q]A-19 Wrote:

clinton is not on a campaign tour, age.
[/Q]

Well, I won't claim it is *only* a political move, but don't you think Bill's choice to speak at the 2 most prominant upstate schools might have *something* to do with a certain junior senator from NY?

Will · March 06, 2004, 02:29:06 PM

Hillary's senate reelection campaign hasn't started just yet (not officially, anyway). She's still got two years.

I would think Clinton's appearances at Syracuse and Cornell are more like unofficial Democratic campaign events for this year's presidential race. Granted, the great majority of Cornell '04 graduates will likely vote for the Democrat anyway, but maybe it'll prompt more of them to actually vote in the election and get their connections to do the same.

That's just a guess, of course. I'm not much of a political strategist, much to my dismay.

nyc94 · March 06, 2004, 03:32:11 PM

[Q]Will Wrote:

I would think Clinton's appearances at Syracuse and Cornell are more like unofficial Democratic campaign events for this year's presidential race. [/Q]

I sure hope not since it is somewhat unnecessary as New York State is hardly "in play". I think it's all going to come down to Florida again.

A-19 · March 06, 2004, 05:22:56 PM

cornell students are more likely to vote, and vote democratic. it's a waste of a speech for him if that's the only purpose. and ny state is a given for the dems in 2004. it's a central rule of campaigning- target the marginal voters in the swing states. this is clearly not indicative of our campus or our state. is it too hard for people to believe that:

(1) he is interested in speaking at one of the best universities in the nation (and we asked way before any of the other schools could have sent invites). give cornell some credit for once. we are moving up in the world bit by bit.

(2) he spoke at syracuse because they have an excellent public policy school and syracuse is the best city in the us to represent the us as a microcosm (see advertising demographic research)?

the Committee made a strong effort to stay away from politicians campaigning for this year's presidency, as we did not want students to be subjected to a campaign speech. i do not believe we will get that with bill clinton.

-mike rosenberg

nyc94 · March 06, 2004, 05:31:30 PM

What are we paying for Clinton's appearance?

Chris \'03 · March 06, 2004, 06:08:18 PM

[Q]nyc94 Wrote:

What are we paying for Clinton's appearance? [/Q]

That's what I want to know. Year in and year out I read that the convocation speaker is subpar because the committee doens't have enough money to buy big names like Clinton... not that I condone spending $50,000 plus (Cliton's fee is reportedly over 100k http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/july01/2001-07-10-bill.htm ; http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/06/15/1055615676563.html) that could be well spent elsewhere on a speech.

OT: Clinton to be Convocation Speaker

Chris \'03