NU deserves better than Jerry
Notorious 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 over
N 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.
On Monday, university officials set aside funding for a study that will explore future renovations. The earliest any of these improvements could be completed, however, is 2012. After three decades of observing problems and executing small solutions, it's time to think longterm.
Constructing a new student center will not only improve student life, but will also increase Northwestern's appeal to prospective students visiting campus. Norris' uninviting concrete exterior and divided interior fail to portray the true image of NU as a campus filled with dedicated individuals and countless student groups.
The most significant impediment to fixing the Norris conundrum is funding. Even if NU cannot raise enough money specifically for this project, resources from the general endowment should be used because a lively student center is a key element of a united campus and a successful school.
No matter how many amenities the building gains through renovations, Norris will never become an inviting base for student life. A 2005 survey conducted by Brailsford and Dunlavey, NU's consulting firm, revealed that students regularly use Norris for errands but rarely stay in the building for an extended period of time.
Administrators should begin planning the rebuilding process now, because NU needs its student center to be both a useful resource and a social destination.
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