Celebrity Sightings
Today was the second day of orientation. It was filled with activities that seemed to be all optional.
The first activity we did was to listen to Professor Charles Fried and Professor Charles Ogletree debate about the upcoming senate confirmation meetings regarding Supreme Court Justice nominee John Roberts.
At one point, Prof. Ogletree referred to his colleague as the "Yes-Chuck," because he likes when people call him Chuck, and to himself as the "No-Chuck," because he prefers to be called Charles.
The Yes-Chuck, we students were told, was the Solicitor General under President Reagan. And because our professors graciously expect us to be ignorant still, explained that the Solicitor General is the lawyer who represents the US in cases heard before the Supreme Court. Big stuff.
The No-Chuck wrote a prominent book about Brown v. Board called, With All Deliberate Speed, but is probably best known for representing Anita Hill in the Clarence Thomas sexual harrassment trial years ago.
The debate was light, friendly, and filled with eloquence. The two Chucks waltzed around with great ease, dropping names of Senators and Justices like fairy dust from a wand. Fairy dust that rubbed off on them because they had once known them, had lunches with them, had clerked for them, etc...
Sitting in that gorgeous auditorium, beautifully pannelled with dark mahogany wood and glistening with chandeliers, listening to two of the top lawyers in the nation bantering about, I couldn't help but feel in awe. Yet that feeling of wonder was quickly and utterly trumped by the star-struck woosiness I felt as I was leaving the auditorium and noticed the two Chucks walking out right by my side. I could just reach out and touch them... I could just say hello and shake their hands.
Feeling overwhelmed with groupie-like excitement, I gushed to Silpa about my wonderment and awe. Silpa, a wordly-wise 3L who was guiding my section, was sympathetic and told me that I would get used to it soon. She once had to coordinate several events at the law school and in one week met 3 Supreme Court Justices. She sat next to Ruth Bader Ginsburg at a dinner. She had dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg!
Later on that afternoon, in that same glorious auditorium, Dean Elena Kagan addressed the entire class of new 1Ls. Her slick words seemed to echo the naive feelings of wonderment that I felt. She told us that we are lucky to have the opportunity to meet, be taught by, and interact with the greatest legal figures of our time (professors, alumni, and current students). Imagine what one could do.
She encouraged us to find our passions and to pursue them fully. Now, I've been known to be a pretty hard-core cynic, but maybe it was the architecture, or the near brush with celebrity, or just the giddiness of starting law school...but I took her words to heart.
Later on at the reception, I made it a point to bump into her, say hello, and shake her hand.
The first activity we did was to listen to Professor Charles Fried and Professor Charles Ogletree debate about the upcoming senate confirmation meetings regarding Supreme Court Justice nominee John Roberts.
At one point, Prof. Ogletree referred to his colleague as the "Yes-Chuck," because he likes when people call him Chuck, and to himself as the "No-Chuck," because he prefers to be called Charles.
The Yes-Chuck, we students were told, was the Solicitor General under President Reagan. And because our professors graciously expect us to be ignorant still, explained that the Solicitor General is the lawyer who represents the US in cases heard before the Supreme Court. Big stuff.
The No-Chuck wrote a prominent book about Brown v. Board called, With All Deliberate Speed, but is probably best known for representing Anita Hill in the Clarence Thomas sexual harrassment trial years ago.
The debate was light, friendly, and filled with eloquence. The two Chucks waltzed around with great ease, dropping names of Senators and Justices like fairy dust from a wand. Fairy dust that rubbed off on them because they had once known them, had lunches with them, had clerked for them, etc...
Sitting in that gorgeous auditorium, beautifully pannelled with dark mahogany wood and glistening with chandeliers, listening to two of the top lawyers in the nation bantering about, I couldn't help but feel in awe. Yet that feeling of wonder was quickly and utterly trumped by the star-struck woosiness I felt as I was leaving the auditorium and noticed the two Chucks walking out right by my side. I could just reach out and touch them... I could just say hello and shake their hands.
Feeling overwhelmed with groupie-like excitement, I gushed to Silpa about my wonderment and awe. Silpa, a wordly-wise 3L who was guiding my section, was sympathetic and told me that I would get used to it soon. She once had to coordinate several events at the law school and in one week met 3 Supreme Court Justices. She sat next to Ruth Bader Ginsburg at a dinner. She had dinner with Ruth Bader Ginsburg!
Later on that afternoon, in that same glorious auditorium, Dean Elena Kagan addressed the entire class of new 1Ls. Her slick words seemed to echo the naive feelings of wonderment that I felt. She told us that we are lucky to have the opportunity to meet, be taught by, and interact with the greatest legal figures of our time (professors, alumni, and current students). Imagine what one could do.
She encouraged us to find our passions and to pursue them fully. Now, I've been known to be a pretty hard-core cynic, but maybe it was the architecture, or the near brush with celebrity, or just the giddiness of starting law school...but I took her words to heart.
Later on at the reception, I made it a point to bump into her, say hello, and shake her hand.
posted by Alice in Wonderland at 9:25 PM
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