James Carville to Speak at Cornell Convocation Ceremonies (Ithaca is the City of Evil)

Copyright © 2003 by The Cornell Daily Sun, Inc. ^ | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 05, 2003 | By JEFF SICKELCO

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The Convocation Committee has chosen political strategist James Carville to speak at this year's Convocation ceremony on May 24.

Class of 2003 President Steve Harasim made the announcement last night to a crowd gathered at Collegetown Bagels.

James Carville is best known for managing Bill Clinton's successful presidential campaign in 1992 and serving as Clinton's senior political advisor. Since that time he has acted as a political consultant for a number of international political figures and has written several books. He is currently featured on CNN's debate program Crossfire.

"I think it's a great thing because he's one of the political geniuses of our time," said Jamie Hanlon '03, a member of the committee who selected Carville. "Even if people don't share his political views he's very respected."

The selection process was carried out by the Convocation Committee, an organization comprised of the Student Assembly, the Student Assembly Finance Commission, the Cornell University Program Board and the Class Council. The process took almost 11 months.

"We got together and we culled a list of people who we thought were appropriate to speak to the whole class, people who would really inspire the class," said Harasim.

"We were looking for people who had strong names but more importantly we were looking for the right fit, the kind of person that someone from Cornell would want to see but would also have a challenging message."

Committee members declined to specify the names of other speakers who were being considered.

"There were 10 people we chose as of last year and we pursued each of them, and this was one of the people on our original list of ten. We were glad that it worked out and we were able to pick one of our top ten," said Harasim.

Funding for the convocation is provided through the student activity fee and is currently $2.50 per student, adding up to a total of approximately $30,000. Some committee members voiced concerns regarding funding for the event, saying that they continue to seek more support from the administration. "Although the administration assists with some aspects of he convocation, we are looking for ways to increase funding through their support," said one committee member, who wished to remain anonymous.

Students attending the event responded to the announcement. "I'm pretty excited, as a communications major [I've] studied a lot of political strategies, and so James Carville was always a big topic," said Jacques Vigneault '03. "I know he's a great communicator, and so I think it'll be exciting to hear him speak."

Other students were less aware of Carville's credentials. "I know who he is, I don't know a lot about his work or his life." said Mary Margaret Moore '03, "I assume that he has a good sense of how to make a big event meaningful because of what he does."

The announcement was a well-attended and festive event, as members of the Class Council handed out Mardi Gras beads and seniors were able to enjoy free bagels. The Hangovers also made an appearance, singing before and after the announcement was made.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

"I think it's a great thing because he's one of the political geniuses of our time," said Jamie Hanlon '03, a member of the committee who selected Carville. "Even if people don't share his political views he's very respected."

Yeah, nothing says "respect" like beign called "Serpenthead." Sad to see that ad hominem attacks and calling rape victims liars now qualifies one as a "political genius" in America.

Committee members declined to specify the names of other speakers who were being considered.

I bet that not a single one was a republican, or even a moderate. Last year's speaker was race-baiting anti-American Danny Glover.

"We were looking for people who had strong names but more importantly we were looking for the right fit, the kind of person that someone from Cornell would want to see ...

Well, he's definitely "the right fit" for the City of Evil.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

City of Evil bump

[NativeNewYorker]

If they wanted to bring in a loathesome Clintonite, they at least could have brought in Janet Reno, who is an alum.

[Clemenza]

If they wanted to bring in a loathesome Clintonite, they at least could have brought in Janet Reno, who is an alum.

At Coral Gables High School near Miami, there is a display case dedicated to its most famous Alumn, Janet Reno.

Needless to say, when the Elian crisis happened, school security kept a close eye on it (and even considered removing it) to prevent the display from being vandalized.

[TLBSHOW]

Freep time?

[Soaring Feather]

City of Evil bump

Janet Reno has been at Cornell.

Just as bad as Carville.

[belle99]

Actually, Carville came to the Bush Library at Texas A&M University last Friday to speak on Leadership with his wife...Former President Bush introduced him with warm regards...there were so many people there they had to use two overflow rooms where they remotely showed the talk...I think most people were there to see if he and the former President mixed it up....as you know Texas A&M is mostly conservative. The crowd in the overflow room were cracking up because he was so agitated and twitchy while Mary was speaking. (She says he has ADD)...he dropped his pen and kept on shifting around looking for it...the audience in the overflow rooms were laughing so hard the camera, finally zeroed in on Mary to stop the laughing.

[Fixit]

Maybe someone could engage him in a debate on the finer points of the federal governments role in developing biotechnology.

((If you don't understand this joke then run, don't walk, to go see the movie Old School.))

[boomop1]

Who will interpert him will they use The Dialectizer?

[Marysecretary]

I just read that Bill Clinton is the commencement speaker at Syracuse University this year. Oh, Lord, help them.

[Kudsman]

Bump

[jigsaw]

Unfreak'n believeable!

It's a shame Cornell's Liberal Artsy crowd is ruining the school's general reputation because the Hard Sciences are generally first-rate.

Someday, when the scientists begin to leave, Cornell will collapse as any kind of a worthy institution.