Jerry Springer to be Commencement Speaker at Northwestern Law School

When it comes to law school graduation speakers, it’s hard to please everyone. Earlier this year, controversy erupted at Boston College Law School when U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was announced as the commencement speaker. Some students, faculty and alumni voiced opposition to AG Mukasey, based on his involvement in the waterboarding / torture controversy (extensive coverage collected here; resolution of the situation described here).
Now we report on commencement controversy news of a rather different (and somewhat less highbrow) sort. It arises out of the decision by Northwestern University School of Law to invite Jerry Springer to serve as this year’s commencement speaker. Springer got his law degree there in ’68, worked as a campaign aide to Robert F. Kennedy, and served as mayor of Cincinnati. But he’s perhaps best known as the ringmaster of scandal and vulgarity on the Jerry Springer Show (and an unsuccessful contestant on Dancing With the Stars).
Some Northwestern students are not happy about Springer’s selection. From a tipster:

There is a current uproar in the graduating class at Northwestern Law. The graduation committee thought Jerry Springer would be an appropriate speaker for this year’s convocation. Most of the student body is opposed to this, but this administration is sticking by the committee’s decision.

Maybe he’ll bring Northwestern students with secrets and unresolved conflicts up on stage, then have them confess and brawl. That might be more fun than the usual staid graduation ceremony.
We contacted the school for comment, which issued the following statement, from Dean David E. Van Zandt:

In keeping with the spirit of our community, our commencement speaker annually is selected by a student committee, approved by the administration, and invited by both.

Mr. Springer is an alumnus who has held public office as a city council member and mayor of Cincinnati. He has had a very successful career in the news and entertainment industries.

We look forward to Mr. Springer’s participation at commencement.

At least one LLM candidate is trying to prevent Springer’s speaking. See the protest letter circulating at Northwestern, and vote in our reader poll, after the jump.
Update: Also after the jump, a defense of Jerry Springer’s selection as commencement speaker, which went out over the NU law school listerv.


A tipster forwarded us this mass e-mail:

Dear LLMs/LLMKs;
I am compelled to write this letter of distress and disappointment to you in regard to the announcement that Northwestern University Law School has asked Jerry Springer to be its commencement speaker on graduation day for the graduating class of 2008.
Our fellow students and I do not believe that a sensationalist television talk-show host such as Mr. Springer truly represents the ideals and educational pursuits for such an esteemed institution as Northwestern University Law School. Although we understand that in some respects Mr. Springer represents the best (and also the worst) of American First Amendment rights, we do not believe that he is worthy of addressing the Class of 2008.
Our graduation from law school will be a lifetime memory, and our ceremony will be etched forever in our hearts and minds as we remember back on our special day. With that being said, I and our fellow classmates wish to express our deep sense of anger, embarrassment and surprise to hear that it would not be a State Senator, or Supreme Court Justice or Civil Rights leader or the like addressing us with words of wisdom and support and encouragement as we enter the next stage of our lives and careers. Instead, the sensationalist, ratings-seeking, instigator of daytime television.
In light of the above, I and our fellow students with strong heart and voice respectfully say no to having Mr. Springer speak before us. There is still plenty of time to find someone more worthy of our pride and joy on graduation day, and who will represent and honor the name and institution which we chose to attend to receive our LLM in law – Northwestern University.
If you are concerned about having Jerry Springer be our speaker, please contact:
Dean ….
Dean …
Thank you,

LLM Candidate 2008
Northwestern University School of Law

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Update: From another reader at Northwestern:

This e-mail went out to the whole school listserv as well and I thought it was the best possible defense of Jerry Springer. My favorite line is “Jerry Springer is not going to give a graduation speech about lesbian midget strippers.” I find the whole controversy absolutely hilarious….

Who knows who we’re gonna get next year? Looks like that number nine ranking won’t last very long.

And the email:

I am going to break my “only send a listserv email when I have something to sell” rule and chime in on this one …

For the past year, I have been working as a legal intern for the Jerry Springer show, along with [redacted] (JD2009), and I wanted to speak a bit more about the content of the show. I
realize that it is outlandish, and offensive to some … but it is what it is. The people on the show are not being exploited — they are there willingly, and they know exactly what they are getting into (I know this because [redacted] and I have personally read and explained legal releases to every single one of them). From the “riot lesbian” to the “kung-fu hillbilly” to the pole dancers we hire for special occasions – they are entertainers, they are enjoying themselves, and they are well compensated for their time. Jerry Springer is not going to give a graduation speech about lesbian midget strippers — he is intelligent and quick-witted and I have no doubt that he will deliver a perfectly appropriate graduation speech, whether or not you enjoy his show.

While Jerry Springer may not be famous for his contributions to the legal world, he also is a great reminder that many of us will find success in places other than the legal field. Despite the fact that Jerry Springer’s best-known contributions have not been legal, there is no doubt that his Northwestern education has contributed to his success in the marketplace.

Additionally, I spoke with him last week about graduation, and he is excited to speak at NU Law. Simply put, rescinding an invitation to speak would be unkind, and hurtful to one of our own. Like it or not, he is an NU alum, just like we will all be.

Take care of yourselves, and each other. 😉

Now that you’ve heard the competing arguments, take our poll:

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