8/1/04

8/04 NEW STUDENTS' ACHIEVEMENTS GO BEYOND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

In his orientation welcome, Associate Dean Don Rebstock talks about the wealth of experience among our new students. Their extraordinary achievements, from hiking the Appalachian Trail to producing television shows, are sure to enrich the Law School community this year and for years to come:

It is so great to see you all here after the thousands of file folders, recommendation letters, LSDAS reports, e-mails, and Princeton Review, vault, JD2B, and lawschoolnumbers.com discussion board messages that we've been dealing with for so long. It's also been fun for our staff to meet with many of you during the past few days as we've fondly recalled initial meetings when you interviewed here, attended a law school fair, our Day at Northwestern Law, or one of our private dinners in your home city.

My purpose is to tell you about who you are and where you come from and, based on my research, it is clear that you are a very impressive group.

But even though you are just beginning at Northwestern Law, you already have a history with us. One of you had your computer die while writing your personal statement; one of you drove 10 hours to your alumni interview; one of you whom we recently admitted from the waiting list got the call from us while attending the Olympic Games in Athens which you followed with, what we think, was a new Olympic record for loudest scream, one of you out there had a recommender write that you are not a geek like the rest of your co-workers, and one of you successfully convinced us to belatedly allow you to attend our admitted applicants dinner in New York City by writing the following e-mail to Johann Lee, "I would love to attend should you have an extra seat. I'm small, unobtrusive, and generally a light eater."

There was the nervousness of the interview and LSAT. And then there was the personal statement. Did I remember to replace the name Northwestern in that generic essay? Unfortunately, one of you didn't and you're not enhancing the diversity at Georgetown the way they expected.

But you're all here and we're glad you made it.

You're a group that began with about 25,000 people who requested our application, more than 3400 who interviewed, and about 5,000 who applied for your spaces today.

You represent 111 colleges and universities. 40% of you majored in History & the Social Sciences; 24% in the Arts & Humanities; 22% in Business & Economics, and 15% in Engineering & the Applied Sciences.

According to academic measures, you're our strongest class ever. Collectively, you scored better than 98% of all LSAT test takers worldwide with a median LSAT of 169. You also performed well as undergraduates, achieving a median GPA of 3.7, and 11 of you were National Merit Scholars.

But before your egos get too inflated, let me share with you some of the courses that our Admissions Committee members found listed on your transcripts:

- One of you crammed and jammed your way to an A at the University of Texas in their class called, "Earth, Wind, and Fire."

- We're a bit concerned about the interpersonal skills of one of you because you achieved an A+ at Duke in their class called, "Social Problems." Please try to get a few tips from your more effervescent classmate from Amherst who got an A in their class titled, "Personality."

- You will want to be wary of your classmate from the University of California-Santa Cruz who was awarded an A in their class called, "Lying and Deception." Can we really trust that grade?

- One of you attempted to pad your GPA at Miami-Ohio but perhaps you once whiffed because you could only achieve an A- in "Broomball."

- We're not sure which part one of you didn't understand at Duke when you could only muster an A- in "Left, Right, and Center."

- One of you brushed up on your relational skills with herbivores and carnivores at Harvard when you took that highly interactive class, called "Animals That Talk." So which ones are they?

- One of you attempted to overcome or perhaps affirm your fear of vegetables at Washington University when you enrolled in and completed their class called, "Brave New Crops."

- But this year's favorite among our Admissions Committee members goes to a graduate of Princeton. We expect nothing less than brilliance from you and we're dying to see the primary text for that project-oriented class called, "The Brain: A User's Guide."

Dean VanZandt already shared with you the gender, ethnic, geographic and work experience statistics for your class. Additionally, according to the surveys you returned this summer, 10% of you are married, and the average age of your class is 25.4.

Now for some of your individual accomplishments and, as I read them, I encourage you to ponder the tremendous potential sitting in this room today.

Our international law concentration and International Team Projects courses will be popular for many of you, given the impressive range of international experiences represented in your class. In fact, from the surveys you returned this summer, we learned that 53% of you have spent at least three months abroad on academic study or a work assignment.

- Seated among you are a former Head Consultant for Samjong International Trade Consulting in Seoul, a former investment banking analyst at Lehman Brothers in London, a Senior Trader at JP Morgan in London, an International Program Coordinator for the Department of Commerce in Shenyang China, the former head of the math department for the American International School in Salzburg, a Writer for the Buenos Aires Herald, and a Legal Affairs Writer for the Johannesburg Star.

- Your classmates also include Peace Corp volunteers to the Dominican Republic and West Africa, and others who have completed missions to Zimbabwe, Kenya, the Philippines, Poland, and the Dominican Republic.

-One of you has traveled to every continent except Antarctica while another of you spent this past year in Antarctica at the South Pole as a researcher for Raytheon Polar Services; two of you have climbed 19,000 foot Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, one of you has hiked the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu while another of you has passed through the 18,000 foot Thorung La of the Himalayas, the highest mountain pass in the world; and still another you has canoed down the Amazon River.

Given the many artistically talented students among you, Wigmore Follies, our annual variety show, will surely be entertaining these next three years.

- Seated among you is a former Writer for the popular CBS television series, "Touched By an Angel," a Story Developer for Lighthouse Productions, a Production Manager with Sony Pictures who worked on An American Werewolf in Paris, The Residents, and American High, a publicist at Miramax Films who pitched Spy Kids, The Other, Scary Movie, 2 Jay, Silent Bob Strikes Back, and Bounce, a Road Manager and Audio Engineer for the popular band, called, "Skillet," an International Marketing Assistant for the Island Def Jam Music Group, the Founder of the Cornerstone Management Group where you managed the career of a national recording artist, and a Talent Intern for The Late Show with David Letterman.

- Your class includes the former General Manager and CFO of the Tower Theater in Salt Lake City, a Harold Team member at Improv Olympic, the co-director of The Shakespeare Children's Theater in Chicago, and please don't mess with your classmate who is a certified Stage Combatant.

- We could assemble some impressive musical ensembles among you. Out there are a former piano major at Julliard and a former viola major at the Cleveland Institute of Music, a violinist from the Notre Dame and University of Innsbruck Symphony Orchestras, the percussion section leader and another percussionist for the Stanford Marching Band, a percussionist from the Georgetown Orchestra, a bass clarinetist from the University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, a bari sax player from the Minnesota Morris jazz band, an oboist from the University of Wisconsin band, and a trumpeter from the Amherst College Orchestra and Jazz Band. Also out there are the former President of Princeton's female a capella ensemble, called Tigerlillies and the Director of William's a capella singing group, called Euphoria. You've also got a drummer from a punk rock band, called Bumpus, that has released 2 CDs and headlined numerous shows at the House of Blues and the Metro and another who was a songwriter, drummer, and keyboard player for a Charlottesville rock band called, Let's Buy Alaska.

- Also among you are a former dancer with JazzDance.dc in Washington, DC, and a professional Indian and Classical Folk dancer who once performed a 3-hour solo benefit performance in 1999 for the Red Cross of Australia.

We've never had such an abundance of skilled athletes and you could assemble an impressive track and field team, given that your classmates have completed the marathons of Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Nashville; your classmates include the 2001 captain and MVP of the Cal Tech varsity track team who also holds the university's record for the pole vault, the co-captain of William & Mary's cross cross-country team, the captain of the Wabash College Track team, and a member of Duke's record holding 4 by 800 meter relay team.

We could also field a competitive winter sports team, given that your class includes the captain of Cornell's synchronized skating team, a national collegiate figure skating competitor who was a figure skating instructor at Miami of Ohio, the captain of Ehwa Women's University's Alpine Ski Team, and the Captain of Trinity College's women's Ice Hockey team.

And how about water sports? You've got a waterskiing instructor from Stanford, the captain of Cal Tech's swim team, the coxswain for Brown's varsity crew, a former deckhand on the F/V Janet G sailing vessel in St. Petersburg, Alaska, and the 1995 gold medalist and U. S. Rowing national champion.

- Also out there is the former captain of the University of Iowa's gymnastics team who was also the 1997 U.S. junior gymnastics national champion, the captain of Berkeley's varsity women's soccer team, the captain of Wesleyan's varsity lacrosse team, the captain of the Minnesota-Morris varsity tennis team, the captain of Princeton's Rugby Club, the captain of the Wabash College varsity football team, a pitcher for Berkeley's varsity baseball team, a scratch golfer, and a former caddy at the prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club which has hosted 6 U.S. opens and, in a few weeks, this year's Ryder Cup.

You will also be well-protected by your classmates, given that they include a 3-time Wisconsin state wrestling champion, the captain of Princeton's varsity wrestling team, the captain of Notre Dame's Bengal Bouts boxing club, and four of your classmates who hold black belts in Taekwondo and karate; one of you is a former member of the Guatemalan Tae Kwon Do Olympic Team while yet another of you is the 1992 Tae Kwon Do U.S. national champion who was also a U.S. Olympic Select qualifier.

If you want to have cheerleaders for all of these great athletes, you're covered by your classmate who was the Stanford University Yell Leader. For uniforms, we can call on the one of you who worked at Piccone Apparel where you were an Assistant Designer of women's swimwear. And how about refreshments? Just seek out your classmate who did concessions for the summer training camp of the Chicago Bears. Finally, if any of you decide to put your legal career on hold to pursue a professional sports career, there's someone out there who is a former sports agent for Greenberg & Associates.

Our 3-time national champion National Trial Team and our trial advocacy programs should remain strong, given that your classmates include a former coach of the 2002 Arizona Class 4A state champion debate team, the vice-president of the Miami-Ohio debate team, and another who took 1st place at the 2001 Junior Division national debate tournament. Also out there are the former captain of the Notre Dame Mock Trial team, the Secretary of Dartmouth's Mock Trial team, and one who was named an All-American Attorney at the 1999 American Mock Trial Association National Tournament. One of your classmates, in 6th grade, won an essay contest where the prize was the opportunity to present it in the chambers of a Supreme Court Justice.

You may put on a few extra pounds while you're hear and we may have to reconsider our contract with our exclusive caterer called Tri-Star Catering, given the culinary talent in your class. Seated out there are a former chef at Off the Bay Café in Orleans, Massachusetts and The Nines in Ithaca, the House Chef at the Charles River Country Club, an Assistant Winery Manager of Virginia's Jefferson Vineyards, and a chef at Patina Restaurant, an elite, haute-cuisine restaurant in Los Angeles. One of you participated in the Initial Public Offering of California Pizza Kitchen while another of you wrote in your personal statement about how you proved that Reeses Pieces actually have no chocolate in them and, finally, one of you has eaten ant larvae, jellyfish tentacles, fried grasshopper, and raw chicken. So maybe we'll stick with Tri-Star.

There are some in your class who may be interested in communication and the law, given your journalistic backgrounds. Seated out there is a former Editorial Assistant for ABC News' Good Morning America, a Reporter and Researcher for Vanity Fair, a former Reporter at both the St. Louis Dispatch and Crain's Chicago Business, and interns at Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports Net, the Wall Street Journal, the Baltimore Sun, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Several of you bring strong technical backgrounds and expressed interest in becoming intellectual property attorneys, including one of your classmates who holds 3 patents and another who is a co-inventor on 5 impending patents. Three of your classmates are former Patent Examiners; another is a former Special Assistant for Technology Policy for the U.S. Department of Commerce, another was a Research Technician at the Mayo Clinic and and yet another of you was the Founder, President and CEO of Strong Ice Consulting which, get this, developed technologies that improve ice reinforcement up to 17 times.

Many of you have survived and overcome tremendous obstacles to be seated where you are today.

- Two you have overcome cancer while another of you survived a near-fatal head on collision with a truck at 50 miles per hour.

- One of you wrote about a volcano that destroyed your high school and home in 1996; one of you, at the age of 9, was swept to and rescued from the edge of Nevada Falls in Yosemite National Park.

- One of you was once attacked by a group of gang members and almost lost your life,

- And another of you was scheduled for a job interview at 10:00 am on September 11 on the 102nd floor of the World Trade Center.

It is clear that you are achievers. You wrote with sometimes modest, sometimes not so modest, often serious but an occasional humorous flair.

Two of you have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail while another of you has participated in Alaska's Midnight Sun Run; one of you was an Assistant Trench Supervisor for an archeological dig in Italy. Listen to this. One of you once accidentally locked yourself out of your top floor office so you climbed to the roof, reached down and pried open the office window with your driver's license; two of you have top secret clearance; one of you once shook Mikhail Gorbachev's hand while another of you has met Fidel Castro, George Bush, and Bill Clinton, and still another of you once received holy communion from the pope; one of you once built a record turntable from scratch; one of you drafted or co-drafted 3 bills on bicycle advocacy that are now under consideration by the Massachusetts State Legislature; one of you has given a televised speech; one of you has attended a baseball game in every major league park while another of you once sang the national anthem at an NFL football game and still another of you is a former costumed character at Disney World; and finally, according to your resume, one of you is a self-proclaimed Elvis impersonator.

And seriously, from the five of you who have taught in inner city schools through Teach for America to the one of you who was a Disaster Services Technician for the American Red Cross to the one of you who was a Grants Writer and Manager of the Bailey House which benefits homeless people with Aids to the one of you who volunteered at a refugee camp in Croatia to the one of you who volunteered in Mexico to work on human rights legal issues and the eradication of social injustice, we've seen plenty of evidence of the very personal, sincere, and caring qualities of your class.

But I still have one final piece of business to take care of with you... Clearly, you are a terrific group and we're very proud to have you here at Northwestern Law. As you could see from Professor Netsch's presentation, the University and the Law School have a long and proud tradition that you are now a part of. And we try to show our pride in what we do and how we do it. ( Pause - Logo slide)

You'll rarely see a publication or document that doesn't have this logo on it. And our Dean will usually be wearing a purple tie. (Pause-2 Slides)

Apparently he has started a new trend... Robert Downey, Jr., Matthew Broderick, and Michael Bloomberg have recognized the power of the purple tie to set them apart. (Logo slide)

But as a graduate of Northwestern myself, I have to tell you that I'm troubled when I walk around these halls and see students wearing stuff that shows off other colleges and universities. This is Northwestern... Which is why we are giving you all Northwestern Law t-shirts, but I understand that there may be some renegades today. Sam Skinner, our manager of marketing and communications, is in the audience and she may have identified one or two. Sam? (Sam has person stand up, identify him/herself and asks why they are wearing that shirt. She then offers him/her a Northwestern Law T-Shirt.)

Let's give X a hand for being such a sport.

And remember, if we catch any of the rest of you with some other school's shirt, we won't be as nice.

We're glad you're here. From all of us in admissions, best wishes to you, and have a great experience here at Northwestern Law.