Alterman on Campus

Eric Alterman visited campus and gave a convocation address today. He was very well received, and gave a great address. There were about 300 faculty, staff, and students in attendance. We had lunch afterwards with a small group of faculty, staff and students. He was genial, attentive (to the students especially) and humorous.

My initial impressions of him on the way back from the airport were colored by the fact that both of us had been waiting for four hours at our respective airports. He was also under deadline, and seemed very irritable.

It is always interesting to bump up against celebrity, and I never know what to expect. Alterman seems very much a stereotypical New Yorker (of the Manhattanite subspecies), and some of that was evident Tuesday night. Wednesday was much better.