I apologize for the misuse of marquis/marquee and thank you for the gracious lesson. Would I like to have a famous keynote speaker? Absolutely, but as I have also stated, let Fr. O'Hare come back and give an address. My problem is acknowledging an academic from NYU, our competition. I have looked into John Sexton and he is indeed a very successful and noteworthy speaker, but the timing of this announcement with our well published plans for growth and achievement is seen by myself as a missed opportunity. I don't wish to get into debates over who's keynote speaker is more famous, but I do want to know who our other options were, I want to know why the students were not allowed to consider our choices. Does this sound unreasonable? -- Fordham Rams Basketball Message Board

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Date Posted: Sat April 23, 2005 18:28:23
Author: Ram6it
Subject: I apologize for the misuse of marquis/marquee and thank you for the gracious lesson. Would I like to have a famous keynote speaker? Absolutely, but as I have also stated, let Fr. O'Hare come back and give an address. My problem is acknowledging an academic from NYU, our competition. I have looked into John Sexton and he is indeed a very successful and noteworthy speaker, but the timing of this announcement with our well published plans for growth and achievement is seen by myself as a missed opportunity. I don't wish to get into debates over who's keynote speaker is more famous, but I do want to know who our other options were, I want to know why the students were not allowed to consider our choices. Does this sound unreasonable?
In reply to: Safire 's message, "Ram6it, Fr. McShane said he wants Fordham to regain its position as "the preeminent [not 'marquis'] Catholic university in North America." "Preeminence" means standing above all others, the best. A "marquis" is a mid-level nobleman, ranking below a duke and above an earl or count. A mid-level position is certainly not one to which Fr. McShane aspires (he wants Fordham to be the best), so your use of that word is clearly wrong. A "marquee," in common American usage, refers to a large signboard projecting out from a theater or other such venue which lists the name of a play/movie/event and of performers who are starring in it. I think "marquee value" is exactly what you and some of the other whiners want: a "star" or "celebrity" speaker of whom you can boast when you get into silly debates with students from other schools (so you can taunt them: "OUR speaker was more famous than your speaker!!! Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah!"). Why don't you just grow up?" on Sat April 23, 2005 18:15:48

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Ram6it, yours is not the only graduating class that has lived through troubled times, like those following 9/11. When I graduated, many of my contemporaries--including some friends and classmates--had already died in Vietnam. And we didn't expect some sort of of special treatment as a result. Also I think it's silly to assume that inviting a speaker associated with a particular university means that we're "bowing" to that institution as superior to ours. In honoring John Sexton, we're recognizing a Fordham graduate who has excelled in multiple fields. Maybe the University could have scheduled a speaker with more "name value"--and maybe there should have been an opportunity for the seniors to discuss possible speakers with the administration--but it's too late to change that now. Give John Sexton a chance. As I posted above, he is a dynamic man and I presume he'll turn out to be a great graduation speaker. (NT) -- Ram'69, Sun April 24, 2005 01:17:17