After Syracuse University alumnus and award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin was named commencement speaker for the graduating Class of 2012, students had an overwhelmingly positive response.

Rebecca Balagia, a senior advertising and psychology major, said she thinks the choice to have Sorkin as this year’s commencement speaker is because of his strong ties to SU.

‘I know a lot of people who are really excited about it,’ Balagia said. ‘I think he’ll be very inspiring, and he’s the epitome of what it means to be a successful Orangeman or woman.’

Sorkin graduated from SU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater in 1983 and has written, produced and acted in numerous movies and television shows. He is known for writing films such as ‘The Social Network,’ ‘Moneyball’ and ‘The American President.’ Previously, Sorkin worked on the Golden Globe recipient ‘The West Wing.’

In collaboration with the College of Visual and Performing Arts, he launched the Sorkin in Los Angeles Learning Practicum in 2006. The weeklong program allows students to meet with actors, writers and producers, as well as participate in workshops and other activities.

Students such as Nick Dauch, a junior entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major, said Sorkin was a more logical selection than previous speakers, such as the controversial JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon, who spoke at the 2010 ceremony.

‘I think it’s a better choice, and he’s an alum,’ Dauch said. ‘I can’t think of many people to top that.’

Stephanie Boyle, a junior illustration major, said she felt Sorkin would be able to connect with students at a more personal level because he graduated from SU.

‘He’s been in our shoes. He knows exactly what we’re going through,’ she said. ‘And he could influence us to press on with what we’re doing and just know that there’s going to be a happy outcome after our hard work.’

Josh Guillaume, a sophomore film major, also thought Sorkin’s involvement with the program in LA and the movie industry made him an appealing choice.

‘It goes right along with where you can go with a Syracuse education,’ he said. ‘I think that’s great that he’s out and involved in the film industry, and he’s also still connected to the institution where he came from.’

Many students were not familiar with Sorkin or were not aware that the speaker for this year’s ceremony was even announced.

But others, including junior history major Andrew Doscas, thought selecting Sorkin as the speaker made sense. However, Doscas also said he thinks SU could have brought in a person with more universal appeal.

‘I feel like that might be geared towards a select group of students, more so students who were more engaged with theater and arts and stuff like that,’ Doscas said. ‘But I have nothing against Aaron Sorkin. If that’s who they felt was best, I’m sure the school had their reasons.’

Julia Palmer, a senior broadcast and digital journalism major, is among the students that feel Sorkin relates to her own studies.

‘I think it will be pretty cool because I’m a Newhouse major, so it would kind of be cool to hear him speak,’ Palmer said. ‘Definitely better than last year. Not the best, but definitely better.’

dmsegelb@syr.edu 

Published on March 18, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Dylan: dmsegelb@syr.edu | @dylan_segelbaum