By Ann W. Parks

Dean Alex Aleinikoff and retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor prepare for a taping of “On Point @ Georgetown Law.”

Dean Aleinikoff welcomes Sen. George Mitchell.

CNN has “The Situation Room,” C-SPAN has “Washington Journal” — and now, the Law Center has “On Point @ Georgetown Law,” a series of Web-based interviews with some of the most prominent personalities of our time. While it’s not live, the interviews provide a thoughtful and engaging look at issues being explored at the Law Center and around the world.

In October, Dean Alex Aleinikoff sat down with retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Stephen Breyer to glean their thoughts on judicial independence. A day earlier, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, spoke with Professor Larry Gostin about global and national health issues.

And on November 11, less than a week after the 2008 presidential election, former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (L’61) came back to his alma mater to discuss the new presidential administration, the use of performance enhancing substances in sports, peace in the Middle East and more.

“This is bigger than when I used to do the ‘Today Show,’” Mitchell remarked, as he walked into the official “On Point” studios in the Law Center’s Hotung Building (which doubles as a conference room for most of the academic year).

Actually, it’s no small affair. There are three television cameras run by a professional crew, plenty of extra lighting, miles of cable on the floor, and even stage makeup should the occasion require. Two students, Malcolm Wilkerson (L’10) and Mark Aziz (L’09), assist the dean with research on the relevant topics, coming up with questions appropriate to the interviewee.

Aziz — who within 24 hours met Fauci, O’Connor and Breyer — saw it as a great opportunity to ask interesting people interesting questions. Besides assisting with the administrative aspects of the project, Aziz also helps to determine who else might be invited to participate in an “On Point @ Georgetown Law” interview.

So who else would he like to see in front of the cameras? “In an ideal world, President-elect Obama,” Aziz said, adding that the general counsel for MTV might be good, too.

For every 10-minute interview, there are hours of work by the communications and information technology teams — everything from designing and implementing the “On Point” Web page to supplying fresh flowers for the studio. Among those involved in the project are Multimedia Technologists Todd Shoemaker and Christopher Critchfield; Executive Director of Communications Elissa Free; Designer Brent Futrell; Web Developer Sabrina Mapp; Communications Associate Chuck Ream; and Director of Media Relations Kara Tershel. Kevin Conry (L'86), Vice President for Strategic Development and External Affairs, has been instrumental to the project — as, of course, has its creator, Dean Alex Aleinikoff.

 

The interviews can be seen at http://www.law.georgetown.edu/onPoint/