Gore Goes Back to School, Still Hasn't Learned

 

Source: AP
Published: 2-6-2001

NEW YORK (AP) -- Former Vice President Al Gore taught his first class at one of the nation's premier journalism schools Tuesday -- but only off the record.

With security officers keeping news media at bay, Gore delivered his first lecture at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in a class titled "Covering National Affairs in the Information Age.''

"As I understand it, the normal policy is that the classes are usually off the record,'' Gore said later. "I would have had the option to do it on the record, but I think the students will get more out of it, if it's as much as possible a normal classroom experience.''

University spokeswoman Suzanne Trimel called the class a learning experience for students, "not a news event.''

The irony was not lost on journalism students outside the building, where some three dozen members of the working media were locked out.

Several students said they were warned not to ask any political questions or queries on behalf of professional journalists. An advance e-mail also warned them the class was considered "off the record.''

"It definitely goes against what we're taught, but it's Al Gore and we have to accommodate him,'' student Benjamin Stein said.

"This is not just any professor,'' added Michael Arnone, 29, a student in the class.

Gore has signed on to teach courses at Columbia, Middle Tennessee State University and Fisk University. Craig Wolf, one of the professors of the Columbia class, said it was an opportunity for "an intimate discussion'' with Gore.

Still, Wolf said his initial response to the class being off the record was: "What? Are you kidding me? But this is a classroom.''

Before the lecture, a guard at the entrance to the building checked student identification cards. Inside, another guard was at the entrance to the floor of the lecture hall checking IDs. Other security workers were stationed at staircases.

Monica Tedeschi, a 28-year-old student, broke the embargo a bit, telling a reporter that Gore was dynamic. The former vice president told a lot of jokes, she said, but made only one reference to the election.

After he was introduced and a list of his accomplishments read, she said, Gore added jokingly, "and I used to be president."

HENCH adds: This idiot REALLY thinks he was President for the 15 minutes that CNN declared him the winner. I've been turning my head, looking the other way, because I thought we'd never hear much from Al again, but this was just too juicy to resist.

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