Datebook
For Meera Popat, tonight's talk by Chris Matthews of
MSNBC's "Hardball" marks the end of her tenure as co-chair
of the 2002 Milton S. Eisenhower
Symposium. This year's topic for the annual lecture
series organized by Hopkins undergrads: "An Introspective
Look at American Identity in the 21st Century."
3 a.m. Popat goes to sleep. An international
relations major in year three of a five-year
bachelor's/master's degree, she has a12-page paper due
tomorrow.
8 a.m. Popat wakes up to keep writing. She finishes
nine pages.
Noon The caterer arrives at Popat's apartment to
drop off platters of crudites, sandwiches, and desserts for
the event.
5:55 p.m. First crisis of the night: The Hopkins van
reserved to transport the food is missing from the
university lot.
6:40 p.m. Co-chair Dennis Boothe arrives; he and
Popat wait in her apartment for the replacement van. Her
cell phone rings. It's symposium publicity coordinator
Tannaz Rasouli. "Channel 11? Are they going to come? Hold
on -- " Popat's regular phone rings. "Hello? Hello? Hello?
You're downstairs?" It's the van. "Let me get my shoes on
really quickly!"
6:59 p.m. The van pulls up to Shriver Hall, where an
orchestra concert is just letting out. Popat, Boothe, and
six MSE staff members have an hour to unload the food, set
up tables, clean the auditorium, get lights and sound check
going, and figure out what to do with the piano blocking
the stage.
7:15 p.m. Crisis No. 2. The electrician had an
emergency call and isn't back yet. "We really need an
electrician," says Popat.
7:25 p.m. Between rapid-fire cell phone calls to
iron out the cup situation, procure tablecloths, and ask
somebody to videotape the Channel 11 news, Popat greets
symposium staff members, the security guards, and her
parents.
7:37 p.m. "He's here! He's here!" Panic. Chris
Matthews is half an hour early. "Wait," says Popat, "did
you say the lecturer, or the electrician?" It's the
electrician. Sound check goes smoothly.
7:55 p.m. The Shriver "Green Room." It's dead time
until Matthews arrives. "You feel like you shouldn't be
sitting down," says Popat. "You feel like you're forgetting
something."
8:10 p.m. Matthews walks in and shakes hands. He
wants black coffee. Popat gets it. He wants to know what
time his show airs in the Baltimore area. She steps outside
and uses her cell phone to call a friend who checks the TV
guide online. Matthews asks, "Are the students here
pro-war? Or do they even talk about it?"
8:40 p.m. Popat does the welcome, Boothe introduces
Matthews.
10:19 p.m. Matthews' speech -- "Crossing Borders:
Looking Outward to a Connected World" -- and the Q&A are
over. Symposium staff members give Popat and Boothe flowers
and chocolates. Matthews goes upstairs for a book
signing.
11:15 p.m. Matthews poses for a photo with the
symposium staff. Popat walks him outside to his limo. Now
comes clean-up.
11:46 p.m. Popat goes home to finish her paper.
-- SM
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