Pete's MS Letter as it was published in the "Daily"

McCormick speakers get no student respect

I can't believe two executives from Microsoft Corp. will speak at the convocation for the McCormick School of Engineering. Microsoft is a company whose idea of creativity is to wait for someone else to do something cool and buy it. The company's business practices are extremely questionable, and it is under investigation by the federal government.

Not a day goes by when I don't hear Tech students or professors telling Microsoft jokes, criticizing its products or exploding in anger when Microsoft products go haywire. I have worked in the information technology division of several companies and have yet to meet a single person who is happy with Microsoft software solutions.

Why Northwestern would pick leaders from such a company puzzles me. They are simply not respected. It would be like the School of Music asking the Spice Girls to speak or Medill inviting Jerry Springer to share a few final thoughts. Both are wildly successful, but both have close to zero dignity.

Microsoft is an "American success," and unfortunately its representatives may fit in at the business school's convocation but certainly not at McCormick's.

-Peter Eckenrod

Pete's Notes on Pete's Letter

as some of you may have heard, I have been wanting to send a letter to the
Daily Northwestern (the school newspaper) for some time now. I just
haven't found something important enough. Oh sure, I was visibly upset
when one of the sororities didn't get proper coverage, and true, the
blatantly false stories about the men's golf team lit a fire under me, but
hmmmm, not quite what I was looking for.....

well

the time has come.

The School of Engineering, in its rather non-infinite wisdom, has decided
to have two VP's from MICROSOFT speak at tech's convocation. 

what was that pete? 

yes, microsoft. graduation. speak. you heard right.

I am seriously PISSED OFF. And now the whole school will know. And seeing
as though its now, oh about 4:30am and I am wired out of my mind from
mountain dew, i am sure i got my point across just fine. I believe I
compared this decision to having the school of Music invite the Spice
Girls to speak, and the journalism school have jerry springer "share a few
words of wisdom"

this is so totally unbelievable. This is so typical northwestern I don't
even know why i am surprised. I bet that idiot dean was all happy too.

"wow, we got guys from microsoft!!!!"

SLAP SLAP SLAP!!!!!!!!

anyway, what a perfect way to end fours years at this brainwashing dump of
a school. 

My only thought now is what I can possibly wear to piss off the MS people.
A big apple-striped gown? oh yeah baby, i think so. 

at the end of my letter, I suggested that perhaps it was not too late to
get Linus Torvalds. 

there is no way i am going to be able to start my homework now. I am just
too mad. hmmm, the supreme ruler of the cs dept said it took him 25 hours
and he still didn't finish. Class is at 1pm. Lets see what pete can do.

I'm guessing pete can get a D-.

whatever

pete