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Yesterday I received a phone call from a reporter working for my university's student newspaper.  She wanted to ask me about a report arguing that there has been declining minority enrollments in law schools over the last 15 years.  (The report itself is here.)  Given that I was trying to prepare for class and still had the last few changes on an article to finish up, the last thing I wanted to do was chat about such a sensitive topic about which I know very little--I hadn't read the report, don't teach in the area, and have never served on my school's admissions committee.  Taking a chance, I asked the reporter how she got my name, and figured out quickly that it was because my name is the first on the list of faculty.  I've received many such calls over the years from reporters or people looking for free legal advice or people with a question about the school and they figure that asking a faculty member will be more useful than someone else.  (This last group I'm sure has been disappointed.)  Their common interest in me is where my last name falls in the alphabet.  I don't know how to deal with this situation (short of hiring someone earlier in the alphabet than I am, which shouldn't be the sole reason to push someone's candidacy), but it is interesting how this provides a snapshot of how outsiders think about us and what kind of help a call to a random faculty member can provide.  I'm also sure that Todd Zywicki (George Mason) doesn't receive nearly as many such phone calls.

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