Baldwin Draws Crowd To Kirkland Speech

In a wide-ranging talk that touched on topics ranging from activism to amputation, Alec Baldwin wasn’t afraid to say the outrageous during a Friday afternoon conversation with students in Kirkland House.

About 400 people squeezed into Kirkland Junior Common Room to catch a glimpse of the actor in what was this year’s second installment of the “Conversations with Kirkland” series.

The series, which featured Jason Biggs in October, facilitates interaction between students and prominent public figures, including politicians and entertainers.

Baldwin started off the session with a reflection on his own politically charged college days as an undergraduate at George Washington University, which he described as a “different world,” full of tension between students and the administration.

“I remember going to school—we got political right away. I’m curious at the reasons why it seems less so now,” he said.

True to his word, Baldwin himself wasn’t afraid to get political. When asked about the links between his political science degree and his acting career, he took the opportunity to express his views on the upcoming election.

“I don’t think anybody running for president now is that great,” he said, adding that, “U.S. energy policy drives U.S. foreign policy—I believe that this energy thing is the number one priority.”

One recurring theme during the conversation was the gap between his generation and that of current undergrads.

Baldwin posited that young people today hesitate to make decisions about their futures because there is “less margin for error now in life,” likening their experience to choosing from a menu.

“Maybe they’re not wrong when they’re saying, ‘What else have you got?’” he said.

Regina N. Bediako ’08 said Baldwin’s observations about choosing life paths resonated very well with her.

“As a senior trying to figure out what to do next year, he spoke to me,” she said.

But Baldwin’s visit went beyond politics and major life decisions. He also spoke about his experiences on “30 Rock,” a primetime television show in which he stars. Baldwin said some of the writers are Harvard graduates, who come up with the show’s snarky sketches and scenarios he brings to life.

In an interview with The Crimson following the event, Baldwin offered Harvard students a pearl of wisdom.

“You have the world by the balls, and I want you to swing it over your head,” he said.