Wake Forest Magazine September 2003 - Past Issues - Wake Forest ...

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InterviewLATE SHOW WITHSTEPHANIE BIRKITT (’97)Regular watchers of the “Late Show with David Letterman”have probably seen Stephanie Birkitt (’97) on the air, andthey have undoubtedly heard her voice. As an assistant to theCBS talk-show guru and resident Polster, she’s achieved her owncelebrity status through frequent on-air phone conversationswith the host as well as commentary during the Salt Lake CityOlympics. But “Steph” fans probably know her best for herManhattan street polls, where she puts complete strangers onthe spot.34 Wake Forest Magazine
What is your job, and how did you land it? I am an assistantto David Letterman. I got this job following a college internship in the writers’ departmentat the show. I did my internship in the spring of 1996, returned to school for one moreyear, and graduated in 1997. Following graduation I moved to New York and worked at CBSNews “48 Hours” then eventually ended up at the “Late Show” again. I never lost myinterest in the show and was consequently thrilled at the opportunity to work there.I would say that the reason I enjoy my work is two-fold. For one thing the people Iwork with make the environment very familial. We all get along great and everyone reallyenjoys each other. The other thing which makes work ever-exciting is the fact that no twodays are ever alike. You come to work each morning really never knowing what will happennext. Some days we all go to the movies, other days I find myself dressed in costumes ormaking reports on snowfall up on the roof. Things are never monotonous. I truly have awonderfully crazy job.Do you write your own material? I do not come up with thequestions for my Polster interviews. The writers come up with all of those. For the longerreports like the Olympics, I work with a writer to kind of combine my personality withpossible questions or ideas. I am given a great deal of freedom to come up with ideasand have a lot of fun during remote segments. My on-air calls with Dave however, areunrehearsed and just natural conversation between the two of us.What is the strangest question you’ve ever askedanyone?I asked Tom Cruise if he was planning on making any more movies wherehe would dance around in his underpants.We’ve got a photo of you with George Clooney.Does hanging out with celebrities make you feelpretty famous? Well, I really don’t consider myself much of a celebrity at all. Ido have a great deal of fun with all of the opportunities and experiences this job affordsme. Working for Dave is great though. Aside from being incredibly funny and personablehe is generous, kind, and is great fun to play catch with. I really couldn’t ask for a morefun work environment. Dave is truly the greatest boss I could ever have.Was there anyone at Wake Forest who influencedthe direction of your career? Well, I wouldn’t say there was anyonein particular who steered me into this career path. However, I will forever be in debt toProfessor Wayne King who single-handedly enabled me to do this internship. He allowedme to work out a system by which I could get credit for my semester in New York. I willnever forget his kindness. I must say that Wake Forest in itself was a wonderful experienceand James Barefield and Simone Caron were always particularly supportive and helpfulin my drive to get a history degree whilst pursuing my interests in television.Any fond memories of Wake Forest? My fondest memories ofWake Forest are mostly just sitting in classes with my friends and racing desperately to thePit for Subway and pudding afterward. My not-so-fond memories all involve final examsand morning-before-exam exhaustion and sickness. I also hated math classes of all andany kind. If I had it my way, math would be eliminated from the curriculum. One time Igot a 54 percent on a calculus test. I’m pretty sure the questions were unfair.September 2003 35
Page 1 and 2: T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I
Page 3 and 4: Features14 Special DeliveriesBy Dav
Page 5 and 6: Signature facilityCalloway School m
Page 7 and 8: Humphrey gift benefits study-abroad
Page 9 and 10: Exchange of ideasAcademic theme yea
Page 11 and 12: iggest industries today—the crimi
Page 13: How thorough was the review? Isn’
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Page 19 and 20: PHOTOS BY LOUIS DAVISmuch higher ri
Page 21 and 22: LOUIS DAVISFinding AnswersWake Fore
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Page 25 and 26: Coates sees the e-mail exchanges as
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Page 30 and 31: “When you decide to get yourself
Page 32 and 33: FEAR FACTORFlashy, spicy, and tough
Page 34 and 35: Though every player hascountless Pe
Page 38 and 39: Profile/JAY VIDOVICHGLORY DAYSIn ni
Page 40 and 41: EssayOur TownOff Highway1, an adven
Page 42 and 43: It is paradoxical that almost half
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Page 47 and 48: 1981Dan Barrett (JD ’85) is a 200
Page 49 and 50: Michelle Hale Williams received her
Page 51 and 52: Mary Easley with son Michael (left)
Page 53 and 54: 1997Kelly Lynne Barham (MD ’03) w
Page 55 and 56: Campaign gifts total$60 million dur
Page 57 and 58: Patrick Joseph McDonough (’97) an
Page 59 and 60: “Wake Forest meant a lot to me.It
Page 61 and 62: Admission of Alumni ChildrenYEAR AP
Page 63 and 64: APPENDIX: The Soundand the FurryThe
Page 65 and 66: Constant&TrueRemembering a campus a
Page 67 and 68: CLASSNOTESHomecominWake Forest Univ

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