LETTERS
Expected chaos

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I turned eagerly to your feature on the "Kings of Chaos" to find Professor Sunstein and was not disappointed. I attempted to visit Professor Sunstein in his office only once while at the Law School; I had a near-suicidal idea for an independent-study paper and wanted to float it to him. His door at that time was customarily guarded by a large blackish dog named "Bear," who wisely chose to sit in the hallway outside rather than in the office itself.

I arrived on this particular day to find a loosely packed knee-deep floor cover. There was a spot immediately in front of Sunstein's desk that a more-or-less graceful student could leap to if very motivated. Not being all that motivated, I hesitated at the door and asked, "Do you need some help in here?" You get one free question to establish yourself on the intellectual food chain, and I realized immediately that I had wasted mine. Sunstein looked confused for only a fraction of a moment, and then answered, "No, I don't think so."

I then hurled myself-60-lb. book bag and all-to the speaking spot and equally awkwardly outlined my paper idea. Sunstein listened politely, nodded a vague assent, and went back to his reading. I stood for an eternal moment, then slowly realized my audience was over. I vaulted out again and went back to the comparatively well-ordered Green Lounge. I thought about the paper a little more but never wrote it.

I've gone to Professor Sunstein with a few more dumb questions since then, and he always listens politely. However, I usually just telephone.

Valerie Dunbar Jones, JD'98
Chicago

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