On Friday, Oct. 26, District Court Judge William Alsup addressed Mississippi State students in the Grisham room of the library. After delivering talks in three classes, Alsup retired to the Grisham Room to a question and answer session with MSU students hoping to continue their education in law school after graduating from Mississippi State. Alsup entered the room to about fourty students from the College of Arts and Sciences, faculty, and other guests. His silver hair was ruffled, and his amiable face belied the determination and fortitude that bred his rise to success. Alsup was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and attended Mississippi A&M (which later became MSU). According to Alsup, State was the only choice for him because he wanted to major in engineering. While at State, he was active in the YMCA and the debate team. His participation in those organizations influenced his decision to “set my sights on Harvard Law School.”
He graduated from Harvard, worked as a law clerk under former Supreme Court Justice William Justice, and moved out to California to work for a law firm in San Francisco. It was there that President Bill Clinton elected him to the U. S. District Court.
“If you work hard and do good job, it doesn’t matter where you’re from,” responded Alsup. The question was whether or not he experienced any disadvantages due to the fact that he is a native Mississippian. As he fielded questions, Judge Alsup continued to stress the fact that “the real world is a meritocracy.” Hard work will be rewarded.
“Writing is absolutely critical, as is being able to stand up on your feet and talk,” says Alsup said. As well as offering advice to aspiring law students, he addressed the undecided as well. “When I was at State, I didn’t have a game plan, but I had faith I could do something constructive,” he said.
“He was very interesting and down to earth considering his position,” commented Wilson Boyd, a sophomore majoring in liberal arts who attended the talk to gain more information about law school from Harvard graduate.