Renegade Rip

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Steven Martin

After getting into character in a nearby office, Bakersfield College's John Giertz, professor of communication, exited to BC's Fireside Room to begin his speech as Sen. Stephan A. Douglas; in his role as Douglas
In the speech, Giertz discussed President Abraham Lincoln.
At 1 p.m., about half of the seats were filled, and more people began to wander in seconds before the door closed.
At just five after 1 p.m., there was a problem with people trying to find places to sit, and a few people were left standing. Giertz as Douglas soon took the stage.
Giertz as Douglas began to share his thoughts on the elections, and how people had an erroneous interpretation of the man that he really was.
Giertz as Douglas went on to speak of biased newspapers reporting only for Democratic or Republic parties and oftentimes changing things so that they would be interpreted just as they were expected.
Giertz's speech was delivered with an obvious passion as he raised his voice, and he gestured with his hands to coincide with the anger in the text he was reading.
The audience was lifted to that world, and students even addressed him as if he were actually the character.
All of the questions were answered with a fair amount of grace and understanding, which contradicted the nature of Douglas who was described by Giertz as "arrogant, and egotistical."
Giertz/Douglas went on to say, "I don't like Lincoln."
Even though there will regrettably never be a second Stephen Douglas speech by Giertz again, Chris Barton, who is a BC sophomore says, "I would come again. He fabricated the information very well."
The rest of the audience would agree, as there was loud applause from the entire room at the close of the speech.
The presentation was a seven-year work-in-progress for Giertz. This speech was part of the final for his doctorate. The written part of Giertz's final was 200 pages long.

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