Cornell OTR: Cornell Gets Airtime on The Office, Dwight Confirms Dartmouth is Better

Cornell Gets Airtime on The Office, Dwight Confirms Dartmouth is Better

Posted by Academic Misanthropy 10/31/2008 2:08 PM
Category: Tags: the office, dwight schrute

Last night’s episode of NBC’s hit television series The Office focused on three distinct storylines: Pam meeting Jim’s brothers, Michael and Holly breaking up, and Dwight Schrute sporting Cornell apparel in order to upset Andy, the man currently engaged to his lost love, Angela.

Of the three, the latter narrative brought viewers and Ivy Leaguers alike the most laughs – but for very different reasons.

Watching an obsessed Cornell alumnus (Andy) lose his mind over something as trivial as a Big Red Bear bobble head is a joke everyone can enjoy. But, for Ivy Leaguers in particular, the episode confirmed one important thing for everyone in the Ancient Eight [READ: Dartmouth alumni]:

Dartmouth is “vastly superior” to Cornell.

It's funny. This episode marked the first (and probably last) time in Cornell history that the University was featured prominently in a television episode, and yet, everyone ended up laughing at the school, not with it.

+ 13 comments

Anonymous says,

You are incorrect if you think that Cornell and its fellow graduates (myself included), would be offended by such jokes at our alma mater. Though it's been obvious for years that The Office and its writers purposefully poke fun at Cornell, Cornell and its fellow students and alumni have nothing but admiration for the show and the school as well.

Despite being the brunt of jokes for many episodes, Cornell and its alumni recognize the school's place as the "baby" of the Ivy League group, but at the same time, have no difficulty enjoying a laugh or two at our alma mater. After all, fellow Cornellians poke fun at ourselves and our peers all the time, as do our Ivy League colleagues as well.

You are remiss to assume that the jokes targeted at Cornell would make us displeased with The Office. In fact, if anything, the publicity and limelight, albeit in a condescending way, for once puts Cornell above its peers for having the perhaps dubious distinction of being able to have been so prominently featured on The Office. Posted 10/31/2008 3:12 PMReply

Anonymous says,

^^^ lighten the **** up man Posted 10/31/2008 3:16 PMReply

Anonymous says,

who gives a crap? ivy shmivy. Posted 10/31/2008 3:18 PMReply

Anonymous says,

anything the office does is amazing Posted 10/31/2008 3:19 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Cornell sucks. Is it really an IVY? Doubt it. Posted 10/31/2008 3:31 PMReply

Anonymous says,

aw. when you work for a cornell grad,
try not to shit your pants with envy. Posted 11/01/2008 01:33 AMReply

Anonymous says,

yeah, seriously.

state school? i'll come to you guys when i need my taxes done or some back office work done.

you still work at h&r block right? Posted 11/02/2008 9:09 PMReply

Anonymous says,

I went to Cornell and I (and all my friends) loved it. Posted 11/02/2008 10:34 PMReply

Anonymous says,

And, my dear, when you are looking for a job that doesn't involve you and a video camera at a New Hampshire motel...a Cornell grad will be happy to help. It's all about doing that type of charity. Posted 11/12/2008 8:38 PMReply

Anonymous says,

It's true! If Dwight says that Dartmouth is vastly superior, it clearly must be...seems like Dartmouth took the hit. Say, I was thinking about going for my Ph.D.; what's Dartmouth got to offer? Posted 11/12/2008 8:43 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Dartmouth is a great school...really, my dad paid a lot of money to get me in there. Posted 11/12/2008 8:45 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Actually Cornell does suck. I'm a grad student there right now, and it sucks. But I doubt any of the other Ivies would be more fun - it's the spoiled rich little bastards, stupid! Posted 11/19/2008 7:45 PMReply

Anonymous says,

Well, a strong academic reputation generally correlates to a greater workload, which sucks. But at least we don't need suicide prevention Mondays like MIT. Posted 06/12/2009 10:51 PMReply