Instead of watching Court TV or reading USA Today every morning, students interested in the O.J. Simpson trial need only check their electronic mail.
Phil Hanaka '96 sends out an "O.J. Update," which includes the latest news and humorous anecdotes about the trial, to more than 100 people daily who "subscribe" to his service.
Hanaka sent out his first update a week ago. He said he scans through The New York Times, The Boston Globe, USA Today and NBC Nightly News daily to find the latest news on the Simpson trial.
"I try to find some funny anecdotes about what happened in the case and tie them into the factual information," Hanaka said. "A lot of people want to know about the case but have no time to watch TV or pick up a newspaper."
Hanaka said he is doing it because of the huge amount of response and attention given to the case, which has been dubbed "the trial of the century."
For instance, he said a poll showed that more Americans can identify Judge Lance Ito than can identify Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga.
"That's why I watch it -- because of the magnitude of the case," Hanaka said. "I'm also interested in law and this case is fascinating to watch."
He said he and a few friends who were following the trial came up with the idea this summer. They sent each other information about the case over electronic mail.
Hanaka started sending the "O.J. Updates" to Kenji Sugahara '95, who runs the "Weekend Update" service. Sugahara suggested that Hanaka advertise "O.J. Update" on the "Weekend Update."
"I asked [Hanaka] if he would like to do that and he was psyched," Sugahara said.
He said he thinks the updates "are interesting and really funny. And it gives a lot of Dartmouth people something to gossip about."
The top of each day's update says "All O.J. ... All the Time."
Hanaka said he sends the "O.J. Update" to 15 to 20 people who do not go to Dartmouth.
"A lot of people have asked me to send it to their friends in other colleges and even their parents," he said.
Hanaka said so far the feedback has been positive.
"The feedback isn't that important to me, though. It started and kept going with about four of my friends. And as long as people want information, I'll be willing to send it out," he said.
He said he has received one negative response. According to Hanaka one student sent him a blitz saying "The case has gotten enough attention, so why put more through this?"
Max Swedlow '98, who gets the update, said, "I think it's ridiculous that anyone can be so interested in the O.J. Simpson case."
"But I think the 'O.J. Update' is pretty funny, so I sent it to my dad and he asked me to get him on the list," Swedlow said.
