I'm back in school with all new professors and all new classes. I am currently sitting in Norlin Library and a man just walked by my quiet study room. I eyed his clothes and his stride, both of which were very odd - to say the very lest. I wondered what he was doing in the library; preparing a chemistry lab? Printing handouts for an anthropology lecture? Finding a warm place to sleep? Then it dawned on me - there is no way to tell the difference between a homeless man and a professor.
I don't know that this rings true across campuses nationwide, and doesn't apply to the Business School here at CU, but as far as those Arts and Sciences professors are concerned - they may actually be hobos.
For example, I am taking a German upper division literature class all about Goethe's Faust (don't ask how I ended up here, it just worked with my Tuesday/Thursday schedule). My professor asked us to call him "Edward," no last name mentioned. He said he used to go by Ed but he outgrew the name. Edward looks like a shriveled 100 year old skeleton. He is about six foot tall and doesn't weigh more then 95 pounds. He wears ill-fitting pants and a pattern vest everyday. He always seems frazzled and mutters curse words and nonsense under his breath. All you would have to do is give him a "Anything Helps. God Bless." sign and BAM, you'd have yourself your very own hobo.
This fact rings true for almost all of the male professors I have had thus far in college. They hunch and hobble into class (even the under 30 professors) wearing their over sized pants and poorly tied bow tie.
Sometimes I wonder - could they be both? A homeless professor? Food for thought.
K
1 comment:
Hi KT, I'm moved to comment on your post for two reasons. First, I am an Arts and Sciences professor, though not (yet) the shriveled 100-year-old skeleton type that you described. Second, I appear to be the first to comment on your blog, validating your thesis that you are in fact worth reading.
Now, most professors are responsible, passionate, even conventional. They are soccer moms,part-time real estate brokers, scientists, even bass players. Yet, homeless professors are out there. Literally - homeless professors. You were not mistaken. I have personally known two of them.
So, how can this be? Homelessness is, likely, completely absent in most successful professional endeavors, so it's a valid question. I mean, are professors paid so little that panhandling is a necessary side-job? Does homelessness somehow bring a valuable perspective to teaching? Is homelessness an honored milestone of the university tenure system? I suppose there is a grain of truth in each of these points.
Rather than explain the phenomenon, I would simply take these eccentric people in (figuratively, not literally). Learn from them. You will never again in your life discuss the fine points of Faust with the unparalleled perspective of a 100-year-old skeleton. No one else could understand Faust better. Eccentric people offer the gift of perspective. You will find that perspective is a strong and powerful ally as you navigate your way through life.
Yes, have a chuckle. Hold your nose. Roll your eyes. Then, appreciate them for sharing with you who they are with passion and with honesty.
With admiration - an anonymous uncle
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