Freshmen, Take History; Graduates, Take Jail
Wherein I attempt to argue that three current events in particular are better understood if you understand the relevant history.
Is it sexist to address the incoming class as “freshmen?” The manifest clumsiness of “freshperson” might dispose of the question if you gave no thought to the term “co-ed,” which made sense only because higher education was thought to be a male pursuit.
Sit right over there, little lady. Just keep quiet and don’t touch anything. The guy next to you is training to fly the plane and your IQ has gotten you into a target-rich environment for husband-hunting. You will get what you want and so will the guys.
I retired as Associate Professor Emeritus from Indiana University, the second school where I was tenured. The first was the University of Texas at San Antonio, and I turned down the tenure offer to accept an untenured position at Indiana. Teaching was my second career, and I took it seriously enough that I offer it to explain why I was appalled to watch an anti-intellectual bonehead embarrass himself and the country for four years.
