Dear Evening Students (Undergrad and Grad):
The Fall is a nice time here. It's cool and it even "feels" like November. And... because of the change back to standard time, we see the sun earlier in the AM, but the darkness arrives earlier, too.
And... yes, I prefer wearing black clothes, too, when I'm not in my red and blue garb. Black seems to go with everything. As an instructor, I certainly get a different reaction from students when I wear all black than I do if I wear something colorful (and I don't even do a ceremonial Haka to shake them up).
When class is over, please BE CAREFUL, Oh Dear Students. Many folks are rushing home and they can't see your black clothed selves. Heck, I can see Lamont Cranston (after he has clouded the minds of men), so I won't run you over, but...
A major concern is that my spouse Lois could be working late, is developing a cataract, and is still ticked off about her students. There is an army of instructors like her, too. They are all quite mad at this stage of the semester. They have lost all hope. They are driving heavy vehicles.
Therefore, be respectful of motor vehicles EVEN IF state law says they have to stop at crosswalks. At night, many of you just walk directly into traffic, just as you do in the daytime(!); however, state law won't help you if you end up taking a dirt nap in Silent City.
It's called the Darwin Award; if they want to wear black in the dark and wind up with tread patterns, students will get posthumous recognition of that.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly don't notice the sunset. Perhaps we'll see the glow from their smartphones in time.
ReplyDelete"As an instructor, I certainly get a different reaction from students when I wear all black than I do if I wear something colorful."
ReplyDeleteReally? Are they extra-respectful if you're in all black, or what?
I need to try this.
@SocioConvert: My all black attire seems intimidating (although I am a bit larger than most and, of course, snarkier).
ReplyDelete@All: Lois, who is not a regular CM reader, read the above and then sent me this today while I was on campus: "Run them suckers down, I say! Especially the ones that can’t divide 116/4!!!!"
Today I was feeling benevolent. I began my Intro to Everything class by saying "Hey! You guys know that Four Loco stuff? Yeah. Don't drink it! It kills people!"
ReplyDeleteAnd then I passed around two rolls of reflective tape and two pairs of scissors.
Then I said: "Now, if I mow you guys down because you're riding bikes in the dark in your [dark school color] sweats and your iPods in, I won't feel as guilty."