Fall 2022 Midterm Style. . .

 

 

Working at home yesterday (Friday), Zoom meetings of one kind or another with a visit to the barbershop during the afternoon, so a bit more casual than usual, but still belted and tucked in.  As usual.  

Not visible is the navy blue preppy fox surcingle belt purchased a year or two ago from Country Club Prep.  Many of their items border on the obnoxious in that Big 10 or Pac 10 university merchandise kind of way (but with a southern twist), but a few things are kind of interesting.  The belt is one, hence my purchase of it.

The navy corduroy jeans are a recent acquisition from Land's End (they still do a few things well), and yesterday was their inaugural wearing.  The shirt, a Christmas gift a few years back from The Grand Duchess, is either Land's End or L.L. Bean, and the shoes are, of course, from Allen Edmonds.  A gift from dear, departed ol' Mom about 10-12 years back.  My go to at home shoe between October and the end of April each year.

Yes people, you can be very cozy and comfortable at home without straying aimlessly into homeless territory.  Call it dressing with mindful intent.  Burn the guacamole stained sweats and hoodie, thank you very much.

Otherwise, we are at the middle of the term, which means today (Saturday) will be spent composing and sending out midterm online reminders to students in danger of failing their courses due to poor grades, simply not turning in any work up to this point, MIAs, or those with similar related performance issues, most typically of their own doing/inaction, that might cause them to fail.

You know.  Because I am such a mean SOB. 

We are not required to do this, but I view it as an instance of CYA (look it up) in case someone, somewhere decides they have been unfairly treated when they fail, and it occurs to them to file an official grievance next Spring.  It happens, and I've been the object of two such investigations myself in 25+ years of working with undergrads.  

The best form of defense is to attack and misdirect, right?  Lets' muddy the waters to disguise our own failings.  Deny and delay the inevitable as long as possible.  Hmmm.  That sounds familiar.

In any case, let me tell you, the offices on campus that handle these kinds of things swarm all over you when a student feels they have been unfairly treated.  This is the world we live in, and my absolute least favorite part of the career I have chosen.  A student's failure to act is always due to someone or something else with their foot on said person's neck keeping them down in the muck.  It's never the student, and these cases last for months and months before they are finally settled. 

At least taking the time to fill out these reports today, means there is a document in the cloud somewhere with a date stating what the problem is as of right now, with a few suggestions on how to right the metaphoric boat before it's too late.  

Sigh.  One more example of how we infantilize everyone and everything in the 21st century.  Personal accountability went the way of the Dodo a long time ago.  You might be forgiven for thinking otherwise.

Still, lovely fall weather, a more or less four-day Fall Break weekend, and I am looking forward to time outside tending to the lawn and flower beds this afternoon and tomorrow.

-- Heinz-Ulrich