Popeye approved.
When students (or faculty, or anyone) asks me to slow down my speaking, I invariably use one of two excuses: I’ve lived in New England for the past few years, or my mother is from New York so that’s where I picked it up.
Today was the start of the semester (for me) with my women’s studies class. I’m pretty pleased with the turn-out; I’d half expected the students to show up with sleep still in their eyes, wearing pajamas and clutching their venti half-caf mocha iced lattes (no whip cream) for dear life. Nobody keeled over asleep, though there were a few students glued to their coffee. Then again, at 8 in the morning I kinda wish I could just bring an intravenous espresso drip with me to class. But that might be distracting, and we? Are totally in the business of warping their fragile little minds learning.
I suppose I should also give an “Oh hai!” to the two students who I know Googled me and ended up here. I know you guys did it because I totally did it for every class I had when I was an undergrad. Google is a great thing. So is Wikipedia. Just don’t use it as an official reference.
So, ambitious Women’s Studies student, here is my advice for you when you take WMNST 102: Images and Ideas this semester. You get this advice free because you are obviously at least somewhat net-savvy, and I can appreciate net-savvy like whoa.
- Come to my office hours, because I a) am pretty nice, b) may have snacks, and c) will be more likely to remember you, thus more likely to remember your participation in class, thus your participation grade will rock it.
- Eat yogurt. It’s good for you.
- Do what interests you. Are you a rabid Buffy fan? Me too! Unfortunately, I’m not teaching a whole class on Buffy (but oh, how I’d love to spend a few days lecturing on the musical episode). Fortunately for you, your final paper can look at language domination in Buffy, or queer theory in Family Guy, or imperialism on a selection of blogs. Because blogs? Totally talk about ideas. And images. And also women, sometimes. So please feel free to incorporate your interests (UNLESS THEY ARE JOHN TRAVOLTA, UGH) into your reading responses/papers/quizzes/discussion.
- Also eat spinach, which is also good for you. I do not recommend spinach and yogurt together, though. Possibly spinach yogurt? I’d have to test drive that one.
- In the words of Bill and Ted: be excellent to each other.
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The criticisms of my students would serve as a good warning to visitors of Seeworthy: she talks too fast, she's too hard on us, she assigns too much work, and you have to be a dyke to get a good grade.
In other words, I'm a big, fat, queer, feminist meanie, and I am totally out to get you. Graaagh!
Spinach is my favorite vegetable ever.
Rock on, Professor Director! (Good lord, that’s not what your students call you, is it? Please say no.)
now now, there are dozens of recipes out there calling for spinach and yogurt.
along lines with the above, it’ll be pretty great when you’re Dr. Director. it has a nice ring to it, like, “Col. Chancellor,” or, “Sen. Sultan,” or something.
Actually, I’ve instructed them to call me Professor Awesome. Or maybe Captain Awesome. Awesome Girl.
Er, so I instructed them on that *subliminally*. I imagine most of them will call me Professor Director. But wouldn’t it be awesome if my last name were, like, X? Or Dumbledore? That would pretty much be full of win.
Excellent. Be excellent to each other.
I never let them call me Professor; I was pretty sure that wasn’t allowed. I prefer being called by my first name, anyway. But like wearing jeans, you take a gamble when you allow that.
I could see spinach and yogurt working together in a Greek or Indian dish.
Excellent! How could I forget?
The (real) professors in the department (including the grad advisor) have sort of advised us to go by professor, at least for the first few weeks. Mreh.
And dudes, I refuse to accept this spinach and yogurt thing until I have definitive proof. Like a recipe. That has been cooked. And is in my tummy.
What, food?
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/105954
Professor Dumbledore FTW!
Wow, there’s a lot! I may have to look into this!
Shredded spinach yoghurt maybe some salt and pepper, mixed together = delicious dip. Preferably served in a big hollowed-out cob loaf, you use the bread you hollowed out for dipping (hello 1985 cocktail party!). Or Turkish bread.