Althouse: Stupid, but beautiful.

April 9, 2009

Stupid, but beautiful.

The outdoor class:

Today, on Bascom Mall, in Madison, Wisconsin.

47 comments:

KCFleming said...: I try.

My next plan? Books.

Or mebbe books on tape.; 4/9/09, 9:09 PM
kentuckyliz said...: Where's the outlet to plug in my laptop?

Looks good but the ground is probably damp.; 4/9/09, 9:09 PM
Methadras said...: Holy Distraction, Batman!!!; 4/9/09, 9:14 PM
KCFleming said...: Actually, stupid I got down pat.

So beautiful's what I got's to perfect.

I'm thinking it has something to do with shoes.; 4/9/09, 9:21 PM
Steve M. Galbraith said...: Hated when we went outdoors for classes.

I just spent the time staring at the girls legs and halter tops.

Yeah, took me 5 years to graduate too.

Mom and Dad are proud.; 4/9/09, 9:41 PM
Hazy Dave said...: I gotta say, I think the "stupid" epithet is a bit uncharitable. Not that most of us weren't young and stupid or in love and stupid, etc. at some point in our lives... Just wait'll it hits 75 and the halter tops appear...; 4/9/09, 9:41 PM
The Dude said...: Beautiful? Not really gettin' that here...; 4/9/09, 9:41 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Stupid? Or circle jerk?; 4/9/09, 9:44 PM
MadisonMan said...: I never liked going outside for class. Uncomfortable to sit, usually damp ground.

On the plus side today, there was no wind, so papers wouldn't blow away.; 4/9/09, 9:46 PM
Wince said...: Stupid, but beautiful.

I see just one male wearing short pants.

Would his fashion choice be the stupid part, and would the beautiful part be that he has no company?; 4/9/09, 9:51 PM
john said...: Looks like a religion class. Can they pray at UW?

SMGalbraith - you just sent my mind into a spin. Thinking of lots of short shorts showing lots of bare leg, in the spring, on the lawn, classes outside .... aaah.

It took me 8 years to get my BS because of stuff like that (well, some of that was Army time).; 4/9/09, 9:58 PM
Palladian said...: I count 8 (I think) males
and 21 (I think) females.

Holy gender imbalance in our higher educational system, Batman!

Or is this a queer studies or feminist semiotics class?; 4/9/09, 9:58 PM
KCFleming said...: Boys don't need college, the effing oppressors.; 4/9/09, 10:11 PM
Bob said...: Damn, if I were to teach an outdoor class, I'd at least want a chair, preferably an Adirondack.; 4/9/09, 10:12 PM
Molly said...: "Hey, guys -- we're not going to learn anything today."; 4/9/09, 10:13 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Its a baptism class.

The river is just down the road.; 4/9/09, 10:25 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Althouse turns to Meade and says, "Release the dogs!"

[This finally explains her earlier triptych.]; 4/9/09, 10:28 PM
Tibore said...: Damn... saw the headline, thought this'd be a Hollywood Starlet thread.

Color me disappointed. :(; 4/9/09, 10:43 PM
blake said...: Yeah...not getting it.; 4/9/09, 10:54 PM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; 4/9/09, 10:58 PM
Joan said...: Molly wins the thread.; 4/9/09, 11:09 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Never had a class in college that went outside.

Funny this picture made me remember we smoked cigarettes during class and we put the butts out on the floor.; 4/9/09, 11:15 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Funny this picture made me remember we smoked cigarettes during class and we put the butts out on the floor.

Those were the days!

Hey, Althouse, can you find a way to get rid of the Chinaman?; 4/9/09, 11:48 PM
blake said...: Also, Dude, "Chinaman" is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.; 4/9/09, 11:52 PM
SteveR said...: Being a geologist, I had plenty of instructional time outside, but we weren't on grass, well let me clarify...; 4/9/09, 11:52 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: PVB:

You are right before the treehuggers & nanny staters took over.; 4/10/09, 12:01 AM
ricpic said...: The chink adds nothing to the conversation.; 4/10/09, 12:06 AM
ricpic said...: I don't think it's stupid, I think it's beautiful:
A circle of learning, al fresco, dutiful.; 4/10/09, 12:14 AM
Bob said...: Ban the Heathen Chinee!; 4/10/09, 4:45 AM
Anonymous said...: herman b wells is haunting your barren campus grounds?; 4/10/09, 5:52 AM
raptros-v76 said...: I've got a friend who's going probably going to UW next year. Of course, he's studying genetics, so he's probably not going to see the outside world for several years, let alone have a class outside.; 4/10/09, 6:18 AM
Issob Morocco said...: Many a squirrel, otherwise denied the opportunity for higher education, has benefited from the outdoor class trend. Just because you don't understand it Althouse, please don't damn those lovable furry creatures to menial livelihoods (scrounging in yards for bits and scraps of food) or lives of crime (raiding bird feeders and dumpsters), for the rest of their lives.

Give the Squirrels a chance!; 4/10/09, 6:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Provide for the esoteric, exotic, and impractical in the curriculum; the practical and pedestrian will take care of itself. If it does not, you have not lost much anyway; so I think the impractical things are the most practical and important in the long run. (1980)

hermann b wells advice; 4/10/09, 6:43 AM
Bissage said...: Both stupidity and beauty have their uses.; 4/10/09, 7:17 AM
KCFleming said...: Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.; 4/10/09, 7:33 AM
Der Hahn said...: It's getting to be time for the annual bomb threat so classes get canceled.; 4/10/09, 7:34 AM
Unknown said...: Wisconsin taxpayers have paid $84 billion dollars to build the best classrooms in the world, and the prof thinks the best use of that money is to leave them empty? Overcrowded schools? Just find the nearest tree on Bascom Hill.; 4/10/09, 7:42 AM
Original Mike said...: Stupid, but beautiful

I have the same opinion of picnics.; 4/10/09, 9:48 AM
The Elder said...: During my first month of college, a suggestion was made one warm, sunny afternoon to move our class outdoors. I will always remember the instructor's response: "We're not going to go outside just to have you all watch the squirrels make love."

I think he meant those tree-residing, furry-tailed animals, but I'm not really sure.

In any case, the photo was taken yesterday. I'm pretty sure that's not taking place in Madison today.; 4/10/09, 10:01 AM
jeff said...: "Hated when we went outdoors for classes.
I just spent the time staring at the girls legs and halter tops."

How odd. I did the same thing. But I LOVED when we went outside.

An a nice summer day at school you either watched the girls in halter tops and short shorts or you watched the crazy offensive guy yell his sermon in front of the student union. Think Jermey/michael/lucky type guy only with the balls to risk getting his ass kicked.; 4/10/09, 10:17 AM
Jeff with one 'f' said...: Ah, the groves of Academe...; 4/10/09, 10:53 AM
Anonymous said...: Okay, I give. Why is it stupid?; 4/10/09, 11:28 AM
KCFleming said...: Subtract the time it takes to get outside, sit down, get comfy, etc.

The class time is half over when you start, all efforts are half-assed, and everyone is distracted...

...by the beauty.; 4/10/09, 11:34 AM
Anonymous said...: Got it, thanks.; 4/10/09, 1:04 PM
Laura(southernxyl) said...: "Palladian said...

I count 8 (I think) males
and 21 (I think) females.

Holy gender imbalance in our higher educational system, Batman!

Or is this a queer studies or feminist semiotics class?"

Palladian, when you're ready for an unpleasant jolt, look up the breakdown of college students today by sex. Especially look up graduation rates. Look at them broken down by race if you really want a bummer.

A few years ago I took a microbiology class (lecture and lab) for my job. It was an evening class with an enrollment (I think) of 96. Overwhelmingly female. I think most of them were headed for nursing school.; 4/10/09, 1:10 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: As a student I always disliked taking a class outside. It's harder to hear the professor, to write, etc.

Agreed. Stupid.; 4/10/09, 1:36 PM
Maxine Weiss said...: So if one of the students turns up with skin cancer, in the next few months....can he/she sue the Madison College ?

What an irresponsible Professor. At the very least, I'd pass out sunblock, hats, and sunglasses.

Love,
Maxine; 4/10/09, 9:55 PM