Am I the only one who sees the lunacy in this?

We frequently hear about how badly US universities are hurting. There's no money for professor raises, year after year students are expected to pay more for tuition, and endowments are reeling from poor investment decisions. It's no wonder that the public education system in this country is not the envy of the world, as crazies such as Kurt Vonnegut suggested it should be.

The University of Alabama Board of Trustees this year approved a 9% increase for the 2011-2012 academic year. Students who are already struggling to attain a degree are now expected to go deeper into debt before entering an economy with few job prospects. The kicker is that the same board has also recently approved several Greek housing projects, which you can read about here. The gist is that a number of fraternities and sororities will be

getting new houses, one of which will cost nearly $12 million. Oddly, the university pays for these houses and is then paid back by the Greek organizations which reside in them. This is important because most sorority and fraternity members will argue that the university doesn't actually pay for the homes, but rather finances them for the groups. So really, they aren't losing that money, they're just tying it up for decades in housing that's only available to a select few.

I find this problematic for a few reasons. First, the university has demolished student dormitories to make room new Greek housing, which has caused a campus housing shortage. More importantly, the university is using tens, if not hundreds, of milli

ons of dollars to extend financing to organizations that are allowed to use whatever membership selection criteria that they deem fitting when inviting new members to join.

And whether or not any of them will admit it, race is very clearly one of those factors. Though it isn't written in any by-law, rule, or regulation, there is no question that the University of Alabama Greek system practices de facto segregation. If you really need evidence, I suggest you look at the Delta Delta Delta sorority's chapter photograph here. I've scoured that crowd for a non-white face but couldn't find a single one. Why am I picking on the tri-Delts? They're the ones getting a new $12 million house despite the fact that they already have a huge place to call home on sorority row.

I'm sure many people might find my assertion inflammatory. They'll likely claim I'm anti-Greek and out to badmouth the system (and by extension the United States of America (yes, it's an Animal House reference)). The fact is, I was in a fraternity during my undergraduate years. In fact, I was the president of that fraternity. I am still proud to tell people about my affiliation. That doesn't mean I'm proud of everything that transpired over the course of my active years in the chapter. I'm not. That's why I encourage current undergrad members to

consider the potential positive consequences of opening the doors of the chapter to those who are different, whether they are non-straight, non-white, non-religious, or non-whatever. I advocate for this because so many of my very favorite fraternity brothers are one or more of those things. However, I have yet to meet any Greek at UA who was even remotely receptive to such an idea. The status quo reigns supreme here.

Which is why I will be advocating that UA's non-Greek students demand better from their university and its Board of Trustees. Instead of financing multi-million dollar fraternity castles, the university should be investing to alleviate crowding at computer labs, dorms, dining facilities, and the Rec. The university should be investing in procuring the best and brightest professors, grad students, and staff. The university should look for ways to prevent yet another tuition increase. Any of those things would be money better spent than constructing mansio

ns for groups that aren't open to all UA students.

The soon-to-open 27,000 square feet ATO house at UA.

December through February, a photo essay

Here's the end of my 2010 and the start of my 2011 in eight pictures:


Rufus and I had quite the adventure driving to Louisville for Christmas. We had to stay in a sleazy Days Inn somewhere in south Kentucky because the interstate was covered in snow. Fortunately he had a sweater to stay warm while he played in the snow for the first time in his little doggie life.

I offered to replace the burned-out bulbs at my grandma's, but my aunt informed me that they weren't actually burned out. Grandpa insisted that five bulbs "burned too much juice" so three of them were unscrewed enough not to come on.

I got these awful sheets as a gag gift and felt guilty throwing them away without using them at least once. Unfortunately, a classmate saw me putting them into the dryer at the laundromat, which was uncomfortable for all. I did use them for one night and then promptly put them in the trash where they belonged.

This was a somewhat strange sight in Publix during January. I thought that maybe they were selling some type of adult magazine, but when I turned one around, I saw this:

Apparently anything featuring Auburn's football team is akin to nudity in Tuscaloosa.
This was the scene outside moments after the university shut down the campus and canceled classes for snow. I barely made it home that day. (Due to some great drink specials at the bar I stopped at on the way to my place, not because of the snow.)

I dare anyone to find a cheaper human being than Gyro Newman. He wouldn't even pay a dime to print a sign to direct students to his study. Instead, he hand-made this jewel.

So that's the past three months of my life. Ridiculous as usual. Now I should stop procrastinating and finish some school work.

Email to my class

I always shut and lock the door at 9:30 sharp when my media class starts. All of the late arrivals have to wait outside until I let them in, which is usually accompanied with some acerbic comment about getting to class on time, being responsible, etc.

Today, I was two minutes late to class because I was upstairs gabbing. One of those little turds had shut and locked the door on me, which was probably the ballsiest, funniest thing a student has ever done. The whole class was laughing at me and refused to tell me who did it. I would have shaken his/her hand for doing it, but there seemed to be a pact not to tell.

So I sent an email out to all of them with the enticement of extra credit for snitching. We'll see if I get any information. Here's the message:

Class,

I'm offering a reward of five extra credit points for information leading to the identification of the student who shut the door on me this morning. Any email or other correspondence will be kept in the strictest confidence. Whoever did it won't be punished, but probably will be publicly ridiculed at my convenience.

I know there has to be a rat or two among you who would be willing to sell out a classmate to help yourself. Remember, there's no honor among thieves.

Have a great weekend.

Peace,
jc

A little Yankee ingenuity

My middle brother is a notorious clothes thief. I don't quite understand why he never seems to have clean socks or shirts considering that my dad has installed what amounts to a mini laundromat in his basement to facilitate mass clothes washing (two--count 'em two--washers and dryers and a huge counter to fold things on).

My youngest brother Trent wouldn't have problems with running out of clean clothes if the middle one didn't constantly borrow from his dresser. Mind you that these children are 27 and 24 - well past the ages when doing one's own laundry from wash to fold should be an issue.

Anyway, Trent had finally had enough with waking up to an empty sock drawer last week and sent me this photo of his solution:

Not exactly fodder for Better Homes and Gardens, but the locking system (consisting of steel rod, heavy duty eyelets, and two padlocks) seems capable of preventing theft when he's at work or out on the town. You'll also notice the mismatched knobs on that jewel of a dresser. Pure class.

Why I'll be wearing purple on October 20, 2010

I am wearing purple today because I believe that ignorance should be confronted, not just ignored. Because it was through the proactive actions of others – both gay and straight – that I was forced to critically examine my own views of people who are different from me. Because I realized that being merely indifferent isn't good enough.

I am wearing purple today because there was a time in my life when a small-town mentality would have prevented me from meeting many of the people who I now most care about. Andy, Jon, Katherine – and so many others – I wouldn't trade the friendships I have with you for the world. Thank you for enriching my life.

It isn't enough to adopt an attitude of “live and let live” when there are so many on the wrong side of issues facing the gay community. Don't allow your own apathy and indifference to contribute to a culture of discrimination that aims to deprive others of the same basic rights – including that of going to school or work in a hate-free environment – that you enjoy.

And finally, though acts of solidarity like this one are a fine start, don't be foolish enough to think that wearing purple or posting a facebook update one day of the year are enough to fight the intolerance that runs amok throughout society. To truly succeed, we must challenge those who vocalize ignorance, advocate for those who don't have a voice, and hold accountable those who should be championing the cause of equality. Don't let your own indifference contribute to the loss of another fellow human.

Out of Alabama

For a few days anyway.

I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow. I can't decide if I'm so excited because I'm seeing family and friends for the first time in over a year or if I'm simply ecstatic not to be in Alabama for a weekend. Either way, I've desperately needed this trip for a while.

The main event of the weekend is a friend's wedding and I'll be wearing an incredible cravat for the occasion. That's quite exciting as well.

Rufus will likely be very unhappy with my absence, but he's going to have to get over it. Fortunately, Ray has volunteered to watch him until I return. Here's a recent photo of the little monster trying on his Halloween costume (he's going as a lobster thanks to Kelley)...

And baby makes two

At some point, I'll have more time to tell everyone about my new dog Rufus Pugwright III. Until then, here are some pictures of him.


Modeling his stylish new raincoat:

Helping me grade finals: