Biting Commentary

Class-less

Originally Posted Sunday, 10 February 2002 at 12:00 AM
Updated Thursday, 24 April 2014 at 05:09 PM

In loco parentis seems to be alive and well at the heretofore august Columbia University. This “no-class” joint is treating its students like red-haired stepchildren.

Seems Al Gore is lecturing at the U’s Graduate School of Journalism. In protection of who knows what, the U has decided that students in Gore’s classes can’t tape-record his lectures.

Wonder what happens if a student happens to have a learning or note-taking disability?

They also have given the journalism profession and free enterprise the raspberry by barring students who attend the Top Secret Gore Lectures from working as paid sources or stringers for news organizations that have developed a sudden intellectual curiosity about what goes on in a college class.

We certainly should be afraid of journalism students who actually try to practice journalism, shouldn’t we?

However, showing marvelous flexibility and the tolerance for freedom of academic thought and discussion, CU has rescinded some moron’s ruling that students were disallowed from even TALKING about the class’s content.

At least now the students can actually have a study group helping one another prepare for comps or class exams.

Wouldn’t you be proud to be a Columbia grad, basking in the knowledge of the professional principles that are being taught at your School of Journalism?

About The Author

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR

Richard B. Barger, ABC, APR, is well-positioned as CornerBarPR's Chief Curmudgeon; he's our version of Andy Rooney -- loves words, particularly loves to complain about idiocy.

In his spare time, Rich runs the inventively named Barger Consulting, where he conducts strategic communications planning and research, and gives people advice whether they want it or not.

Through the years, Rich has tricked unsuspecting folks into giving him positions as managing editor of the public relations division of a 180-person agency, and as a wire service editor, an economic analyst, a federal investigator, and, bless his little muddy boots, a farmer. Really. He fancies himself a pretty fair country editor and at one time was famous among about half a dozen people as "The Voice of IABC."

At various points in what passes for a career, he's done time as a member of IABC, PRSA, and NSPRA, as well as the Gifted Association of Missouri, the University of Missouri Alumni Association, the Council of Better Business Bureaus (as a Senior Arbitrator), and a handful of church choirs.

Known as "Boom-Boom Barger" in Marching Mizzou, Rich refuses to answer the phone during University of Missouri football or basketball games, plays a hard-edged game of bridge, and is married to a woman he doesn't like to talk about much, because she's smarter and much nicer than he is.

Barger's motto: "Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once."