Annapolis roundup

Thanks to St. John’s faculty member Daniel Harrell for making it easier for me to relive a day of undergraduate life. Some of my teachers are deceased, others happened not to be around yesterday, but I did see 4 or 5 who were still there and still perfectly recognizable, including Mr. Harrell’s co-Seminar Leader James Beall, who had been my senior math tutor years ago.

The Aristotle discussion was very good, especially for freshmen. The seminar happens at the same time for all students regardless of year: Monday and Thursday nights from 8-10. There are two faculty members (“tutors,” as they’re all called here) and I counted 17 students last night, though a few may have been missing. One of the tutors asks an opening question, and it goes from there. Everyone, both faculty and students, is addressed as Mr. X/Miss X, to maintain a certain air of respectfulness during the conversations. These students seemed better than I remembered at sharing the discussion.

But it turned out to be a special night: Senior Prank. One spring night per year, the seniors are allowed to interrupt the seminar about 90 minutes in, with a themed prank of some sort. (Mr. Beall received a telephone call in the middle of class, and I think they told him there was radioactive contamination on campus, since as a physicist he’s the designated hazardous materials person at the College.) The seminars immediately end. People mill around outside for awhile, and then after 45 minutes or so the seniors do a skit in the auditorium, which in a good year can be extremely funny. Then a huge party begins, and all classes are cancelled the next day as the party continues. It’s a good bit of relief for students who work very hard throughout the year.

Next stop: Baltimore. And returning to Egypt tomorrow.