Deprecated: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in /var/www/libs/inc/cfa/cfa-search.inc.php on line 473
The James T. Callow Computerized Folkore Archive | University of Detroit Mercy Libraries Back to Top
Top Nav content Site Footer
University Home
James T. Callow Computerized Folklore Archive
search for

Offensive content Filter is ON

Your search for ACADEMIC returned 10 results.

showing 10 items

Urban Legend

THE INFORMANT TOLD ME THAT STUDENTS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT THERE
WAS A PROFESSOR WHO USED TO THROW THE EXAMINATION PAPERS UP THE
STAIRS AS HIS METOD OF GRADING THEM. THOSE THAT LANDED ON THE
HIGHER LEVEL GOT "AS", THE NEXT STEP GOT "BS" AND SO ON DOWN
UNTIL THE BOTTOM STEP WERE THE STUDENTS WHOSE PAPERS LANDED THERE
RECEIVED "FS".

Submitter comment:

HE (THE INFORMANT) TOLD ME THAT THIS PRACTICE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO DR.
H. THEODORE HOFFMAN OF THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated / 02-24-2011 / TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC ; Grade ; Legend ; MYTH ; Stairs ; Student ; TEACHER ; URBAN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

View just this record

Now I lay me down to study.
I pray the Lord I don't go nutty.
And if I die before I wake,
That's one less test I'll have to take.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK

James Callow Keyword(s): Academic folklore

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief

Date learned: 00001980S

View just this record

THERE WAS A STORY AT OLIVET COLLEGE ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO GRADED EXAMS BY THROWING
THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS; THE "A'S" WERE ON
THE TOP STEP, THE "A-'S" ON THE NEXT, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; OLIVET

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1960

View just this record

PREDICTION OF GRADES

THERE IS A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
WHO IS KNOWN TO GIVE OUT HIS GRADES IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER (FR. HOETTER).
A-ATHLETES
B-BOYS
C-COEDS
D-DISSENTERS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES, GRADING

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

THERE WAS A STORY AT OLIVET COLLEGE ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO GRADED EXAMS BY THROWING
THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS; THE "A'S" WERE ON
THE TOP STEP, THE "A-'S" ON THE NEXT, ETC.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; OLIVET

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1960

View just this record

PREDICTION OF GRADES

THERE IS A PROFESSOR HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
WHO IS KNOWN TO GIVE OUT HIS GRADES IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER (FR. HOETTER).
A-ATHLETES
B-BOYS
C-COEDS
D-DISSENTERS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES, GRADING

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

View just this record

THE HATCHET MAN

IN SEPTEMBER, 1969, I STARTED AT U. OF D. AS A MATH MAJOR
AND THE PROF FOR MY FIRST MATH CLASS MATH 141 WAS MR.
TRAVIS. ONE DAY HE PROMISED TO TELL US WHY HIS STUDENTS
SUPPOSEDLY CALLED HIM "THE HATCHET MAN." (I HADN'T
HEARD THE NAME APPLIED TO HIM BEFORE THIS TIME, BUT MAYBE
IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS JUST A FIRST TERM FRESHMAN.) HE SAID
THAT HE HAD HAD ONE STUDENT WHO WAS BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO PASS ONE MATH COURSE HE WAS TEACHING, EVEN THOUGH IT
WAS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME AROUND FOR THE STUDENT.
THE REASON THE STUDENT WAS SO DETERMINED WAS THAT HE
NEEDED THE COURSE TO GRADUATE. FINALLY, HE SUCCEEDED
IN PASSING AND AFTER GRADUATION, HE GAVE TRAVIS A TOKEN
OF HIS APPRECIATION, A GOLD (PAINTED) HATCHET WHICH
TRAVIS SHOWED OUR MATH 141 CLASS.
DURING TERM II 70-71, I FOUND MYSELF ONCE AGAIN SHARING
THREE HOURS A WEEK IN ONE OF THE MATH CLASSES (MATH 431)
TAUGHT BY TRAVIS. HE EVIDENTLY STILL HAD THE HATCHET
SINCE HE TOLD US THE SAME STORY I HAD HEARD IN 1969.
ONCE AGAIN, HE SHOWED US THAT SAME GOLD HATCHET.

Submitter comment: IN MATH 141 HE GAVE ME A B; IN MATH 431 HE GAVE ME
AN A, SO HE CAN'T BE THAT BAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): UNUSUAL GIFTS ACADEMIC JOKES

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being

Date learned: 10-30-1971 ; 00001969-1971

View just this record

Prank

Fletcher Tube:

The Fletcher Tube us a non-existent piece of equipment. When freshmen are having problems in lab, you tell them that a Fletcher Tube will do the trick. They go to the stockroom to check one out and are laughed at.

Submitter comment:

Informant said that he pulled this gag while he was a graduate student.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CLASSROOM ; CHEMISTRY BUILDING ; Marcantonio, Arnold

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES ; Chemistry ; COLLEGE ; COLLEGE PRANK ; COLLEGE PRANK ; Entertainment ; Freshman ; Hazing ; JOKE ; Laboratory ; PRACTICAL JOKE ; Prank

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Entertainment Diversion

View just this record

Superstition: Academics

Belief:

Don't shave from the time of studying for an exam until the student takes the exam.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Original BN [P880] crossed out and F537 is written next to it.

Where learned: SCHOOL ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Myself

Keyword(s): Academics ; BELIEF ; Books ; EDUCATION ; EDUCATION ADVICE ; GROOMING ; jinx ; Shaving ; Studying ; SUPERSTITION

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School

View just this record

Proverb

Flunk now and avoid the June rush.

Submitter comment:

Grade school pun.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

Keyword(s): ACADEMIC ; Aphorism ; Apothegm ; Fail ; Flunk ; Grade ; June ; Maxim ; PROVERB ; PUN ; SCHOOL ; Summer ; VERSE

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

View just this record

showing 10 items

Back to Top