wantaphd

Classes start August 24th here as well. I don't have class until Tuesday, though.

I've been reading like crazy, for fun and for research. I've found a great local coffee shop with comfy chairs to hang out in and I've ridden the bus around town. I'm getting out and walking around (even though I have a car), but I'm still having a hard time meeting new people. I'm doing my best to enjoy this down time; I'm sure I'll be wishing for some when the semester starts. And I discovered Hulu today. Dacey you are correct, it is greatness.

I've been wondering the same thing. I've explored the campus, well, at least the departments and facilities I'll be using most; explored the town, read until my eyes blurred over, and now I'm bored to death. I'm also tight on cash so that limits my options for entertainment as well. I have discovered Fancast so I'm able to watch television on my laptop until I can buy a new tv. Any other suggestions?

Uh, no. I'm starting my PhD in August and I'll turn 40 in September. When I did my MA a couple of years ago, there was a woman in one of my classes who was around 50. My thesis director, (a hot shot in her field), started her PhD when she was "older" as well. She was the one who encouraged me to go back to graduate school.

As a black woman, there are so many issues I could address here, but I will try to limit myself to the question you posed. I think you are correct that by focusing on racial profiling, Gates neglected the larger issue of the violation of his 4th amendment rights. And it does send the wrong message to the black community, and for that matter, any community of people who tend to focus only on the issue of race when much larger legal issues are at stake. However, I believe that Gates focused on race because he realizes that race relations in this country are still pretty terrible. Lots of folks tend to think that just because Obama is president that institutionalized racism and racial profiling disappeared when he swore his oath of office. It didn't. Obviously things are better than they were 40 years ago, but we still have a long way to go. I also think Gates suffered from what many a Harvard prof would suffer from if he or she were arrested in his or her own home: a case of righteous indignation that comes along with being part of the academic elite. Likewise, I'm hard pressed to believe that the police did not know who he was when they arrived at his home. I mean, how many black professors at Harvard live in Gates' neighborhood? Thanks for bringing up the topic. I read the Gates thread on the Chronicle and I was dismayed at how much racism exists in academe, but then again, I wasn't all that surprised.

Great idea! I'm also trying to do a literary boot camp. I've not been that sucessful though; I keep getting distracted by the nice weather! I'm doing a little theory, and trying to catch up on LGBTQ classics as well. I would love to do your list with you; I need some motivation. At the rate I'm going I won't finish anything! I'll pm you my email address.

Hi, I'm from Columbus, but before I moved out west last year, I lived in Atlanta for a year. I truly miss the South! Awesome that we'll be in a couple of the same classes.

Hi keralovell, I'll be taking AMST601 which is required for doctoral students and African American Women Writers with Dr. Patton. I think I'm also going to take the feminist theory class, but I haven't decided yet. I'm going to stay in Graduate housing my first year; it's just more convenient since all of my furniture and stuff is in storage in Georgia and I'm in Washington State right now. What about you?

Congratulations! And welcome! Have you joined the group on facebook?

Zourah, I agree. I only belong to my undergrad and master's alumni networks, and only people I approve as friends can see my profile. I'm not a big social network person, but I think it can come in handy for keeping up with former classmates and current/potential colleagues. A professor I met at a conference invited me to be his friend on facebook. I was a little surprised, but I realized that is how he keeps connected with colleagues and former students who are in different parts of the country. My rule of thumb is that my profile is "clean" enough that I would not be embarrassed if my parents or future employers were to take a look. It's just common sense.

My career account information (which includes email and student ID number) came with my acceptance letter. The pin to set the account up came separately. I set everything up as soon as I accepted the offer, which was about a month or so later.

I'm in!

I vote you create a new group! And big upps to the burger joint, although I don't think I want peanut butter on mine!

I also think that's a great idea. If anyone wants to exchange emails let me know. I'd like to make a few contacts/connections before arriving. It might make the transition easier!

My situation is a little different, but perhaps there is a lesson in it for some of you. My ex-SO is a TT professor at a school in the west. We had been doing the long distance thing for a while and decided that I would move to be with her. I'm from the Deep South, and was teaching high school and hated it. It was easier for me to move than for her, so I did. Well, about six months after I moved, she decided that her career was more important than our relationship. I was shocked, hurt, heart-broken, and all of the other stuff that goes along with a devastating break-up. I had already been thinking about applying to grad school for my Phd; and thankfully, I was accepted with full funding to one of the three programs I applied to. Things worked out in the sense that I will be doing what I've always wanted to do, and our break-up was kind of the catalyst for me to apply this year, rather than next, which I had already planned to do. The lesson here is this: Do want you think is best for YOU. There is no guarantee that your current relationship will last or that your SO will follow you while you pursue your dreams. For those of you who have supportive SOs who are truly committed to the relationship, I envy you! But for those of you who have SOs who are straddling the fence, they are already telling you everything you need to know. Believe it or not, I am a hopeless romantic, and I believe that if you really love someone and want to be with them, you can work it out. But I'm also a realist; sometimes we have to let people go because ultimately, our happiness is up to us. I'm still a little broken up over the split, and I know that I would have done whatever it took to make things work. But it wasn't about me, it was about her. Ideally, the relationship should have been about US. Hence, the break up. Good luck everyone and I am also one of those folks who hopes to meet someone awesome in grad school!