You Want Some Of Me?

This cartoon took me back in time to August 3, 1972, when I defended my dissertation before my 6-member committee: Dr. Colonel (USA retired) was my chair, Dr. Mexico was the department chair, Dr. Breadmaker was one of my non-US field members, Dr. Pipestem was a US-field member, Dr. English was my minor field member, and Dr. Verdo, was the last of my US-field members and my bête noire. I remember mumbling and stumbling through the cross-examination over my survey of the history of black people in Texas between 1930-1954. I was dismissed while the committee voted. Through the door, I heard the elevated voice of Dr. Colonel: "Verdo, are you going to sign it or not?" Uh, oh. Colonel's reference was to the signature page (following the title page) in the dissertation where each committee member has a signature line. Evidently, Verdo expressed reluctance to sign. Verdo and I had something of a history. In my second semester at Texas Technique, I had taken a course from him and received an A. During my preliminary exam, Verdo had—unlike the others—not assigned an additional course in his field. That meant that I had answered his questions to his satisfaction. However, on the qualifying written exam in his field, I refused to play his game of talking about books that I had not read; Verdo spent his time reading reviews of recent books and passed that off as the equivalent of reading the books themselves. As a result, Verdo failed me on his field exam and I was required to prepare for a semester and write essays on new questions. Verdo was on leave that semester and I had to wait on him in his living room. Supposedly, he was on leave to write a study of a minor Texas character at a major event in his field. Instead, Verdo used his leave to co-write an elementary school Texas history textbook. The weekend after I took Verdo's second exam, the department held a party. At the keg, I was standing there with Dr. Mexico and Verdo walked up to us and said, "You passed." At that point, Dr. Mexico asked Verdo how his "research" was progressing. Verdo turned scarlet and skulked away. He was pretty picky and jicky about my dissertation when he reviewed it, but he did not say that he would not sign off. Evidently, I was not obsequious enough during the defense. Since I received the degree, evidently Verdo caved in following my dissertation defense. I never spoke to him again. If Verdo had failed me and refused to sign? See the cartoon. If this is (fair & balanced) nostalgia, so be it.


"Ms. Jones, please remember that the term 'defense of your dissertation' does not imply the allowance of any weaponry or martial arts."
Copyright © 2004 David Williams & The Chronicle of Higher Education [Click on image to enlarge]