Why do we tell stories about nutty professors? Because they're funny, of course, but also for some other reasons. Sharing a story about a prof is an expression of community, a way of saying, "We went through this together"--like a war story.

There's something else going on, too. I've noticed that college students really like nutty professors. Students who struggle with college work like to be able to say, "It's not my fault--this guy is nuts!" Good students, on the other hand, like nutty professors because they consider eccentricity to be symptomatic of dedication. They see their professors going around wearing dumb-looking ties or socks that don't match, watch them put their overhead projections on upside-down for the twentieth time, peer into their hopelessly cluttered offices and labs, and take these things as evidence the professors are so engrossed in their subjects that they are unaware of their eccentricities.

So, what's your story? Who are the nutty professors you have known? This is an invitation to the alumni and students of NDAC/NDSU to send your best nutty-professor stories to me for posting on this web page.

When you write up your story, please pay attention to setting--when was this, in what class, and so on. Also, give us some of the richness of detail--describe the people involved, as well as the situation. And then, just let the story take over.

Send your nutty-professor stories to: