Yesterday, as I was walking back to my office, minding my own business, I was coming closer to an English professor talking to a student in the hallway. The professor is a lesbian in her 40’s, and the student was young and male. As I approached, unnoticed by either, he lifted his shirt up to his neck to show her an impressive sunburn.
What, exactly, is the etiquette in this situation?
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, son.”
“That’s appropriate.”
“Tummy rubs are against college policy.”
Or perhaps a simple slap upside the head?
Since I didn’t really have time to think about it, I just walked up beside her, said “I didn’t see that,” and walked on. She burst out laughing, and the student lowered his shirt, so I think it was in the ballpark. Still, they don’t teach you this in dean school.
Corrolary: if she had been straight, would such a light treatment have been appropriate?
Summer school brings its own set of joys…
