I took the day off from work to attend a symposium sponsored by the U of M’s Journal of Law and Inequality to celebrate its 25th year of publication. The guest speakers discussed topics such as institutional racism, genetic profiling, international human rights, and disability discrimination in the workplace. I briefly chatted with a professor from Syracuse University’s Burton Blatt Institute, a policy think tank dedicated to disability issues. Syracuse’s commitment to disability rights is impressive; its law school offers a certification program in disability law and policy.
Every time I visit the University, I get a hankering to enter the world of academia. Getting paid for teaching, writing, and thinking has a deep appeal for me. And Minnesota, for all the leadership it provides in the realm of disability policy, really should be doing something similar to what Syracuse is undertaking. I’m sure I could make a compelling case for a disability studies program to the dean of one of the four law schools around here. All I have to do is line up a donor to provide the first couple million in operational costs. That shouldn’t be too difficult.
As attractive as you make academia sound, remember, my friend, that “getting paid” at a University may mean giving up your posh lifestyle. However, that being said, I would love to take a class from “Professor Siegel”! I wouldn’t even tell anyone that the real reason you wanted to be a professor was to have young coeds swoon over you!