Posted by Andrew Shi
The offering of "The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media," by the Sociology Department for the summer has made national news and attracted the attention of Skidmore students.
According to the Registrar, the class has already filled up and the Sociology Department is planning on creating a second section to accommodate students currently on the waiting list.
For anonymous commenters of nationally syndicated articles published about the class, the course raises questions about the value of a liberal arts education and the priorities of the students; however, a much more sinister implication of the course has only just become apparent.
Yesterday, the History Department revealed that they would be offering "Shakira: Race, Class, and Gender in Latin America" this summer. This follows an announcement by the Biology department that they, too, were adding another course to their summer list: "The Walking Dead: Biology of Viruses," which will explore the structure, genetics and pathogenesis of viruses and the scientific accuracy of the ability for viruses to turn humans into the undead.
A Government Professor, who chose to remain anonymous for an interview, disclosed the impetus for the sudden proliferation in culturally themed classes.
"They're popular, of course, and if they're popular, more students will take them, and the more students a department teaches, the more funds are allocated to their budget. The pie is fixed and the departments are trying to draw as many students to their classes as possible; it's essentially class warfare."
The anonymous Government professor revealed that later this week the department would be announcing a new class for the summer as well: Bill Clinton and other presidential sex scandals: The United States Presidency. The course will look into the extra-marital relations of U.S presidents including Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy.