July 3, 2012:  Class City Rockers

With all the issues swirling around higher education relating to student retention, graduation rates, gainful employment, financial aid, tenure, college preparedness of students, I wonder what it must feel like to be a student these days, especially that first time in any college student, labeled rather coldly as a FTIAC by all of us across education.

My first instinct is that they must "feel like a number," leaving my observation open to a parody of the Bob Seger song of the same name, but then I realize I am in The Clash territory, specifically "Lost In The Supermarket."  You can see the lyrics to this Clash song here, but honestly, I would encourage you to hear the song and then change that little ditty in your head to

Lost In The University

I’m all lost in the university.

I can no longer attend sporadically.

I came in here for that special degree,

Guaranteed employability.

I wasn’t bored, so much as I failed out.

Nobody seemed to notice me.

We had a ledge back home in the dorm room

From which I could leap.

I heard the professors who lived in the break room

Moan and gripe most seriously.

Hearing that sound of complaints and gloom,

That’s how it’s been all around me.

I’m all lost in the university.

I can no longer attend sporadically.

I came in here for that special degree,

Guaranteed employability.

I’m all maxed out, have all the loans.

I took every Pell penny available to me.

I’ve got my logo-embossed daily planner.

I empty a bottle and I feel a bit free.

The kids who tweet and the rap beat

Make me noises for company.

Advisors send texts ignored by students like me,

And the lack of direction makes me lonely.

I’m all lost in the university.

I can no longer attend sporadically.

I came in here for that special degree,

Guaranteed employability.

Commencement is here,

And I’m not there.

I’m all lost.

My apologies to Joe Strummer, although he owes me one for Cut the Crap.