The General Idea by Aaron Kunin
Drawing by David Scher
Aaron Kunin, a literature professor at Pomona College, is writing a book titled "Weird at My School" based on his experiences at the institution. The narrative delves into his tenure as the English department chair during 2018-2019, highlighting a unique working environment characterized by intolerance, mistrust, and self-censorship. Kunin emphasizes the department's substantial but loosely monitored financial resources, creating opportunities for misuse. Conflicts over ideas typical in liberal arts colleges are noted, with a distinct focus on the financial dynamics within the department.
Kunin shares a personal experience of being accused of discrimination and retaliation, undergoing legal proceedings that ultimately favored him. He expresses gratitude to his attorneys, Mark Hathaway and Jenna Parker, and Zach Greenberg for assistance in finding legal representation. Kunin plans to use colleagues' own words, extracted from emails, to depict their characters and conduct. Despite acknowledging the eccentricities of academia, he expresses a mixture of affection and contempt for his colleagues, reflecting on the peculiar nature of his role as a literature professor. The title "Weird at My School," inspired by a song by The Pixies, underscores the deviation from the norm in the academic environment. The narrative concludes with Kunin's commitment to continue posting the newsletter as long as it serves his purpose and until he has a clearer vision of the book he aims to write.
