The Merriam−Webster dictionary defines the word "professor" as "a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education." These esteemed teachers are experts in their field. After years of undergraduate and graduate programs, these men and women are some of the brightest people in the world. Students at Tufts University are lucky to have access to an extremely knowledgeable, inspiring and impressively intelligent faculty. Every day, students gawk at the knowledge their professors randomly spew — it is one of the reasons that Tufts is such an attractive destination.
Although professors can be frighteningly smart, almost every Tufts student has had a moment when they wanted to challenge one of their professors. Across disciplines, across majors, across years, students always have moments when they think to themselves, "I might be smarter than my professor." The thought is overpowering — you hear a professor state something, but you know, you are positive, you would bet your life, that it is not correct. Traditional manners and respect for our venerated faculty forces students to hold their tongues. But, undergraduates of Tufts University, what would you do if you had the opportunity to prove your intellectual status? Could you step to the plate and hit knowledgeable home runs? Ladies and Gentlemen of Tufts University, the Experimental College (ExCollege) invites you to prove your worth. Join us for "Are You Smarter than a Faculty Member?" trivia night.
On May 5 (the Wednesday of reading period) from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Hotung Café, take a two−hour study break to challenge an elite group of professors to trivia. The ExCollege has assembled an all−star squad of six professors who will be the undergraduates' opposition. This "dream team" is the target that undergraduates will aim for. Beat the all−stars, and a powerful point can be made. This faculty squad includes a dean, a program director, a rising star who already is one of Tufts' most popular teachers, two former recipients of the "Professor of the Year" and one of the most prestigious and respected publishers on campus. The faculty team is made up of Dean of Undergraduate Education and Professor of Political Science James Glaser, Professor of Community Health Edith Balbach, Professor of Political Science Kent Portney, Professor of Psychology Sam Sommers, Professor of Education Steve Cohen and Professor of Political Science Natalie Masuoka.
The rules of ExCollege Students vs. Faculty trivia night are simple. Assemble a team of six people, and on May 5 show up to Hotung at 8:00 p.m. There is no pre−registration and no sign−up sheet — the event will operate on a first−come, first−serve basis — so be on time! Free food will be provided and Harpoon UFO will be in stock at Hotung, so make an evening out of trivia. Work your brain, prove you are smarter than the faculty and snack on delicious trivia munchies.
Best of all, the ExCollege has assembled an unbelievable first−place prize package. The team of six that emerges victorious (the faculty team is also eligible for this prize) wins a collection of prizes to eateries and shops in Davis Square that is valued at over $200! Included in this bundle are gift certificates to Dave's Fresh Pasta, J.P. Licks, Mike's Pizza, Boston Burger Company, Davis Squared, Buffalo Exchange and many more. In addition to the first−place reward, there will be a mystery prize for every team that finishes with a better score than the faculty.
Part of the Experimental College's mission is to foster interaction between Tufts' faculty and student−body. Every semester, the ExCollege runs an event that creates a dialogue or enables relationships to be formed between professors and students outside of the classroom. "Are You Smarter Than a Faculty Member?" trivia night is the most recent manifestation of this goal. This event is extremely valuable because it helps strengthen and mold a community here at Tufts. The ExCollege recently held Feedback, a luncheon between students and faculty, and in Fall 2008 the ExCollege hosted the Election Night Extravaganza. Both of these events served to bring students and faculty together outside of office hours. Although academic relationships between undergraduates and professors serve many important purposes, social relationships are just as critical. Professors care about their students — they want to know what the students want and work hard to ensure that students achieve their goals. Perhaps the most beneficial way to start such a relationship is outside of a classroom setting that is usually run with traditional expectations of lecture and/or discussion. At the ExCollege trivia night, the mind will still be tested, but the setting will be much more relaxed. This enables a dialogue between the faculty and students that, without the ExCollege, might never be realized.
It is not only the student versus faculty aspect of trivia night that fits into the ExCollege's communal goals. Every semester, the ExCollege recruits professionals from the Boston area to teach courses and provide important learning opportunities for Tufts students. In keeping with that idea of not only creating the micro−community on campus, but also reaching out to those beyond the Hill, we have partnered with Davis Square businesses for our prizes. The Davis Square prize package features local spots that recognize the centrality of Tufts University. Each place was eager to donate because they enjoy the relationship they have with Tufts.
The timing of this event is perfect. Amidst the stress and studying of reading period, take a much−needed two−hour break from the books and distract and relax your mind with some intellectually stimulating trivia. Listen to a stand−up comic, junior Brian Agler, emcee the evening's affairs, eat staple trivia cuisine and prove, once and for all, that you really are smarter than your professors.
With any questions about the event please do not hesitate to contact the ExCollege at excollege@tufts.edu or (617) 627−3384. In the meantime, study up, take some Sporcle quizzes and get ready! Our all−star team of professors is on a mission to assert their intellectual dominance, and the student body may never again get another opportunity to prove them wrong!
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Benji Cohen is a junior majoring in history. He is a member of the Experimental College Board.
