(Author's note. As a professor for 30-odd years off and on at seven universities, I have a lot of stories to tell inspired by true situations. Here are some interesting ones.)

The Dean and the Professor

Harry and Henry were legends as professors in the graduate school of a prestigious university. The students idolized them.

HARRY: Hey, congratulate me. The president just promoted me to be the new dean.

HENRY: What? That is a demotion, not a promotion.

HARRY: Are you kidding? Pay increases almost double. Prestige and praise from the entire faculty.

HENRY: Believe me, it's a frying pan into the fire. I give you one year. I bet you have a buffet dinner.

And so, Harry took the job. After one year, they talk.

HARRY: I'm quitting. Back to teaching for me. I can't stand admin work. I envy you huddled around your students who love you. I miss those days.

HENRY: I told you so. When we teach and share our wisdom and see faces light up, that's our reward because we love our students.  

HARRY: And they love us back. It's a love affair. Are you free for a buffet dinner tonight?

Nude photography class

As a photography professor, I proposed a nude photography session for my students to the Dean. It was approved, provided I controlled it to not degrade into a sexual caper. So, I went to Ermita and got a curvy lass as the nude model. The students paid for her service fee and a reward for the best photo.

The word got around, and I got scared when I saw a large crowd when I arrived at the school with the model. The students had prepared the studio for the photo session according to my lecture on light design — a complex mix of backlight, spotlight, diffused flood light, etc. Everything was set.