Wednesday, August 18, 2010Today I was listening to
Car Talk from NPR, which happens to be one of my favorite
pod-casts. (If you live under a rock and don't know what Car Talk is, it is a call-in radio show featuring two hilarious brothers who give car repair advice, along with equal parts harassment.)
What does this have to do with my science blog? Ah-ha! I'm getting to that!
Today's episode featured a caller who happened to be a newly appointed college professor who was seeking advice about what kind of car to purchase. She was currently driving a beat up 1992 Honda Civic Hatchback (sexy!) and didn't think that fit the stereotype of a college professor. She was worried that people would mistake her for a lowly TA or graduate student if they saw her rust-bucket out in the faculty parking lot.
Now, I am not exactly sure what kind of car the stereotypical college professor is supposed to drive, but Click and Clack had their opinions. That is where it got amusing: The Tappet brothers suggested that the type of car a professor drives should be more closely correlated to their discipline and not the mere fact they are a college professor. However there is one caveat: ALL professors should clearly distinguish themselves from their former roles as grad students and TAs.
Ha! What great advice! Just landed yourself a new professor appointment? Go out and drop some dough on a decent car! Nobody wants their professor driving around in the Chevy Cavalier their mom gave them in high school. That is just embarrassing!

The Profmobile
But keep in mind not all professors are created equal! Tom and Ray suggested this caller, being a liberal arts professor, should drive something along the lines of a Honda Accord (quite the upgrade from her 25 year old Civic!) A car that says "I'm a grown up and I have a real job!" while also implying "I am overworked and underpaid since I teach music history for a living!"
Now on the other hand, if you were.. say.. a professor of Economics or Law, that lands you in the luxury vehicle realm. We are talking BMWs and Lexuses (or is it Lexxi?) If you are going to be constantly talking about money, it should look like you have some. Come on now! You have an image to uphold here!
Unfortunately, Tom and Ray didn't indicate what professors in Medicine or the Physical Sciences should be driving. I would venture to guess they would say a mid or upper range SUV of some sort. A car like that says "I'm hands on and not afraid to get dirty!" Or maybe a hybrid compact vehicle that costs more than it will ever make up for in fuel economy. Something that screams "I'm a biologist and I care about living things!"
I dunno. It was an entertaining conversation. I will confess I haven't really noticed a huge trend in the faculty parking lot. But I'm going to keep my eyes peeled next time, to see what everyone is driving. I sincerely hope there aren't any 1992 Honda Civic Hatchbacks. That would be just a little sad.
Gerty-Z