It turns out that I have 3 hard-core fans of the Visigoths in my Hispanic Civ course this semester. They took exception to my statement that the contribution of the Visigoths to the Hispanic civilization was minimal and proceeded to argue passionately (and very intelligently) about the importance of the Visigoths. It must be hard to challenge the professor when you are a Freshman or a Sophomore. Especially when that professor is yours truly.
Nothing makes me happier than to see young people being so passionate about things that happened 1,500 years ago and that are not immediately relevant to their daily lives.
A new definition of a university that I just came up with: it’s a place where you come to practice your love for things most people find ridiculous and boring.
As long as there are 18-year-olds who care about the Visigoths, our civilization will survive and prosper.
Clarissa's Blog 
I think your description of a university is spot on. Studying Public Administration, I see the insights of bureaucracy. Where others fall asleep whenever I mention my major, I feel the power of the executive and thus the change of the world at my fingertips.
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This sounds really great! And I even managed to read the comment until the end after seeing the name of your Major.
I love people who are moved by arcane and incomprehensible (to me) things. My husband lights up whenever he hears the words “quantitative methods.” How cute is that??? 🙂
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That’s a little scary, but I see your appeal 😉
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That’s a little scary, but I see your appeal 😉
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I have never heard of this before. Is a passionate fascination with Visigoths indicative of some kind of neo-Fascist movement or something? I don’t want to accuse your students of any such thing falsely, but it is beyond weird, to me.
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