Well, guys, it's been quite a term. I will think well of you all, and let's stay in touch!

As promised in class, here is a fable for us good little doctoral students called...

THE BUNNYS DISSERTATION

Once upon a time there was a bunny who was writing his dissertation. Early one morning, while hopping through a meadow on his way to the library for some books, the bunny came across a hungry coyote. My, but dont you look appetizing! exclaimed the coyote. I havent had my breakfast yet, and youll do just fine. Oh, no, you cant eat me, replied the bunny. I am still writing my dissertation about the intellectual and moral superiority of rabbits over coyotes. But I will make you a deal. come into my burrow and read my first two chapters. If you dont like them, then you can eat me for breakfast. What do you say? The coyote thought it over, and deciding he had nothing to lose, followed the bunny into his burrow--and was never seen or heard from again. Shortly before lunch the bunny was returning from the library with a pile of photocopied journal articles when he came upon a hungry wolf. My, but dont you look delicious! remarked the wolf. I havent had my lunch yet, and you look perfect for a meal. Oh, no, you cant eat me, replied the bunny. I am still writing my dissertation about the intellectual and moral superiority of rabbits over wolves. But I will make you a deal. come into my burrow and read my first two chapters. If you dont like them, then you can eat me for lunch. What do you say? The wolf thought it over, and deciding he had nothing to lose, followed the bunny into his burrow--and was never seen or heard from again. Late that day, on his way back to the library to study, the bunny was once more hopping through the meadow when he was confronted by a hungry fox. My, but dont you look like a nice appetizer said the fox. I havent had my dinner yet, and you look like a good start. Oh, no, you cant eat me, replied the bunny. I am still writing my dissertation about the intellectual and moral superiority of rabbits over foxes. But I will make you a deal. come into my burrow and read my first two chapters. If you dont like them, then you can eat me for lunch. What do you say? The fox thought it over, and deciding he had nothing to lose, followed the bunny into his burrow--and was never seen or heard from again. The next morning, the bunny was hopping through the meadow on his way to Financial Aid when he came across another bunny who was also writing a dissertation. The second bunny inquired how things were going. All things considered, pretty well, answered the first bunny who added, would you like to look at the first two chapters? The second bunny accepted the offer and the two descended into the burrow. Once in the burrow, the second bunny saw, off to the right of the burrow, a pile of coyote bones; off to the left, a pile of wolf bones, and in the center on the burrow sat a pile of fox bones. And in a corner of the burrow, contentedly picking his teeth, was the largest, meanest lion the second bunny had ever seen. The moral: it doesnt matter who reads your dissertation, but who your advisor is.

On a more serious note, if you'd like to join in the conversation about dissertations in all phases, please feel welcome to subscribe to the GSE Dissertation Support listserve. Send a subscribe message to ru_dissupp@smithers.rutgers.edu. We originally started the group from Ken Shimhara's Seminar in Ethnography class but no one's used it much, so as the listserv "owner" I thought more could benefit....any problems logging on, let me know.

Thank you all, thank you Linda...and Raphael--we missed you today, friend!!!

John

-- Anonymous, December 15, 1998

Answers

Thanks John! The fable is very appropriate. I loved it. Also, thanks for the info about the GSE support group. I really enjoyed meeting everyone in class. Keep in touch. Eileen

-- Anonymous, December 17, 1998