I was reading through The MadWoman in the Academy last night and came across a piece by Aritha van Herk called, "A Guide to Academic Sainthood; Or, How to Survive the Ivory Tower; or, An Untoward Set of Adverstisments for Women Who Feel Called to the Book, the Bell, and the Candle, the Desk, the Library, the Classroom, and that most Intriguing of All Conjunctions, the Departmental Meeting."


Encyclopedia style entries provide the reader with terminology that is useful to cut out, put in pocket, and carry around whenever engaging with academics. These little tidbits of information are especially useful for comedic relief after a particularly frustrating day.

Bear Baiting(pg 156):
Bear-bating might seem to be relevant only to those engaged in the
study of Shakespeare, but it is actually a common occurrence in the academic
arena. It involves poking verbal sticks at what appears to be the weakest or
most defenceless participants in the game (sometimes graduate students
or sessionals, sometimes undergraduates, sometimes secretaries, sometimes
other faculty members). Although you will be implicitly invited to
join in, it is better to avoid bear-baiting, however much fun it
seems to be. Practice Feminism.