Interstitiality

I think that's uncharitable to say Cameron, Shirley, and Phil were not Seabury students. They were all students, and they were all enrolled in courses at Seabury. Sure, they weren't full-time M.Div. students, but they were Seabury students.

You're right Dave! I didn't intend it that way. Actually, I had remembered putting "current" Seabury students, but somehow that wasn't in my entry (I edited my former entry to convey what I meant to say). Cameron, Shirley and Phil were valuable additions to that particular OT class and to the Seabury community. In fact, I have kept in touch with Phil and a little with Cameron.

I always felt that the picture was a bit ironic, even when Cameron, Phil and Shirley were my students. The shot for the video was staged by one of the producers. He intentionally selected students who would represent in his mind a good cross-section of the Seabury community. Phil and Cameron were CCSP students and Shirely was from Garrett. I just thought it funny that here was this picture (which is now the first thing you see when you go to Seabury's website) that is supposed to represent what Seabury is about. One of the students was from Garrett (and we are getting fewer GETS students now that they have moved to semesters), and the two other people were part of a program that no longer exists. Though there is no one to blame for these new realities, I still wish we had more GETS students here on occasion, and will miss not having CCSP folk in my classes.

It was a comment about profile posturing not on what I thought about Shirley, Cameron and Phil.

i thought jami anderson was in the background... but then again, i'm blind...

I agree with Heather, I think its Jami... and, on the whole cross-section thing, I remember Phil & Cameron & I talking (while they were filming) about how funny it was to have all these under-25 folks in one picture. But then again... there are only two people over 30 pictured on that whole seabury page... even more ironic than the lack of current students!

Susie, you forgot about Jesus.

That is Jami in the background. I remember talking with her as the picture was taken (you can't see me in the photo, but I'm there behind Frank, in front of the bulletin board), and watching you all traipse up and down the hall, so the videographer could get a shot that he liked.

And Susie's right about the youthful demographic in the photos, and in the student body. And her legitimate comment about the irony can be looked at from the other direction, as well. I mean, I can understand, and even to a great extent support, the reasons for focusing on younger students; but... what does this say about those of us who are not under 25? That we qualify as students, but not for publicity purposes?

For that matter, why do we continue to draw those lines-- or allow them to be drawn for us? The age thing, to my mind, is as insidious and devisive as any other "ism" that we rail against in our community life.

Jane, you would love this. We chose a topic to talk about, and guess what it was? My use of Eminem in the classroom! It looks like we're having a hearty and lively talk about theology, and we are talking about the repulsive rap-star. Boy, the contradictions about this photo keep getting deeper.