Students at the University of Kansas frequently tell me that, on first meeting me, they find me intimidating and scary. And so, with Halloween coming up, I guess there is no need for me to look for Sarah Palin, Michael Steele, Michele Bachmann, Joe Lieberman, or Liz and Dick Cheney “two-for-the-price-of-one” face masks. I’ll just simply be myself and let people see what they want to see—The Bruised Lee! The Jackie-o’-Chantern! The Fulsome Manchu! The Inscrutable Asian! The Yellow Peril! BOO!
I didn’t think you were intimidating or scary when I first met you… but I’m not a wilting flower with professors like many college students. I thought you were a bit brusk, but ultimately that made sense in a room full of playwriting “virgins”.