“Within the walls of the university, the professors come and go as they choose, occasionally teaching, but most often indifferent to the students. Professors with abilities of value to commerce, navigation arts, or in compounding medicinals, seat themselves in the comforts of the university, but devote their time and skill to personal gain.  Their rapacity is exceeded only by their hatred for each other and disdain for the citizenry. Upon being called to attend to their established duties, they bitterly complain of intrusions on their freedom. In the universities, it is a woeful situation.”

Gianfredo Capitolano, Rector of Bensilatano University, quoted in 1435. He was killed in 1437 by a deranged doctoral candidate.

(Sorry for the repost.  This still makes me chuckle.)

About the Author


The Miller Lab uses experimental and theoretical approaches to study the neural basis of the high-level cognitive functions that underlie complex goal-directed behavior. ekmillerlab.mit.edu