No, it actually sounds illegal. Certainly unethical. And definitely not like something a friend would risk destroying someone's career over.
There are two ways this story can redeem itself. 1) Harlan tells Dawn that he has to stop dating her because he's being brought before the board of regents on charges of unethical behavior, or 2) Dawn fails the class anyway. I prefer the latter.
20 comments:
With the pink theme banished from the House of Mary, it would certainly have been an interesting story line to follow her redo. The advice to painters, upholsterers, and drapery hangers would have been epic.
When did all this occur? Is the redo the real reason we suffered through a four month visit to the tummy brained Olive in NYC? Was it Olive's love for all things purple that inspired Mary?
Such mysteries intrigue me.
...trying to think of the last time I heard ANYONE use the phrase "dare I say"...
"Purveyor of poppycock" indeed, Wanders!
Mary: "How much is your relationship with Harlan worth to you?"
Dawn [what I wish she would say]: "That depends on what he buys me and where he takes me. Oh yeah, he has to give me an A+ for his class, too."
Can someone tell me what Harlan has learned from Dawn, apart from her being a slavish acolyte who believes everything he says? Which sums up Dawn's relationship with Mary, too.
Beats me as to what Harlan is getting out of this potentially destructive relationship. (Of course, ALL of Dawn's relationships are disastrous, but that's beside the point.) Perhaps he's planning on a trip to Italy to do original research for his dissertation, and doesn't want to put Alfie in a kennel. He sees Dawn as a potential dog sitter. Yeah, he's about that clueless.
Might one suggest adding the Police classic "Don't stand so close to me" as an homage to the gossip about Dawn and Harlan that is pervading the SRU campus?
Considering the number of college instructors in Harlan's situation (never hired full-time, not paid for class preparation time, tenure non-existent), perhaps he figures he really has nothing to lose. Maybe his other part-time job is yoga teacher, and he sees Dawn as a possible fee-paying student. But Mary? Obviously she has been out of the work world since Mr. Dithers was Dagwood's boss....
Let's all hope for a rapid end of the semester and a termination of Harlan's position as adjunct substitute art history professor. Harlan may have a difficult time getting a positive letter of recommendation from the university Director, Hilton Berkes; the administration will not be amused with the teacher evaluations submitted by the other students in the class.
Dawn's evaluation of Harlan, on the other hand, will read something like this: "I learned SO much in this art history course. I learned that Leonardo da Vinci was really smart and had a big beard. I learned that there's lots of art (including sculptures of naked people ;-) ) in the Santa Royale Art Museum. And I learned about yoga. He's the best professor EVER! And, we're just FRIENDS, by the way."
If Mary is of the age as she appears to be in Sunday's strip, the only excuse for her advice is that she is suffering from dementia.
Karen Moy has painted herself into a corner with this one. Harlan is an idiot, and Dawn is so unlikable in this story that, had I been one of her classmates, I would have joined the jeering mob we've seen a couple of times. There is no redemption, and no way out. We are all trapped. And this time, Mary can't help us!
If Dawn and Harlan really do "bridge the gap," someone is going to get in a lot of trouble!
LouiseF: More likely since Mr. Mooney was Mrs. Carmichael's boss
Carlnepa: Oh yes! Although Mr. Mooney apparently had better boundaries than Harlan...
When I see all of this purple all I can think of is Mary's in mourning for Prince.
"This is what it sounds like when Mary Meddles"
I think they've cut the budget and the colorist now has to make do with the economy size box of crayons. Notice how most everyone's eyes now match one of the colors of their clothing or the furniture? Probably why they got rid of Mary's gold sofa and orange pillows.
Mary has proven herself totally out of touch with reality with this advice. Why hasn't Harlan been fired?
"A sharing of knowledge and experience" is far from what's going on between Harlan and Dawn. Once again Mary spouts mind-numbing blather without bothering to get the facts. I suppose she gave this same advice to Ian and Toby decades ago.
Tomorrow: The beginning of a two-week flashback to Mary being victimized by mean girls when she was in 3rd grade (in 1917).
Thursday: Moy has just crossed the line with Mary's advice today. I posted the following comment on maryworthcomics.com. Somehow, I doubt that she'll send a response. (No wonder Dawn is so messed up and immature! The adults around her aren't moral compasses!)
"A long tradition of teachers and students bonding"? This storyline isn't about mentoring. It involves an unethical and inappropriate relationship between an adult professor and immature student.
Every learning institution requires employees to take training on this very subject. Professor Jones should be fired (or reprimanded at the least). What's next? Is Mary going to quote Jerry Sandusky to justify her irresponsible advice?
@Peggy Olson, thank you for posting that succinct and intelligent comment - it's perfect.
@Peggy Olsen: Bravo! Mary will probably refer to the Jerry Sandusky playbook, only to find out there are no women in it.
PeggyOlsen: I posted a reply to one of Karen Moy's posts (the "Everything but his faith" post) on maryworthcomics.com in February. It was "awaiting moderation" for two months until she saw it and responded. Her response was about what I expected, in that she doesn't seem to be really aware of how these characters read to us people out here in the real world.
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