This is the end of my first semester here at Fletcher. I’m happy to be here—it’s a really healthy institution, just the kind of place I’d hoped it’d be. The biggest pleasure so far has been the students: I actually feel like the rest of the institution is working to keep up with the quality of the students, which is a bit unusual.
Because they’re (er, we’re, you’re) so fascinating, I do wish students would participate in a deeper and more regular exchange of views. The Social List is good for that (and getting better as we get more comfortable with each other), but not as regular or as substantive as would be nice. It certainly doesn’t capture the passion and depth of thought that students demonstrate in, say, class discussions, when we have the encouragement of a participation grade.
That wish has been the basis for Todd, so we’ll try to keep developing the service. Suggestions appreciated. Good luck with finals, and happy holidays!