The Campus

Fall Term 2008: The New Professor

'It isn't looking good, the banks are contracting and our services couldn't cope with the small amount they are willing to pay. Luke, check our Sydney office. European markets are way too depressed, London SE is down, FTSE are all in red. Ugh shit, HSBC is losing some investment. Frankfurt, Brussells and Paris are on spiral. Tell Harry to check on our clients to in those cities. Sydney is our only hope here, but these Australians are being acquired rather than acquiring' he took a deep breath.

Mr Ted Engel, is a third generation founding partners of Engel, Diamond and Becker LLP, who specialises in financial services, banking and acquisitions law practice. His daughter Rachel, was quietly listening after returning home from a publishing internship. Worried about what she heard, 'am I even able to...' she thought in silence. The thought of recession was new to her, it hasn't quite sink in as her parents were rather good on looking problem free on the surface.

She tuned in to more to what was happening two weeks before the new semester officially begins... Analysing financial data, drafting articles and pitching them. With the greatest hope of getting through the end finger degree.

'Oh no, what are they the zombies doing here?' Charlotte and Lily were watching Rachel, Steve and Lara walking in campus looking tired even when summer had just finished.

The trio looked pale, as the closest they have with the sun was behind glass doors. A coveted internship was harder to get when industries were going in to administration, insolvency and closure. Working for an internship, while having a second job to afford the suits and the shoes needed to wear in Lower Manhattan or an accommodation and flight overseas were deemed necessary.

Steve was constantly practising his woodwind and piano techniques, in the hopes of becoming a classical musician towards philharmonic conductor, with a side gig in jazz clarinet. Lara had taught English in Berlin and Bucharest while Rachel had her internship at Conde Nast. The value was priceless most especially in the current economic climate.

The party animal duo looked vibrantly tanned after spending time in Cabo San Lucas where they spent their summer tanning and partying. In contrast to the three other students who busied themselves attending conservatory auditions, newspaper internship and online summer school for thorough grad school preparation for Columbia, Harvard or Yale.

Presenting the upper classmen students of...

Brandt University. It is one of the finest institutions in North America, named after its founder Leeuw Brandt, Count of Ghent and Earl of Brighton in 1889. If the Dutch had won colonisation wars against Britain and France, then this university would definitely be the Dutch Ivy League of America.

It attracts the finest and finely tuned students across North America, Europe, Oceania, Middle East, and other parts of the globe. It had produced UN officers, Pulitzer Prize winners and several Nobel Prize winners in economics, literature and peace. A number of Arab sheikhs had studied there, a European royal, several members of the Dutch and Norwegian Royal Household, federal judges, and several prime ministers (Malaysia, New Zealand, Canada, Pakistan and Australia).

'A recent alumnus, has recently won Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the default market of the Iraq War, kind of reminds me of Ben Bradlee and another alumnus was nominated for Pulitzer for his sexual abuse in the Catholic Church investigative journalism team' Rachel informed Lara and Steve. 'His name is Michael Adler, a former student of Melissa Holt and Hannah Friedman' Rachel proudly declared as she is focused to working hard under the instruction of Dr. Holt, Ph.D and Dr. Friedman, Ph.D for her "public awareness of political ethics through media".

A new professor is joining Brandt this semester, by the name of, August Lind, the comparative German and American literature professor. Studying or even becoming a professor of Brandt University - one North America's and one of the World's elite institution for pure sciences, economics, business, music, literature, media and communication having produced the Pulitzer Prize winners almost every year, Tony Awards and Academy Awards, is such an honourable privilege. August has arrived on his first day on his new motorcycle, and hoping to make new friends.

August wants to live life the way it should, according to him and his rules. Outgoing, fashionable but some may say flashy.

'Good morning', greeted Melissa Holt, the other literature professor in field of contemporary literature who is more serious with a headstrong approach in her class, and sometimes very critical to people and issues.

'Good morning to you too' August greeted back, wearing a pair of jeans, a zebra print t-shirt and overbearing scent of body spray. Melissa shook her head in a daze when August walked passed him. 'What a beautiful dress' August complimented. Being naturally and overly friendly, it puts off Melissa as she shrugged it off upon leaving for her breakfast with another professor.

'You have no idea what summer meant, the recession of the economy leading to a possible of polarised politics as aftermath. It would open questioning about policies and interest rates and possible questioning of liberal democracy' her friend Hannah Friedman uttered with a level of academic surety and a tone of anxiety. She is an international politics professor whom she met at the university cafeteria.

'I know, I think the university funding is dwindling' Melissa paused, and her friend touched her hand for emotional support. 'Tell me about it I mean the economy is becoming worse' Hannah said. 'What I meant was, I have a new colleague who took his degree at Crammond University who looked a little too conceited.' Melissa said as she snapped at croissant and jam.

'Oh no, their social science and humanities faculty aren't the sharpest in the league' Hannah replied and they laughed together.

'I heard basketball is what makes this university attractive to the many female students out there' Melissa said to Hannah. 'That's how they're able to get the brightest female students who instead will be aspire to be their own person, would rather aspire to date a basketball jock' Hannah voiced her opinion, and stabbed the lettuce on her salad out of frustration for more empowered young women.

August passed by talking to two students, Charlotte and Lily, about NCAA: 'They've won straight four seasons' Lily flirting to her new professor. August became curious more about it, eager to watch the matches.

Most often, Hannah is just putting up with Melissa's bickering over her colleagues. However, a little dose of small talk doesn't hurt.