Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 2d

I may now die happy; I kissed the cadaver otter's fluffy little head. 10/10 🥰

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 6d

Thinking about Senator Charles Sumner today.

(I have to specify Senator because a professor at my alma mater was named Charles Sumner, and I need to clarify that I don't just...randomly contemplate this one professor with whom I shared a single conversation in an elevator.)

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 8d

So my students and I were looking at Tilly Norwood in class, and some of them were curious to see if the AI would respond if I commented.

Amusingly, the AI did not respond, but I do have a bunch of profanity-laden replies and people questioning my credentials, which perhaps, I should've foreseen.

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 8d

Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" makes for just the best in-class discussions.

#professor #academia #teachingliterature

Reposted by Marisa Ellen Mills

Helena Real 🏳️‍⚧️ @helenareal.bsky.social · 10d

With alt text because this made me cry 😭

Screenshot from what-even-is-thiss tumblr

"Cats don't actually love you"

A cat is a small creature in the middle of the food chain that is fully aware that you are a very large thing that could stomp its head in at any moment and yet it chooses to rest its tiny little head on your leg for a nap and spreads out on the floor near you exposing its belly and its most sensitive organs. It brings dead mice and bugs to you to share food.

Don't you get it? This tiny thing trusts you. It wants to help you too. It licks your leg thinking that it's helping. It kneads on you to find comfort. It shares its body warmth with you in the cold and gives you your space in the heat. It hisses at other mammals it sees outside including other cats in an effort to protect its family.

Cats love you so so much. But they will keep trying to eat plastic.

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 12d

I took a behavioral analysis at work, and evidently, I behave like Galinda and have the drive and moral compass of Victor Frankenstein.

I don't know what to do with this information.

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 21d

Fascinating! I guess that explains why I was only ever taught about King Solomon as a cautionary tale in Sunday school.

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 22d

There is an exception for "material to be used for scientific and medical research or instruction," so that wouldn't be included....at least, theoretically.

www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/20...

www.legislature.mi.gov

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 22d

Mind you; I still think it's ridiculous because its "peer-reviewed academic content" exception seems to imply that--while the works of the Marquis de Sade would be banned--I could have the whole 120 Days of Sodom in massive block-quotes in a scholarly article, and that would be fine. 2/2

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · 22d

I'm guessing he would argue that The Bible's primary purpose overall isn't to "sexually arouse or gratify" but to educate on morals/teach people God's will, so it wouldn't count per the bill's definition of pornographic material. 1/2

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Sep 4

I had my first meeting with students in my role as faculty advisor of the newspaper today. When I was talking about the importance of avoiding libel, a student helpfully chimed in "but think what a great story that would be!"

And anyway, I think these students might be plotting my downfall.

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Aug 21

I can't wait for a student to inevitably use this in their grade appeal as proof that one of us grades too harshly or something.

I'm SO curious to know what data AI could possibly have to predict this. Or IS there data on individual instructors, or is the AI pulling from a general pool of data?

Jane Rosenzweig @janerosenzweig.bsky.social · Aug 20

Tried out Grammarly's AI grade predictor. Didn't want to use actual student work, so I had ChatGPT write a paper for one of my assignments and gave that to Grammarly. Grammarly promises to use publicly available info about your instructor to predict what they will say. The advice was *not* what I /1

You demonstrate a nuanced, critical comparison of Khan and Warner, showing clear independent thinking and a command of both their arguments. Your thesis is thoughtful and sustains the essay’s direction, and your development of ideas is well-supported by concrete reference to the texts. One opportunity for revision could be to further foreground your own perspective and curiosity in the introduction—this would help the reader see not just what Khan and Warner argue, but why their debate personally matters or provokes questions for you. Doing so could provide a

for revision could be to further foreground your own perspective and curiosity in the introduction—this would help the reader see not just what Khan and Warner argue, but why their debate personally matters or provokes questions for you. Doing so could provide a stronger sense of self-discovery and engagement, which aligns with course goals for reflective and original writing.

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Aug 12

The collection I submitted my book chapter on LGBTQ+ rep in Arthurian YA isn't going to happen, so I'm trying to decide what I want to do with this book chapter. Revise and turn it into an article, maybe? 🤔

#academia #publishing

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Aug 12

I'm crying. A student put that I saved their baby from drowning. THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Aug 12

It's the most terrifying part of the semester--the countdown to when evals get released. Every semester, I tell myself I won't look, but I inevitably do. Most are good, but I'll agonize over the few that aren't and get stuck in a vicious cycle of OCD-induced checking. 😿

#professor #academia

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jul 14

I have learned who Evil Larry is and cannot WAIT to share the news with the multiple students who keep making jokes that go over my head.

(Sometimes, my students teach me gen-z slang and memes, and I have no idea if it's a real thing or if they're just messing with me.)

#professor

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jul 13

Given my income to student loan debt ratio, I doubt retirement is in the cards, but this soul-selling business...

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jul 12

I love r/Professors because when I post for advice I always get a mixture of genuine, thoughtful, kind advice...alongside comments that are just 'retire now' and 'have you tried selling your soul to demons?'

#professors #pedagogy

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jun 26

I spent the whole day crying intermittently, afraid that I would go to the vet and hear the worst. And it did. My sweet baby boy is gone, and I miss him. I love him so much.

A little tigerstipe cat sitting on a woman's lap. He is pushing his head against her face.

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Reposted by Marisa Ellen Mills

Chaucer Doth Tweet @levostregc.bsky.social · Jun 25

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jun 25

Stressing over my baby tonight. My poor little Tigger has been very sick for a long time. It's been a constant string of vet visits every couple months. He's better for a while, and then, he's not. Tomorrow, we're back to the vet because he's not eating.

A little tigerstipe cat curled up and sleeping on the sofa.

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jun 19

I adore the students in my American Literature to 1870 class so much! They're so lively and on top of things! I've very seldomly seen such an invested group of students. 🥰

#professors #teaching

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · Jun 18

I am teaching Dr. Faustus in two separate classes. Both have: a.) brought up the existence of super sexy statutes of Lucifer; and b.) decided that all the men in Dr. Faustus (and possibly Marlowe) are all very gay.

These two classes must never meet; if they do, I fear they might be too powerful.

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · May 26

I am in Austin, representing Pensacola State at the NISOD conference! I've been in this city for two days, and I've decided that Austin is the Most Underrated Gothic City. A marvelous place! (And the conference is pretty great, too.)

#austintexas #academicconference

A woman in a gray ruffled suit standing in front of a white backdrop with NISOD in red font. She is holding a sign that says "Excellence Award Recipient."

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Marisa Ellen Mills @gawanthegorgays.bsky.social · May 21

I'm torn between the time I cut my hand with a coconut shrimp at Outback and the time that I gave myself a CORNEAL ABRASION with the laminated edge of a restaurant menu.

...maybe I need to quit eating out.

Dasha @dashasierra.com · May 19

What's the stupidest way you've hurt yourself?

Oh I'm so glad you asked! I knocked myself out with a frozen bag of omelettes.