Osler's Razor

After Provost Lucci's second apology, some people thought the matter was settled. The controversy, however, failed to die down, and the faculty became increasingly restless. A number of protests were organized, with little initial effect. First, members of the science faculty added sodium to the Brazos river, making it slightly fizzy. While this had a mild effect on the drinking water downriver in College Station, it gained little notice at Baylor, and even the Waco Evening Enabler provided coverage only on page 14, in a small article running under the headline, “Mysterious Prof Sodiumizes River.” Next, a few members of the English department read poetry on the steps of Pat Neff Hall at four each day for three consecutive days. Typical was this poem, written and recited by Associate Professor (and former scholarship winner) Farg Anderson:

I cry at night, Preston Sturgis
When I should be writing wordses,
Prexy Brooks, can’t you see
We think you are poop and pee!

While Anderson’s poem won no awards (despite being submitted for several, as part of Anderson’s “Oh Brown River!” collection), it was recited frequently by a large number of fourth graders who happened to be attending the event, and for decades its refrain was worked into a number of protest chants.