There are many well-known fake doctors in history. Dr. Evil, Dr. Who and Dr. Mario have all become household names with just a minimal amount of work. Now, Ohio University is asking for your help picking its next honorary (and arbitrary) doctorate.
This privilege was announced with the importance it deserved, a midweek e-mail from President Roderick McDavis that we bet most students ignored. Those who did read the e-mail know the Honorary Degree Committee wants students to nominate individuals who have achieved distinction in scholarship
creative activities professional pursuits business
governmental
civic affairs
or particularly in service to Ohio University by March 1.
This description is very broad and open-ended, but we are confident the final picks will tout packed resumes and inspiring stories. We just have no idea why that means a doctorate should be piled on as a reward for their accomplishments.
Granting honorary degrees is an outdated concept. It diminishes the hard work of those who toiled away in academia for many years in pursuit of that doctorate. We think of it as a way for OU to piggyback on the stellar work of others.
Of course, sometimes this practice makes OU look awful. Perhaps our most infamous honorary recipient, John Light, received an honorary doctorate in 2007 for founding and serving as president of Nelsonville's Hocking College. The FBI investigated him for theft and fraud from the school and he retired last year.
Surprisingly, Light was certified as a doctor of laws. Although OU boasts a pre-law program, there is no laws degree. It's tough to give the committee the benefit of the doubt when it makes up awards to dish out.
If the committee really must grant a few of these doctorates in June, we hope its members honor the person we'd like to see recognized for his extensive work. Though his very brief enrollment here may be shrouded in mystery, we think Paul Newman's work in Cool Hand Luke alone deserves posthumous recognition from OU.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors.
4
Opinion
