May 8, 2005
GRAMMAR GOT NUTHIN' TO DO WITH IT:
Apostrophe Boosters in Mourning at University of Minnesota (AP, via Newmark's Door)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Apostrophe boosters were in mourning at the University of Minnesota after it was decided to name a fancy new walkway the Scholars Walk, not the Scholar's Walk."I'm terribly disappointed," said Larry Laukka, who leads the group developing the $4.5 million walkway....
For weeks, the issue has bedeviled those at the university ...
Laukka argued to board members of the nonprofit University Gateway Corp. that an apostrophe would add distinction by suggesting it is owned by those it honors. That argument didn't work. The board voted 4-1 against the punctuation mark.
The board worried that the apostrophe would make the four-block walkway appear exclusive at a time the university wants to be inclusive.
Never has Henry Kissinger's adage, "Academic politics is so vicious because the stakes are so small," seemed so apposite. Posted by Paul Jaminet at May 8, 2005 3:53 PM
The apostrophe will be added before the first night is over.
Posted by: jim hamlen at May 8, 2005 4:00 PMBefore or after the s?
Posted by: pj at May 8, 2005 4:05 PMTo paraphrase President Bush, I don't approve of vigilante apostrophizing. We should apostrophize in a systematic, rational way.
Posted by: pj at May 8, 2005 4:09 PMApostrophe' is one of Frank Zappa's best albums, done during one of those brief periods between weirdness phases when he showed he was actually capable of producing good music if he wanted to.
Posted by: Raoul Ortega at May 8, 2005 4:15 PMLeaving out the apostrophe means it's inclusive? How about, The Scholar's and The Other's Walkway or for more inclusion, The Scholars' and The Others' Walkway, or .... nevermind.
Posted by: erp at May 8, 2005 6:08 PMOf course, one must be sure that the rapists and muggers feel welcome.
Posted by: Lou Gots at May 8, 2005 6:53 PMOf course, one must be sure that the rapists and muggers feel welcome.
Posted by: Lou Gots at May 8, 2005 6:55 PMSCHOLARS' WAY be da most bestest gramer.
Posted by: X at May 8, 2005 11:07 PMAs X states, UM must have more than one scholar on campus.
Posted by: John J. Coupal at May 9, 2005 1:05 AMThey're spending $4.5 million on a four-block walkway? Is it plated in gold?
Posted by: AC at May 9, 2005 7:24 AMAC - They have to protect it against Gophers.
Posted by: pj at May 9, 2005 9:15 AMA clever dog know it's master.
Posted by: ratbert at May 9, 2005 11:08 AM