Faculty in the Department were shocked Monday past to discover 95 theses on Independent Study posted to the doors of their offices. These statements on I.S., the role of the advisor, Honors, and orals were posted some time over the previous weekend.
The theses varied. No #27 declares: “THere is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the I.S. experience immediately on I.S. Monday–orals remain.” No #37: “Any true CoW student whatsoever, living or dead, participates in all the benefits of I.S. and the College of Wooster experience.” We couldn’t have said it better.
Faculty reactions varied. Greg Shaya explained that he thought a student rebellion was at hand. Madonna Hettinger recognized the allusion to Martin Luther immediately. “I got a kick out of it,” she said. “It was a nice way to end classes.” Hayden Schilling was more circumspect. “What will the business office say about the scotch tape?” he asked.
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses on the Power & Efficacy of Indulgences, posted (or so the story goes) to the doors of the Castle Church in Wittemburg, in the Holy Roman Empire, in 1517, set off a contentious debate over the power of Church authority and the sale of indulgences.