Grad School in Pop Culture

Aside from PhD Comics, and bit parts (like two episodes of the Simpson (here and here) and references to the grad work of the depressed uncle played by Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine) how often does grad school make its way into the plot of popular (or even unpopular) culture? There are zillions of films about undergrads, of course--including Canada's highest grossing film ever, btw.

If you are starved to see your life as a grad student represented on the screen, you may wish to catch the latest episode of Being Erica which features Erica travelling back in time to grad school and a remembered confrontation with her supervisor. Yike!

A recent article on blueavocado.org about the lack of pop culture references to non profits (or at least the lack or realistic ones) got me thinking... where are the grad students in pop culture?
We certainly have an abundance of lawyer shows and doctor shows, and oh yes, detectives. Why not charities, or jobs like mine, working in a non profit--the GSS. Better yet, why not a show in a student union for grad students!

Queens, athletics and cut backs

Hat tip to Dan for this link, regarding another athletics facility partially funded by student levy, and in this case the deficit and budget cuts that followed when the rest of the funding wasn't secured...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/queens-principal-to-do-less-with-less/article1399045/

Ryerson students athletics increase

$126/year increase for student athletics fees at Ryerson was approved by student ballot. Fees are curently about $20.98 for graduates -- and a per credit fee up to max $30/term for undergrads--so students will now pay ... less than UVIC grad students pay for athletics per term (or the same as undergraduates now pay at UVIC) but get Maddison Square Gardens as their athletics facility...

Hmm.

The Canadian Federation of Students' AGM: A reformer's perspective | rabble.ca

The Canadian Federation of Students' AGM: A reformer's perspective | rabble.ca

Rabble has picked up the debate regarding the CFS. I am surprised how long it would take for the debates among student activists to become significant in the broader left.

This is one of the rare thoughtful articles--yes, on the left it has to be about ends and means.

I wasn't at the meeting, so my response is based on past experiences not the 2009 meeting.