Julien at A Very Remote Period Indeed (which I am so glad to see has been revived after a hiatus!) has just offered up a scathing and brilliant response to some clod from Fox News who obviously hasn’t the least idea what university professors do and thinks that the reason postsecondary education is so expensive is that university administrators aren’t whipping faculty to work hard enough. Julien’s writing from the perspective of a field archaeologist, but as someone who got one (yes, one) week of actual vacation this summer, I have to add my “Right on, brother!” Also, most of us don’t actually get *paid* for the work we do in the summer (but if we didn’t do it, we wouldn’t be able to do the research needed for tenure and promotions). And we also serve on any number of committees (I’m on three this year, and I’m considered ‘protected’ from a heavier load, as a junior faculty), advise and mentor grad students, read scholarly literature (shocking, I know!), write scholarly literature (doubly shocking!), apply for grants, respond to emails (constantly), actually prepare and write our lectures/seminars, grade student work, etc., etc, etc. So, although I’m sure no one reading this blog thinks this, if there is anyone who thinks that professors are only working when we’re standing in front of an undergraduate classroom, uhh, I hate to bring it up, but your ignorance is showing.
And with that said, it’s time for me (at 9:45 on a Monday evening) to go work on the index for my book.
Glossographia 
Hey Steve –
thanks much for the link and for the good post. Glad to be back, too!