The retreat of Rudenstine has all the trappings of a literary tragedy. The noble leader, beset by troubles on all sides, takes his charge too close to heart and (nearly, in this case) hastens his own demise. What better way could Dartboard bemoan this doleful turn of events than to call on its dearly departed bard to contribute a soul-stirring bit of poesy:
Alas, our valiant Rudenstine
tried to draw a strong, firm line
against professors pension claims
growing fatter all the time,
but the faculty exclaims
"with our goodies, play no games!"
defending privilege dearly won,
though on "fairness" they declaim.
and say they study just for fun,
while the Press they crucially dun
for their ostrich-sized "nest eggs."
Meanwhile Rudy wants to run
far away, but finds his legs
grasped by those scholastic dregs
whom no gen'rous offer sales
"Try to understand," he begs
"Harvard's in financial straits.
Wealthy donors' whole estates
Can't pay for what you proofs demand."
The angry faculty berates
Rudy's parsimonious stand.
Their speeches in their length expand,
the clangor of the crudity
grows louder than the Harvard Band
The presidential head is light,
his lace a pale and sickly sight
he strains to keep his frame upright
and though he tries no more can fight.
The president must take a leave
to ease his managerial pain:
professors show remorse and grieve:
"Alas, we've slowed the campaign!"
With Rudy collapsed in the gutter
Harvard's ship-of-state goes without rudder
rent asunder by tensions
with professors whose pensions
are sucking dry Ma Harvard's udder.
The Clash once sang "Rudy Can't fail"
But our Rudy grew weak and pale
Wonder why he collapsed
And requires months of naps?
In a week ask your pal Carnesale!
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The Theology of Marine Biology