This phrase was used by one of the my students this past fall semester to describe me. And while it doesn’t seem to be a widely shared opinion, it does seem to have some appeal.

I was walking on campus, yesterday, and happened across one of my current students. She was waiting for a meeting with her group members from my class and I, as is my wont, stopped to chat. “Waiting for your group?” “How’s the project going?” that sort of thing.

But though we had happened upon each other in a public space, and I was asking about things specific to the class that I teach, she was ready to bolt. I could see it. And later, when she and her groupmates were talking to me for a few minutes, she admitted it.

Now, like I’ve said, I know that this is not a widespread opinion. Another group from that class came to the optional meetings yesterday solely to inform me that I’m, and I quote, “a weasel.” And that was not meant in anything but fun — okay, it’s a longer story, but they came to a class session they didn’t have to, only and specifically to make fun of me. Not something you do if you think the prof is “creepy.”

I wonder, at times, if students just aren’t prepared for professors who think of them as people; who are willing to recognize them “out of context” — outside the classroom. I’ve run into my students in the grocery store, and said, “Hi.” When I pass them on campus I wave. I’ll talk to them about class stuff if I meet them on campus, and about non-class stuff if they bring it up. They’re people, I’m people.

Or maybe I’m “kinda creepy.”