The Bearded Dean Turns One Plus One

Contrary to popular prediction, the student newsletter The Bearded Dean has survived a full year as of October 10^th, 2002.  Enjoyed by students, faculty, and residents alike at the University Health Center, the web-based tract has featured nine editions since its debut in the fall of last year.  But despite this auspicious landmark event, most prefer to celebrate another landmark occasionóthe day immediately after the one year anniversary. 

ìItís pretty neat if you think about it,î explained M3 Luke Choi.  ìOne year ago today was the day after The Bearded Dean was first published.  Before that day, there had never been any other day after the first day of The Bearded Dean. It blows your mind to think about it that way.  Every once in a while, Iíll be interviewing a patient on the wards or holding a retractor in surgery, and my mind will start to wander.  I remember how things used to be.  That is, how they used to be before the The Bearded Dean was around.  I mean, I guess that the same everyday things happened then as they do now in my life, but there wasnít some unknown someone out there pointing out the funny moments.î

ìI used to never laugh,î remembers M4 Pritish Tosh.  ìI mean, Iíd crack a joke or two every once in a while, but Iíd always have this empty feeling that left me asking myself, ëWhat is funny, really?í  Thatís what the The Bearded Dean showed me. How to laugh.î

When The Bearded Dean first came out,î Dr. Hosokawa said, ìwe were more than a bit nervous in the OME.  We thought this might be the start of a student revolt.  Or worse yet, what if the students figured out that all we really do is make copies and phone calls all day?  But in hindsight, now that weíre at the one year and one day anniversary, I kind of chuckle every once in a while as I remember some of my favorite stories of the past year. 

Not everyone looks fondly upon the neophyte newsletter, however.  One student, M3 Tom Watson, had this to say:  ìThe Bearded Dan (sic)?  That thingís still around?  Jesus.  Canít everyone see itís just a couple of moron slackers that get together every month and put their lame-ass jokes into some poorly written articles? My infant childÖ whatís his nameÖ or her, whatever, could make a better looking website. And on top of all that, do we really need or care about their mass e-mail announcements? You think if I took a shit on an empty pizza box and emailed everyone to come look at it Iíd get any takers?  Hell no.î