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Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > November > 10 > Entry
In college for life
When I was in college, there was a guy in my fraternity who was in his sixth year that everyone referred to as Father Time. I think I just discovered Grandfather Time.
Sam Dillon wrote a hilarious story on the front page of today’s New York Times about a guy who’s been in college for 12 years!
Johnny Lechner goes to the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater where he has had four majors and amassed 242 credits — more than twice what is required to graduate. Last year, the state legislature passed a special law limiting state aid to students over 160 credits partly because of their embarassment that Lechner was collecting aid every year. They call it the Johnny Lechner rule.
So that should have put an end to it, right? Beyond the financial pinch, when the statehouse targets YOU with a special law, perhaps that’s the message you need to finally get your act together and move on with your life, right?
Think again. Instead, Lechner has become a celebrity.
He’s been on David Letterman and national morning news shows. National Lampoon magazine has offered to pick up his $9,000 tuition bill. And Monster Energy Drink is delivering cases of their stuff to his dorm room in return for his endorsement. He calls Monster the “official energy drink” of his 12th year in college.
They’re even talking about doing a reality show about his life.
Is Lechner an embarassment, as some at the school insist, or is it OK for him to remain a student because he just “loves to learn” as the Times story says some faculty supporters believe?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Colleges and Universities
Comments
By eva
November 11, 2005 10:43 PM | Link to this
howdy! great stuff my friend!By Patty
November 11, 2005 9:42 AM | Link to this
If he wants to stay in school that long, so be it, but NOT while getting aid from the state, come on, enough is enough!