SCHOLAR: A BASTARDISED APPELLATION AMONG LASUITES

SCHOLAR: A BASTARDISED APPELLATION AMONG LASUITES

According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, the word 'scholar' implies to someone who knows a lot ( perhaps through critical observation and research) about a particular subject which may not necessarily be a science related. In the same vein, Merriam Webster Dictionary provides following words: Sage, academic, erudite, learned, pundit, intelligentsia, among as alternative synonymous items for the word. From the foregoing, it can be vividly discerned that a "Scholar" is an academic expert in a specific field of study.

But, contrary to these denotative usages and provision, the context and manner in which most students of Lagos State University use the word is very ridiculous, laughable and irrational. Literally, they often deploy it to either flatter, amuse or wind up a person below, equal or above their level. That is, when these students want to give a person insincere praise, crack the person with joke, or pull the leg of the person, they usually chant SCHOLAR on top of their voices on the person.

In LASU, you can be called a scholar in whatever situation and circumstances. First, for example, if you are too serious academically or be a prompt responder to academic activities, the appellation is inevitable for you. As a matter of fact, to them, you are the real scholar.

Moreover, to my knowledge, it is only in LASU that answering or asking question during lectures is considered scholarly trait. Doing that is at the detriment of fake scholarship and that could ultimately earn you honorary 'scholar' as a nickname or third name.

Sometimes, it could be funnily enough that when somebody cannot remember one's name, or does not even know one's name at all, 'scholar' always comes in handy in exchange of pleasantries. This is common among those male gender.

Furthermore, ironically, it is also rampant among fellow LASUITES to call one a SCHOLAR even when it is apparent that one cannot use the bottom of a bottle to draw a circle, or when one CGPA is in critical battle with good standing. They just call you such ridiculous scholar. This, specifically, is very frustrating!

This consistent absurdity is what most students like myself face on a daily basis when we dare try to carry out our primary assignment on Campus. By implication, many students pretend not to know anything among their mates and feign scholarliness in class by not asking, seeking more explanation regarding a conflicting topic from a lecturer. Just because they want to resist and avoid being called a bastardised scholar.

Nevertheless, this piece is not in contention to discredit LASU as citadel of learning and community of scholarship. Even, as a fact, many of our graduates and students are diligent researchers and prolific scholars in their various field of endeavours. Indeed, when it comes to academics, it is no doubt, Lagos State University is academics par excellence.

However, to wrap up, this treatise does advocate that the rampant bastardisation of the concerned word (SCHOLAR) should be minimised. This is not because many of us are not intelligent and brilliant; but because to maintain and utilise that intelligence and brilliance for scholarship without humiliation or intimidation.

Thanks for reading, dear scholars!

©Damilare Adeleye