It might be a bit too early on a Monday morning to be irreverent, but when I was walking through the Quad this morning, I noticed a sorry-looking creature on one of the benches. She had disheveled hair and clothing, and a bag stuffed to the brim with paper.

I was surprised: the university staff are usually quite brisk about politely but firmly moving the homeless on. But then I thought, it’s graduation ceremony time and the Quad has been absolutely heaving with strangers, albeit much more smartly turned out ones.

It was only then I got close enough to realize that the person on the bench was actually a respected professor.

Time for that second cup of coffee, I think.