William Gray wrote:

>Since I was the one who originally instigated Jennifer's remarks, it may seem odd that I come to her defense.
>
>
Peter, thus:

>Jennifer is just being sophomoric, a characteristic of
>many new graduands.
>
Dear Will,
    Your standing up for unwarranted personal attack doesn't seem odd;
you are engaged in civilized and thoughtful inquiry.

    As for Peter's words-- Jennifer not a new graduand, since a graduand
is one about to be graduated (when is one an old graduand?), while she
has held her doctorate for a while.  And though the sophomoric
characteristic of one about to receive, or (to stick with reality)
having received an advanced degree, may delight some who think it a
profound paradox, the sentence makes little sense to others.  But of
course, the grammatical error -- "is just being" should be referred to
by something like "a mode of being that is characteristic" -- should be
understood as a nod and wink that Peter is only fooling around.  You,
rascal you.

Best,
Marcia