Vegas stories: College (thing)

You may think that attending college in Las Vegas would be pretty much like attending college anywhere else. To that I would say "Au contraire, mon frere," pretty much because I like saying that as often as possible. Yet there were indeed moments when that part of my Higher Education spent in the Entertainment Capital of the World was touched in bizarre ways by the world outside. For instance:

• My literature professor, discussing The Odyssey, compared the sorceress Circe with "Melinda, First Lady of Magic."
• At least half of the problems in my mathematics class were drawn from the world of gambling.
• The school catalog contained a large number of courses with titles like "Brunch, With Coffees of the World".
• My public speaking professor's résumé included a stint as a master of ceremonies at a burlesque show.