NEVER MIND THE U.S. NEWS RANKINGS. The strength of the football program is what attracts enrollments. Really. (I don't have to make up this stuff.)

Today's students choose colleges based on how good its football team is, its reputation and how far it is from home, [Texas state representative Lois] Kolkhorst [R.-Brenham] said. But after the law goes into effect, detailed course information could also factor into the decision.

The detailed course information includes material that is often publicly available.

State universities will be required to post professors' syllabi, curriculum vitae, published works and salaries. Attendance costs and departmental budget reports also must be posted.

Many professors are already shameless self-promoters. (Stupid Blackboard doesn't recognize guest access right now, although I always allow guest access to my course outlines.) The Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors, much like the main organization, rarely misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

If professors are required to post detailed descriptions of class material online, those opposed to the discussion topics would be able to target specific classes and professors, the association said.

Such a claim does not impress University Diaries.

Professors should be fine with giving attackers better information, shouldn’t they? Shouldn’t that make the attack better informed, and therefore perhaps fairer? Putting this in terms of “our enemies” makes professors sound like Richard Nixon.

Not to mention that full disclosure of courses with a point of view might encourage self-selection by students, or that such information, as interpreted by the likes of Rep. Kolkhorst, might be comic relief.