In a recent event that took place this past Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Boston College, Professor Christopher B. Polt of the Classical Studies Department invited four furries to his class to engage with the students. A furry is someone who, “identifies with and enjoys dressing as an animal especially as a member of a subculture devoted to the practice” (Merriam-Webster).
Professor Polt, who is a tenured member of the Boston College faculty, teaches a class on “Beast Literature” (CLAS4280) which seeks to understand what “literature featuring articulate animals say[s] about our attitudes towards humans, animals, and the lines we draw between them.”
As an assignment before the class, the students were required as homework to draw “fursonas” of themselves (drawings of what they imagined they would look like as an animal/furry).
Professor Polt is a self-identifying queer man and furry who on his personal Twitter account (@CBPolt) describes himself as “[w]orking to preserve & share furry culture.” Polt posted photos of these individuals in their anthropomorphic animal costumes which were taken during his class on February 23 with the caption, “this is the most amazing class I’ve ever had.” He also posted on his Twitter account a photo of two cakes that he brought for the students of his class which read, “sorry for making you furries,” in reference to the “fursonas” that the students were asked to draw.
One unidentified student on Herrd, BC’s anonymous posting app, wrote, “Why is BC funding a furry?” to which another student replied, “If ur talking about the prof it’s cause he’s pretty cool and his class is really fun”. On Twitter, one student posted, “I walk into class and this:” showing a photo taken in class of the four furries.
Born and Raised to Jewish parents in New York City, Kai Breskin is a recent convert to the Catholic Faith. A member of the Boston College class of 2026, he is studying Political Science, Philosophy, and History. His intellectual passions include Christian theology, history, and liturgical study. His hobbies include sailing, playing the piano, and singing, with a specific focus in Gregorian Chant.
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