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Although the media routinely describe Obama as having been a college "professor," he was no such thing; he wasn't much more than a glorified teaching assistant. He was not a full professor, nor an associate professor, nor an assistant professor - he was a lecturer, and usually only a part-time lecturer.

The story also says that "professors" usually teach the core courses, but that's not my experience. The core courses (lower level, mandatory courses) are usually taught by T.A.'s, lecturers, and assistant professors. The full professors and associate professors concentrate on research and upper-level courses.

Now, if it were Sarah Palin claiming to have been a professor, and if she had the same background as Obama, the press would have torn her to shreds.

U of C wrote “he served as a professor”. Not “served as a TA”, not “served as a lecturer”. Its like a man in a common law marriage case coming before the property dispute court and claiming “yeah, she served as my wife”.

To which the the judge would gavel down and intone “Married. Fifty-fifty. Next case!”.

The story also says that "professors" usually teach the core courses, but that's not my experience. The core courses (lower level, mandatory courses) are usually taught by T.A.'s, lecturers, and assistant professors. The full professors and associate professors concentrate on research and upper-level courses.

In many places this is true, but not so much at the University of Chicago. It is distinctive in this matter:

The University of Chicago* is one of the premier academic institutions in the world. Don’t be surprised to see your professors quoted in the newspaper, cited in your textbooks (if they haven’t authored them outright), or on the shelf at Borders or Barnes & Noble. At the same time, professors are required to teach undergraduates and often take outstanding students under their wing. In their fourth year, most students are required to write a “BA Paper” in the area of their concentration under the guidance of a faculty member. Classes at Chicago are rigorous. Class time is limited, but there are extensive problem sets or reading assignments outside of class. Some classes have midterms as early as the third week, which leaves little time for procrastination. There are tutors available from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Harper Library in all Core subjects, as well as writing tutors who will review and edit papers.

* Faculty with terminal degree: 100%. Student-Faculty ratio: 6:1.