By Milana Waller, arts and culture writer
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Business instructor Josiah Showalter has created a well-loved persona for himself known as “Judge on a Scooter”.
Showalter rides a maroon Honda scooter wrapped in the university’s logo around Virginia Tech’s campus. His chosen mode of transportation is not only effective, but instantly recognizable by many Tech students, especially those in the Pamplin College of Business.
In addition to his scooter, Showalter is known for his signature bowtie and oval glasses. Students often spot him at Gillie’s, where he has breakfast every Sunday with his wife, and Weight Club, where he exercises regularly.
Showalter has also gained a following online. His Instagram account, with more than 3,000 followers, features educational and campus related content. During finals week last semester, he interviewed his students and quizzed them on class material as a method for review.
As Judge on a Scooter, Showalter is best known by his business law students, though his charism and authenticity has spread across campus. He even has his own merchandise, with t-shirts with the catchphrase: “Can you feel the law?”
Showalter refers to his wife affectionately as “Pure Evil” and his two children as “Evil One” and “Evil Two”.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How long have you been teaching at Virginia Tech and what classes do you currently teach?
I’ve been teaching for 15 years and I teach Business Law. I’ve always taught business law.
When did you first purchase your scooter and what inspired it?
It was a gift to my family from a dear friend. They wrapped it.
How did your nickname as “Judge on a Scooter” emerge?
My son, Evil Two.
You’ve developed a very recognizable brand and persona. Was that intentional or did it occur more naturally?
All natural.
I’m sure you’ve been recognized across campus and in Blacksburg pretty often. What’s it like being such a familiar face?
And I’m not. I mean, every now and then people will say, “Oh!”. It’s primarily the scooter. It’s not me. My wife does. Pure evil, my wife.
Do you ever get recognized at Weight Club?
I would say maybe every now and then. But a lot of students, not because of the Instagram page but because of the students.
Can you recall any instances with any students that told you that your presence made an impact or a difference?
It’s really moved me the people that have said that I’ve impacted their life.
What positive impacts do you hope to bring to the student body?
Instagram. I was never gonna do it and toyed with the idea because all of you young people are on social media whether its Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat. Last year, the way that the spring semester spring break landed, it was right before an exam. My son suggested, “Why don’t you start an Instagram page?” So I mentioned it in class and one of my TA’s got four or five emails asking if I was going to do it for a review. It’s primarily for education. If you look at the ones during the week, they’re educational. They help to review the concepts we learned in class and my grades went up this past semester. I love that, so that’s good.
Do you think the reels encourage people to study harder?
It gave them an opportunity to review. I didn’t give them all the answers in terms of the questions, but it let them know where I was looking. That started in March. I started that.
Do you have a social media team that runs your Instagram?
My son, Evil Two, and my daughter, Evil One. They collaborated and my wife, Pure Evil, sometimes has a little part in it. But, my son just started law school. He’s not here so I have my adopted Evil Three and Four. They help me out and they are wonderful.
What overall impact do you hope that your scooter rides bring to the student body?
I hope that everybody realizes, and this is what I tell my class: the law impacts everything that you do. I mean, could you feel it when we went to Bollo’s, the law? I mean, seriously, could you feel the law? Because we did. I entered into an implied contract when I bought our coffee. Exceptions, consideration, legality, capacity. It was all there, you know? Think about it.
Are you trying to provide more real world context for students?
Absolutely.
If you could give one piece of advice to Virginia Tech students, what would it be?
I told my kids this every day and I tell my students this because Tech students are the best students. Do your best. Be happy.
Showalter enjoys a cup of Bollo’s house coffee.
> THE NEWS FEED < 