Will raised his hand. "Professor?" If this was to be an etiquette lesson, he would run with that. "Is that always true? I'm not contradicting you, of course, I'm just confused. In an academic setting often the professor or lecturer is at the podium or lectern and is standing, but the students are expected to take a seat... So that was my instinct. How do you know when it's appropriate to be seated and when you should stand until the highest ranking person sits?"