Now, from the defenders of string theory:

.....
I am fairly confident that if you were
presently given an exam covering even the most basic details
of the theory, you would receive an F.....
If you are a professor at Columbia U., then you must
have standards for your students if they are to pass
a course.  I would be willing to bet that if I gave
you a comprehensive exam on the topics covered in
volumes I and II of Green, Schwarz and Witten,---
right now---you would not pass.  I suggest that you
first meet the standards of competance that you expect
of your students before you offer an opinion....
(Graduate Student)

The other graduate student and undergraduate who responded engaged
with me and others in an exchange on the internet news group
"sci.physics.research". These can be found in the archive for that newsgroup.