PIONEER Times survey reveals seniors' most liked, disliked professors

By Lori Michael and Joelle Captua
Staff Writers

The saying, “The older the wiser,” holds true at William Paterson University. This year’s graduating seniors are not only leaving behind their legacy, but their secrets to surviving college. The Pioneer Times surveyed a random sample of graduating seniors on their experience at WPU. The soon-to-be graduates were asked to name the best and worst professors and courses they encountered during their years of study. Undergraduates may want to consider their answers when registering for classes next semester.

Christina Avila of West Islip, N.Y. enjoyed classes with English Department professors Dr. James Hauser and Dr. Barbara Suess.

“I found their classes to be extremely intellectually stimulating and enjoyable,” says Avila. “They are also great professors and people who really care about their students and show it. That’s what I look for and hope to accomplish when I become a teacher. It just really makes it a wonderful learning environment when you have that combination.”

Erin Bang, Wantage, names Dr. Christine Kelly, of the Political Science Department, as her favorite professor.

“We got to know each other well,” says Bang. “Plus, she helped me apply myself in order to excel.”

Monique Liles and Michael Ladolcetta enjoyed English Professor Timothy Liu for Creative Writing and Contemporary World Literature.

“I learned a lot in his class,” says Liles. “His test methods are great.”

Jessica Volin of Cliffside Park enjoyed her research methods class in Sociology.

“It was very challenging and broadened my thinking,” says Volin.

Andrew Shantz sums up his WPU professors, both the ones he enjoyed and the ones he disliked, as people with great knowledge. But the ones that stood out for him were able to engage more in conversation.

“My favorite professors all had good class engagement skills,” says Shantz. “My least favorite professors may have known the material well, but lacked to skill or inclination to make the effort to present it in an engaging way.”

Tom McGuire, math major, of Clifton, found Logic to be his favorite and least favorite course.

“Now I can think clearly after taking it [Logic], but now I also think too much,” says McGuire.

Bethanne Brown of Holmdel recommends that students take Shamans, Witches and Magic.

“I’ve learned so much in that class. From the real story of how vampires and werewolves were created to the crazy methods of a shaman. This is a class everyone should take because it was so much fun.”

Kelly O’Neil and Elena Rossi, music majors, both loved the course Record Company Operations.

The Professors who stand out the most and are the best ones to take, according to those surveyed, are Professor David Weisberg (Music), Timothy Liu (English), Suzanne Bowles (History), and Melkamu Zeleke (Math). Also noted were Dr. Neil Grant, who died unexpectedly recently. Several students alluded to Dr. Corri Wells as the one who influenced them the most. Wells will not be returning to WPU after failing to get tenured.

Environmental Foundations seems to be one of the courses students are encouraged to avoid, along with Racism and Sexism.

“This is not a very good course for a white male to take,” says Sea Girt resident Patrick Duff.

Brown agrees with Duff.

“I don’t think it [Racism and Sexism] would have been that bad if the professor wasn’t horrible,” decides Brown

The students’ survey agreed that a professor can make or break their class experience.
Michael Ladolcetta of Livingston names Justice and Racism as his worst course. However, he says “In general, I was happy with my classes. However, there were quite a few classes which were made horrible by bad professors.”

No professor was named more than once as students’ worst. But the reasons why the professors were not favorable are similar.

Students recommend avoiding one professor who teaches Environmental Foundations.

Avila claims “He totally did not care about his students and treated us like garbage. He was a horrible professor who did not know how to convey the material so we could understand it, and did not care if we could understand it. He did not even test us on information we went over in class. The entire class failed a few of his tests, so in order to compensate to make himself look good, he curved tremendously, not even thinking that it might be something that he did or that he would have to change.”

Duff agrees, saying “He assumes that students have enough free time to learn in a semester what he learned during his entire career.”

Whether a resident or commuter student, college is a time for students to grow and discover more about themselves. Katherine Scala describes her college experience in a Dickensian way.

“It was a mix,” says Scala. “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”

Brown reflects about her living experiences at WPU.

“I’ve met some of the greatest people living in Matelson,” recalls Brown. “Being able to use Pioneer Express off campus was definitely a bonus, but paying a dollar a page to fax things when you’re looking for jobs was way too high. I learned to never depend on the campus shuttle; however, the one to Valley Road was always on time.”

Vinny Romito of Cliffside Park, an Exercise and Movement Science major, remembers when his friend had crutches and fell down the stairs in the Towers.

“Vinny Distemano left a lasting impression on me,” says Romito. “I remember when he slipped down the stairs and his crutch broke.”

Liles reminisces about the quality of the food condition at Wayne Hall and the Commuter Cafeteria.

“The worst experience at WPU is the sanitary conditions at Wayne Hall and in the Community Cafeteria are bad,” says Liles. “You will find hair [in your food]. One of my friends found pieces of glass in her spaghetti. They [the employers] said that by accident the spaghetti jar broke. Instead of tossing the pot, they just kept tossing it. I had a petition to get student signatures and I took it to the Food Committee. I got a lot of signatures. They [the Food Committee] gave me back the petition and did not do anything.”

Duff talks about all the wonderful people he has met at WPU.

“The people you meet can make your experience here wonderful or horrible. The people I’ve met have made it wonderful,” tells Duff.

Sandy Neveras mentions how she feels about WPU.

“No one has made my experience unpleasant,” says Neveras. “Overall it has been interesting. The changes that the University has made over the last five years are mind- boggling, but I’m sure it was for the better. The growth of the Music Department and the lack of practice rooms and space just made everyone one big happy family. We all grew together and now it’s hard to leave and go our separate ways.”

Overall, the most memorable event on campus the graduating seniors enjoyed the most was Springfest.

Avila reflects about her beginning and ending stay at WPU.

“It’s ironic, but I cried coming here because of homesickness, and now I cry because I don’t want to leave,” she concludes.

May 8 , 2003 Issue