The Michigan Daily - New Student Edition - September 8, 1998 - 5C ormer Golden Apple winners enrich lecture halls, students education By Erin Hohuos Daily Staff Reporter Stories of laughter and intrigue dominate the mem- ries and experiences of some of the Universities' most prominent professors. "For me, this is a place of intellectual splendor that has as its first characteristic freedom," said Ralph Williams, an English and religion professor who won the Golden Apple award for excellence in teaching in 1992. "That freedom is the intellectual freedom to explore, analyze and evaluate materials." Williams said his "head over heels" love for and inter- est in the subjects he teaches him gives him the will to provide a classroom that many undergraduates cherish. * "There are three courses I teach that are for me a recurring source of wonder ... each dealing with materials that take us to the depths and heights j 4 of life," Williams said, citing his Bible and Shakespeare classes asr two of his favorites. He added- that the materials he deals with are "works of splendor that aim at producing deep student interest." LSA senior Ryan Rampersaud iid that Williams' efforts are more than appreciated. Fine "I took more than one class with Professor Williams, because one was simply not enough," Rampersaud said. "Not only is he one of the University's most knowledgeable professors, but he is also the institution's biggest entertainer." Rampersaud said Williams' lectures and compelling instruction "embrace students" and "embody what it means to be an outstanding professor." "Sitting in a Williams lecture can quickly change 'om a seat at the Globe Theater to a chair at an Opera ouse," Rampersaud said. 'Although many students think Williams - with his "rubrics" examining the day's lecture topics --- is the source of their positive learning experience, Williams attributes the success to those in his classroom. "The students who come to U of M give us the great gift of their presence and their time," Williams said. "We have a brief time when we can discuss issues that are important .:. who wouldn't be excited about that?" Williams said it is necessary to keep a fresh outlook ,br change when teaching at a University that encour- ages diversity and uniqueness. To do this, he said, "one needs to be thinking con- siantly about new possibilities and stay open." For those willing to keep up with heavy reading assignments and stimulating lectures, Williams is teaching three courses this fall, including a new course 'on the "Holy Woman and the Holy Man." le said that adding new or unique classes isn't the only solution to teaching effectively. "Even for a course I give every year, I set aside everything and start fresh," Williams said. This idea of taking student interests into account is not limited to those at the head of the classroom. Residential College junior Aaron Daniel said cater- ing to current students in order to make the classroom interesting to those who are there during a given semester is truly the sign of a good professor. "The ability to reach out to the students who are there, and to relate on a personal level is so impor- tant," Daniel said. Daniel, who had professor Brian Coppola for a chemistry course, said Coppola was deserving of a Golden Apple (which he won in 1994) because he was always there for his students. "Coppola really spoiled me in chemistry," Daniel said. "He was such a great teacher. I grew to expect that afterwards." Coppola, who is taking a leave from teaching this fall, said that he loves to work with students because of the "number of unique opportunities at the University of Michigan." "Resources are plentiful, accessible and up-to- date," Coppola said. "The student body itself is filled with interesting and thoughtful individual who pro- vide good counterexamples to the crisis of anti-intel- lectualism that appear in higher education." ('oppola said he enjoys teaching because "the responsibilities associated with overseeing the intel- lectual development of students is unequaled," and science, the focus of his teachings, "gives .. unique insight in the workings of the universe." ('oppola, who said his favorite course is Ionors (Chemistry 215 (Structure and Reactivity), said stu- dents often ask him how teaching "the same old thin,, year atter year" can be interesting. His answer, he said, is always, "Easy I never do it the same way twice. "There is always something new I learn about how students learn that makes me improved the next time through," Coppola said. "The key is always to improve." Coppola, who works closely with juniors and seniors, said the question of what keeps students inter- ested in tough classes is better answered by students and not instructors. "I hope that I get people's attention, and then get them thinking" Coppola said. Daniel said Coppola does just that "He has an excellent and interestin- structure to his class," Daniel said. "It's always easy to get help from him." This student-professor relationship is also impor- tant to history professor Sidney Fine, the )Q93 Golden Apple winner. "Even though I have large classes, I expect to see each of the students in my office at some point," Fine said. Fine, who will be teaching History 466 and 467 this fall, said he schedules 5-6 office hours a week and enjoys meeting with his students. "I could have retired and gone on to research, Fine said. "But I love the classroom and the students.' This love reached so far that the state of Michigan passed the Sidney Fine Law - - a rule demolishing the mandatory retirement age of 70 - when Fine sur- passed that age in 1992. "I've always found the students so terribly interest- ing and fun to be with," Fine said, adding that his enjoyment of what he is doing helps him to keep on top of the courses he teaches. "It is critically important to keep up with new liter- ature, and that dictates changes in my courses," Fine said. Fine said it is hard to know what others think of him, but he always takes what he does "extremely seriously" in order to accommodate the needs of his students. This love for students and crav- ing for teaching that appears to dominate the academic atmos- phere of the University were not only derived from the classroom setting. Tom Collier, a former history Collier professor who won the Golden Apple in 1995, said he expanded on the techniques he learned as an army instructor in order to create a fun atmosphere in his courses. In the army, I found I enjoyed teaching,' Collier said. "At the University, I was able to teach courses that truly interested me." Collier said exotic techniques or profound develop- ments is not necessarily the key to success as a pro- fessor. "I don't really do anything so different" from other professors, Collier said. "I use movies, slides and. maps ... but so does everybody else." Instead, he attributed his enjoyable career to the quality ol students at the University. "Students here are at such a level that it's a pleasure to teach them, "Collier said, adding that he has also taught in other places. "Given the opportunity to explore an opinion, they do it. This inspires the pro- fessor" Collier said- he will remember his teaching experience fondly not only because of what he taught but because of the great times in the class- room. "I enjoyed it and we had fun," Collier said. "I did- n't know how to ham it up, so I didn't. Sometimes my tie was on wrong, sometimes my fly was unzipped. "But there is already so much laughter in the field of history. When we laughed, we laughed together." STEVE GERTZ/Daily The CCRB, located in the Hill area next to Stockwell residence hall, provides an opportunity for University students to exercise with a wide array of equipment. Gyms helps students stay healthy, inshnae By Susan T. Port Daily Staff Reporter First-year students don't have to be scared. The "freshman 15" may not be an ugly rumor, but students can combat the weight gain by hitting the University recreational centers and exercising. The three centers are Central Campus Recreation Building, Intramural Sports Building and North Campus Recreational Building. Lisa Shea, associate director of facili- ties scheduling and marketing, said stu- dents are allowed into the gyms by utiliz- ing their M-Card Shea said the tuition covers the cost of using the centers. Shea said -the recreational centers offer students many facilities. "Our exercise equipment is pretty top-notch," Shea said. Basketball, volleyball, badminton and swimming are popular activities for students to participate in, Shea said. She added that the recreational centers are open to faculty, staff and students. LSA senior John Frank said he likes to play basketball at the CCRIB with his friends. "I always see someone I know at the gym," Frank said. "We can check out the runners on the track above." But Frank said he likes to run on the track on Palmer Field during the sum- mer because of the weather. "In Michigan you have to take advantage of the sun while you can," Frank said, Shea said during the fall and winter semesters the recreational centers are in "full swing" and are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.. In the summer the gym hours are cut down since there are fewer students on campus. Shea said due to location the C( RB is the most popular for students to fre- quent. "The ( ('RB is the busiest of all the buildings," Shea said. LSA sophomore Holly Smith said she never visited the IM building before she joined an intramural sport. "I lived in Stockwell during my freshman year so I never went any- where but CCRB," Smith said. Smith said she met her boyfriend when she was lifting weights. "I did not know how to use the equip- ment so my (future) boyfriend helped me," Smith said. "Everyone is really nice and willing to show you how to use the machines at the gym." Smith added that first-year students should get into the habit of going to the gym frequently. A guide to Ann Arbor's 'Religious Coiniuni ' l -4- We Invite You 'o LUTHERAN CHURCH EL.C.A The Friendly Place at 1501 W. Liberty, Ann Arbor We offer a variety of worship experiences *Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. iWednesday "Alive" Contemporary 7:00 p.m. Education for all ages *Sunday at 9:45 a.m. *Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. PASTORS A. Dale Truscott David F. Bracklein for more information call (734) 9944455 e-mail at zlchurch@earthlink.net 4' Find Some Friends At PACKARD ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH 2580 Packard Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48!04-6883 College Bible Study - 9:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship - 10:15 a.m. Full Schedule of Student Activities For Transportation Call 971-0773 We're a Bunch of Friendly Folks Who Love College Students The Ann Arbor Seventh-Day Adventist Church Welcomes Students! *Spanish Church Services *Romanian Church Services *Collegiate Classes -Nursery & Kindergarten -Grades 1-7 Elementary -Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. -Church Service 11:00 a.m. -Wednesday Night Service 7:00 p.m. -Collegiate Vespers Friday Nights call 572-1682 THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU! St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Anglican Communion 306 N. lvision Ann Arbor, M 48104 (2 blocks north and 1 block west of intersection of Huron & State) Sunday Eucharists 8 & 10 am Adult Education 9 am Call 663-0518 for weekday service times, to get on the mailing list, or if you have questions. email: standrew@mich.com website: www.mich.com/~standrew Pastor Dan Hall Ann Arbor Seventh-Day Adventist Church 2796 Packard Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (734) 971-5919 I Services New Grace The Churchfor the Community OStolic CWL of the P.A. of W. District Elder Avery Dumas, Jr., Pastor 632 N. Fourth Avenue Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 (734) 761-1530 Transportation (734) 572-1342 Sunday Sunday School Morning Worship Evangelistic Services Tuesday Wednesday Adult Choir Rehearsal Bible Class 9:45 AM 11:45 AM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:30 PM tirst T ngregytitrnat Thumb 608 E. WILLIAM Corner of State & William 662-1679 REV. ROBERT K. LIVINGSTON Senior Minister . ALL Huron Hills Baptist Church Pastoral Team: Dr. Don Gerig and Rev. Brian Vander Ark, Minister of Christian Education and Youth September to May Worship and Education classes 9:30 and 11:00 am Active Children and Youth Programs June to August Worship 9:30 am Education classes 11:00 am Thursday Prayer and Tarrying Friday Sunday School Teachers Meeting Youth Choir Bible Class or Evangelistic Services Worship Service and Church School Communion in Douglas Chapel 10:30am 10:00am 3150 Glazier Way ' Ann Arbor Between Huron Parkway and Green Road "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?"-Acts 19:2 Phone 769-6299 I I 'i i I I TEMUPT .F RT1THFIUITH INa