It takes two to tango
By: Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 4/20/07 at 4:55 AM EST
Last update: 4/20/07 at 4:54 AM EST
Originally published: 4/20/07 at 4:55 AM EST
Last update: 4/20/07 at 4:54 AM EST
Think about when students need letters of recommendation from professors. It's often a difficult and arduous process. When all you've had is lectures filled with 50 to 400 students, or labs with TAs, building relationships isn't easy. You can't gloss over something that isn't there; it's shallow and insincere. We simply need more professors for smaller class sizes, making closer interaction a reality. Hiring committees and department heads should regularly probe professors' interest in reaching out to students, and follow up.
But there's only so much the Administration can do. Even if we closed the faculty-dining lounge (so they have no choice but to eat with us), mandated weekly visits, or forced professors to live closer to campus, you can't impose friendship.
We're not sociologists, but students and professors must recognize that we can't survive in a culture of disconnected individuals, at least not for long. We need to be a community. Yes, it means sharing more of what's going on in our lives and caring more about what goes on in others', but the reward outweighs the risk.
Students must also make a concerted effort to invest time with professors outside of class. Some students do, and it's no surprise that these are the more successful students, but more need to step up to the plate.
At other schools, we hear about professors who invite students over to their house for dinner. Or, we hear about students who meet professors for a cup of coffee to discuss a common interest. We've even heard of a case where a student housesat a professor's dog for a whole week while the professor went on vacation. We don't hear about that at Drexel enough.
We shouldn't wait for a tragedy to bring students and professors together. The more students and professors embrace each other as partners in education, the more fulfilling a Drexel education will become.
Students, remember: It takes two to tango, and you can start today.
But there's only so much the Administration can do. Even if we closed the faculty-dining lounge (so they have no choice but to eat with us), mandated weekly visits, or forced professors to live closer to campus, you can't impose friendship.
We're not sociologists, but students and professors must recognize that we can't survive in a culture of disconnected individuals, at least not for long. We need to be a community. Yes, it means sharing more of what's going on in our lives and caring more about what goes on in others', but the reward outweighs the risk.
Students must also make a concerted effort to invest time with professors outside of class. Some students do, and it's no surprise that these are the more successful students, but more need to step up to the plate.
At other schools, we hear about professors who invite students over to their house for dinner. Or, we hear about students who meet professors for a cup of coffee to discuss a common interest. We've even heard of a case where a student housesat a professor's dog for a whole week while the professor went on vacation. We don't hear about that at Drexel enough.
We shouldn't wait for a tragedy to bring students and professors together. The more students and professors embrace each other as partners in education, the more fulfilling a Drexel education will become.
Students, remember: It takes two to tango, and you can start today.
Dr. Munns
posted 4/23/07 @ 12:41 PM EST
An insightful commentary. College is all about creating community, not only between the students themselves, but between all members of the university. (Continued…)