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| Diamond in the rough: Appalachian’s faculty |
Bethel Barefoot
Associate Editor
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Appalachian State
University depresses me.
Let me just say first I love this school. This campus, despite the
mud of construction, makes me smile every time I step outside because
of the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
But I work for the newspaper, and naturally I’ve become cynical.
Along with the rest of my coworkers, I’ve gotten an in-depth
view of the workings of this university, and what I’ve seen
isn’t pretty.
Frankly, the word corrupt comes to mind when I think about our administration
and the governing body of the Board of Trustees.
Money is obviously the motivator at this university, as seen by
the approval of the athletics fee increase proposal.
Depressing.
Some of the students on this campus sadden me as well. We often
forget what a great opportunity it is to go to college.
Learning really is fun!
Students should not, like me, figure this out in their final semester
at Appalachian.
Ignorance among the student body is also disconcerting. Students
seem to have chosen a blissful ignorance, unaware of many issues
on this campus and in this nation that directly affect them.
Sometimes I question what the priorities of students are on this
campus: the little dramas of their daily lives or the bigger picture,
where real life is happening in a big way?
It’s easy to find fault in everything, especially at Appalachian.
But optimism is more fun.
Amongst my angst over the details of this university, I have discovered
one of the redeeming qualities of Appalachian: its faculty.
I love our faculty. They are one of the most incredible groups of
people I have encountered during college.
This is partly due to the fact our faculty has a lot on its plate
that it deals with remarkably well.
For one, they deal with students every day, and admittedly, that
has to be rough sometimes.
Appalachian’s small classes are a blessing, and professors
take advantage of this.
They know us personally, or at least remember our names or faces
and speak when we meet on campus.
The faculty is also willing to give help when it is needed, whether
it be during class or outside of class.
They respond graciously to requests for help, but it isn’t
unknown for a professor to offer help to a student who hasn’t
even asked for it.
This may seem like a no-brainer in a setting of higher learning,
but it isn’t uncommon to hear reports from students at other
universities who say their professors don’t give any extra
guidance beyond their lectures.
In fact, some have said they refuse to give extra help. Now that’s
depressing.
Budget cuts make the faculty’s job a little harder and more
time consuming.
Many have taken on extra classes or been made to forgo research,
travel or sabbaticals.
Yet they’re still here, doing what they can to keep the academic
integrity of this school intact and making sure that we graduate
with an actual education.
With the group of people assembled here, a good education is very
possible.
Our faculty members are talented. They have the skills to lead us
where we want to go.
The wealth of knowledge and experience they have to offer students
often goes unseen, which is a shame.
We as students need to tap into this wealth in a greater way; that’s
what we’re all here for, anyway.
This shower of praise for our faculty is not to say I have never
encountered a professor I didn’t like or whose class frustrated
me.
I have. (Disclaimer: None of the professors on this list are the
ones I am taking currently.)
There are aberrations in every trend.
Nevertheless, for the most part, the faculty is a group of people
that supports students and looks out for their best interests.
They deserve showers of praise much more often.
As students, we should support them as they do us. We should make
it a priority to reap the benefits of having some pretty smart professors
who actually want to see us succeed.
Keep this in mind as you trudge across campus in the snow and ice.
Going to class actually isn’t as depressing as we always
thought it was. |
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