Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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Outstanding Teachers Robert Nowack Robert Nowack believes teachers shiould contribute more outside of class thian in the actual classroom, Nowack, a civil engineering professor, teaches statics and dynamics. He was nomi- nated by the students and selected by the Student Alumni Council to receive the Alumni Master Teacher Award. Nowack received a $1,200 check from the Alumni Association in addition to a plaque. Nowack impressed the students out- side of class as a friend and as an ad- visor. He served as faculty advisor to Tiger Brotherhood for seven years. He is an active member of Blue Key National Honor Fraternity where he helps each year with Tigerama ticket sales. Nowack is an active member of the Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity. In the Civil En- gineering Department he is in charge of scheduling and assists with the Honors and Awards Day programs. One graduate student says of Now- ack, He is the best I have worked for, all t V W 1 - ' • ' the way from the first grade. He has an ability to sense intangible needs of people - social and emotional, as well as academic. His colleagues see him as an outstanding man and teacher. One faculty member says of Nowack: He is a very unusual guy, who is more concerned about the students than the majority of the faculty. Some sort of chemistry takes over when he works with students, and they just flock around him. Corinne Sawyer To be a good teacher you have to be a good actor. In front of a class you are always on stage and it is interesting everyday I feel that I am good for my students. If I didn ' t feel that way, I wouldn ' t be teaching. I think that you really have to like people to teach well. Dr. Sawyer ' s definition of teaching is quite apparent in her classes. Sawyer, the advisor to the Clemson Players, is one of the instructors of theatre in the English Department. Dr. Sawyer has not been only con- cerned with the duties of teaching. 294 Academics

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sciences because sciences as a rule are becoming more interdependent. Each science is fundamental to thie under- standing of the other. Clemsorn offers no specific pre-medical degree; however, the student interested in a career in medicine can receive proper guidance and synthesize a suitable program from the courses offered by the college. Academics 293

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Sawyer serves as the permanent chair- man of both Clemson ' s Honors and Awards Committee and the Honor ' s Council. Her job entails interviewing prospective students for scholarships and entrance into the honors program. Sawyer ' s responsibilities as the advisor to the Clemson Players also takes a con- siderable amount of time. She recently directed the production of the Mad Woman of Chaillot. The performance has been dubbed as the best of the year. The Players group was one of the best groups of kids I have ever worked with. One member of the group said, She ' s the best thing that ' s ever hit the Players. Sawyer is also deeply con- cerned about the future of the dramatic arts at Clemson. From most observation, she is certainly doing her part. Margit Sinka One of the more unusual additions to any department at Clemson has to be foreign language professor Dr. Margit Sinka. She teaches both German and Spanish. Her innovative methods have not only been well accepted by her stu- dents, but her colleagues have also labeled her as quite unique. Dr. Stew- ard, head of the Department of Foreign Languages and a professor of French, has been taking German from Sinka for two semesters. Sinka, who came to Clemson three years ago from Mars Hill College, studied for several years in Hungary, her native land as a child. I grew up in Ohio, claims Sinka with a slight accent. Dr. Sinka revolutionized the teaching of conversation courses, when she took over German 305 two years ago. The class was organized to take the students through life from birth to death at an old age. The semester began with students playing as children, entering school, dating, marriage, getting a job, raising a family, and finally death. I demand a lot from my students, says Sinka. Few if any of her former stu- dents will argue this point. Students per- formed an actual wedding in class, after having gone on actual dates with their prospective partners. When con- fronted with a class of more male stu- dents than female, Sinka provided the solution: We just had a homosexual couple that was all! Even though the class has continued for 4 subsequent semesters, Sinka has added new ap- proaches to keep it interesting. Alan Shaffer Everyone fails sometime. Look at me, I flunked out of school three times. Con- 5 : ' t ? iSfe sidering his achievements, it is rather hard to believe that he has failed any- thing three times. Dr. Alan Schaffer, head of the Clemson History depart- ment has brought many changes to Hardin Hall since his arrival two years ago. A native of New York, Dr. Schaffer was at the City University of New York, where he specialized in Black History. Unlike the traditional head of any de- partment, Schaffer has made an at- tempt to bring the history department to the students ' interest. His semesterly drop-in offers students a chance to meet the professors. The affair is quite informal and serves Schaffer ' s own favorite of doughnuts and apple cider. It appears that the department has increased in faculty and the number of students. Many new offerings have also ap- peared in the past several years, among them the ever-popular History 198 - Current Events. Dr. Schaffer has also gained fame in the field of writing. Among his literary efforts are a biography of Vito Marc An- tonio, a New York Congressman, whom Schaffer describes as the only true rad- ical to ever serve in the United States Congress. He feels, A department should be open at all times. Students are more im- portant than anything we might other- wise be concerned with, and if any stu- dent wishes to see me about anything, my door is always open. And may it be noted, the door of 105 Hardin Hall is, in- deed always open. Academics 295