Clemson University - Taps Yearbook (Clemson, SC)

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Students Honor Dr. Horace Fleming, Jr. If you don ' t like students . . . then you shouldn ' t be in teaching. On March 12, 1979 — a day he ' ll al- ways remember — Dr. Horace Flem- ing, Jr., a professor of Political Science, was informed that he was the recipient of one of the highest honors at Clemson University: The Alumni Master Teacher Award. Fleming was so elated that he could hardly contain himself until the presentation of the award at the 1979 May Commencement. Said Fleming, The first thing you want to do is tell someone about it! It delights Fleming that the award is one that is determined by the students. He thinks that, as a teacher, he tries to be the very best he can be, and that he really works his students hard. 1 work them hard for their own benefit, and then if they feel I ' ve done my job, then that ' s the most gratifying thing anyone can ex- perience. Fleming said that more gratifying than the award is the feeling he gets when a student comes back to him after he graduates to tell him that he ' s played a part in the student ' s suc- cess. He stated that there is nothing more exciting than to see students come into Clemson and suddenly realize that they can be anything they want to be. There ' sgot to be no more satisfying work, than the work 1 feel I do. Fleming considers it important to take a little time with his students. As an undergraduate at the University of Georgia, Fleming said two or three people took an interest in him, and it had a great effect on his life. His ap- proach to teaching is to challenge the student, to draw him out, to get him to think about the things he ' s always ac- cepted, to learn about the things he ' s never known, to get him to question whatever he feels needs to be ques- tioned, and to try to get the student to achieve a little more than what he feels he can achieve. Fleming enjoys being in contact with students. If you don ' t like students, if you don ' t like working with them, il you don ' t like trying to motivate them or lighting fires behind them to get them to achieve, then you shouldn ' t be in triii lung. Fleming received his BA degree and his MA degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia, and he re- ceived his PhD in Political Science from Vanderbilt University. Fleming ' s inter- ests include music and golf. He was a music minor at the University of Geor- gia, and can play several instruments. His love for music ranges from rock to opera. Fleming teaches undergraduate courses in General Public Administra- tion, Government Organization Theory, American Constitutional Law, Judicial Process and Jurisprudence, Administration of Justice, Introduction to American Government, and Ad- ministrative Law. His favorite course is the introductory course of Amer- tlcmin ' s favorite course - Introduction to American Government -gives him a chance to reach a broad array of students. ican Government. This course gives him the opportunity to teach a broad array of students, not just Politi- cal Science majors. Although there exists no graduate school in Political Science here at Clem- son University, Fleming feels that the undergraduate program is very strong and productive. He said that they have been very successful in placing their students in graduate schools, in public sector jobs, and in private businesses. He also said that he is very proud of their program and is committed to its high quality construction. 28 Academics

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Clemson. Selter sees developing the co-op program as a matter of education of people as to the purpose and benefits of cooperative education. This educa- tion can start as early as high school by informing both students and parents of the value of co-op. Assuming that, for most, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, co-op promises to be worthwhile for its par- ticipants. In a nation with sagging economy and increasing unemploy- ment, cooperative education offers stu- dents the opportunity to increase their marketability through career- related work experience. w Ann Bechtler co-ops in the management section of Owens Corning Fiberglass in Anderson, S.C. She is a Computer Science major at Clemson. Currently involved in an orientation program coor- dinating chemical data, Lonnie Jones, a Chemical En- gineering major, ivorks at the quality control division at Owens Corning. Academics 27

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Fleming feels that his association with the students helps keep him think- ing and feeling young. Some of the societies he is associated with at Clem- son are: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tiger Brotherhood, Blue Key, Student Alumni Council, and the Clemson Uni- versity Alumni Association. Dr. Fleming sees Clemson as a high quality institution, and he feels that the faculty here is the best he ' s ever seen in an institution. Said Fleming, I don ' t think we have to take a back seat to any- one in terms of quality. And although he is very proud to have been chosen for the Master Teacher award, he feels that there are hundreds of master teach- ers here at Clemson University. He says that he never thought he was that good. But, beaming with pride at the plaque on his office wall, Fleming seems especially happy that his [)= students thought so! w Fleming ' s exceptional rapport with his students was a major factor in his being chosen Alumni Master Teacher. Fleming minored in music as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia. He plays piano and trumpet as well as guitar. Academics 29