Prof Psychology 101
Simple tips for getting along better with your professors.
By Emile Andre
Showing up for class, paying attention,
taking notes, doing the work, passing
the tests—this should be enough for
a good grade. But good social skills are
sometimes as important as good study
skills in getting through a
tough class. Here's some
practical tips to help you
stand out.
First off, make sure the
professor knows your name
and something about you.
Putting a face with a name is
a big help, especially if your
grade is borderline.
Every professor has
office hours, and since they
have to be there, you might
as well take advantage of them. Dropping
by a professor’s office gives you a chance
to see what they’re like out of class, to
find out what else they might be interest
ed in, and most importantly, give you a
chance to stand out in their eyes. Make
up an excuse to visit: You can clarify
something on the syllabus, or discuss
the choice of a term paper topic.
And if you receive a low grade for
something, you certainly can discuss what
went wrong on a test or with an assign
ment. You can always visit a professor
before a big exam, to clarify what the
overall approach will be. It's also a great
chance to warn a professor if you need to
miss a class, or if you’ve missed one
unexpectedly and have work to make up.
ble with a professor, don’t overreact.
Always try to remedy conflicts with faculty
members first. If the problem remains
unresolved, seek advice from your aca
demic advisor, a student support services
staff member, or check your
student handbook for the
proper complaint protocol. •
For more practical tips on
dealing with professors, go
to steamtunnels.net
Relationship building is especially
important in your major and minor depart
ments—these are instructors you’ll likely
see over and over again before you gradu
ate. So get acquainted: ask for course
planning advice, or seek out special help
for career development or finding a
worthwhile summer internship or job. If
you already have a certain interest area in
your major or minor, let the professor
know—there might be a project that you
can get inside information on.
Some classes are tougher than oth
ers—these are the professors you should
be seeing regularly. Don’t be afraid to ask
for copies of previous exams—a profes
sor who doesn’t want to share exams will
just say no. And if you get into real trou
Make sure the
professor knows
your name. Putting
a face with a name
is a big help,
especially if your
grade is borderline.
What irritates
professors and
instructorsP
1. Sleeping in class
2. Brown nosing
3. Not going to class
4. Lack of responsibility
5. Not reading the syllabus
6. Excuses
7. Asking irrelevant questions
Source: barcharts.com/kcollege 1 .him
musicmusiomusicmusicmusicmusic
De la Soul
Art Official Intelligence:
Mosaic Thump
(Tommy Boy)
By Tony Green
Hip-hop career strategies often lean
toward the sure shot—namely, find
out what works, and keep at it. Part of
the problem is the genre’s quick trend
turnover, which impels a lot of artists to try
to make their loot while the making’s good.
But this “follow the latest trend” method
doesn't easily accommodate artistic
growth. De La Soul’s protean approach has
allowed them to age better than many of
their contemporaries.
The group’s fifth album, Art Official
Intelligence: Mosaic Thump, doesn’t sound
like the work of a group in its 13th year.
Rather, it sounds like the work of three ver
□C LC1 SOUL
balists who have mastered the art of seri
ous fun, are relaxed enough to abandon the
often theme-oriented approach of past
albums, and are confident enough to let
their muses follow their own whims. On
some tracks, like “My Writes” and “Oooh,”
they trade lines with a bevy of high-fiber
guest stars (Redman on the latter, Xzibit
and Tash on the former). (Chaka Khan,
Busta Rhymes and a couple of the Beastie
Boys also guest on different tracks.)
Crackpot skits like the recurring “Ghost
Weed” shtick show that the group’s oddball
edge didn’t depart with Prince Paul. And
while they’ve added some R&B sheen to
their boom-bap, their puzzlebox rhymes
and ironic lyrical twists (“All Good?” “The
Art of Getting Jumped”) remain intact,
showing that time, change and experience
can’t keep de la Soul’s best features from
shining through. •