Professors as professionals:
debating the pros and cons
■ University teachers express
different sentiments on the *
subject of possessing a
professional background
By Hank Hager
Oregon Daily Emerald
For physics Professor James
Schombert, working as a staff scien
tist at NASA was a time he will
never forget. But six years ago, he
made a career shift and came to the
University to teach.
“Even though NASA was fast
paced and exciting, I like being an
academic,” he said.
Schombert, who now teaches
astronomy, is just one of the many
professors and instructors on cam
pus who led professional lives be
fore becoming teachers. Although
there are no official records of
how many professors worked in
their field before coming to the
University, an abundance of pro
fessionals are now employed on
campus.
But many on campus say profes
sionals may not always be best suit
ed to work as professors, and a
more extensive academic back
ground may be better.
Raymond King, associate dean
for the Charles H. Lundquist Col
lege of Business, said a professional
background is important, but not
required.
A professional background “is an
additional factor, but not a primary
factor,” he said.
King said students may have a
tendency to like instructors who
have been professionals because
they include anecdotes about real
life work situations that better illus
trate the subject matter. But some
times, he said, professionals may
not always be the most qualified to
teach.
“I think students like war stories
because those stories connect with
what they’re learning,” he said.
“[But] students like that no matter
who provides it.”
Jami Barnes, an administrative
assistant to Tim Gleason, dean of
the journalism school, agreed
some professionals may not be
the best teachers. But there is no
one way to pinpoint who will be
the best to instruct students, she
said.
“If that person has had no teach
ing experience, the class may be in
timidating and the students won’t
{ { It s not an easy thing
to teach. [Professionals]
are not particularly in tune
with what students want
Gregory Retallack
professor,
geological sciences
give good feedback,” she said. “But
at the same time, those with no
teaching experience can be really
good.”
Barnes added that the school
doesn’t directly look to hire profes
sionals for open positions.
Professors on campus do not
necessarily agree as to what
background makes the best in
structor.
Gregory Retallack, a professor of
geological, sciences, said he has
never wanted to become a profes
sional.
“It doesn’t appeal to me to have
people tell me what to do,” he said.
Retallack, who has been at the
University since 1981, said he
doesn’t believe professionals make
the best professors.
“It’s not an easy thing to teach,”
he said. “[Professionals] are not
particularly in tune with what stu
dents want.”
Those who have worked in the
professional field say they prefer
the academic lifestyle because it
is more conducive to research
and can be more rewarding. But
they have had to make adjust
ments.
Schombert, who taught at the
University of Michigan for four
years before working at NASA, said
he misses the wealth of technology
he had at his disposal.
“The best thing at NASA is that
you had access to the coolest tech
nology,” he said. “You would have
resources at your command.”
But despite the lack of the newest
technology at the University,
Schombert said he finds teaching
rewarding because he is able to see
students learn while also being able
to do research.
Thomas Bivins, a journalism
professor, said the choice to be
come a professor was an easy one
for him. In the 1970s and ’80s,
Bivins worked for various public
relations companies, including
RCA electronics. He said he was
eager to leave the public relations
field.
“I just found the industry to be
unstable,” he said. “This is
something I’ve always wanted to
do.”
Bivins said his professional back
ground has helped him teach his
students in a more thorough man
ner. He said he had a hard adjust
ment to the University when he de
cided to teach, but he has adjusted
and now enjoys it more because he
has more freedom in what he does
each day.
“You have a lot more autonomy
as a college professor than you do
as a professional,” he said.
Pure comedy with superb acting
to grace Hu It Center on Saturday
■Tim Conway and Don Knotts
will visit Eugene this weekend,
and audiences should expect
a dynamic performance
By Dave Depper
Oregon Daily Emerald
Have you had your fill . of
raunchy, low-brow humor? Does
Chris Rock’s profanity-laden act
rub you the wrong way? Are you
sick to death of Tom Green and
“Jackass”?
Then you’re in luck, because
some pure, old-fashioned comedy
gold is coming to Eugene this week
end. On Saturday, Tim Conway and
Don Knotts will bring their sea
soned brand of old-time humor to
the Hult Center.
What? You haven’t heard of
heard of Tim Conway and Don
Knotts? Sit down, youngsters,
and let the Emerald tell you a
story.
Tim Conway is known to his
peers as “the comedian’s comedi
an,” and judging by his resume, this
statement isn’t too far off the mark.
Conway has had a long and suc
cessful career in comedy. He made
his mark way back when on the
“Steve Allen Show,” which led to
high-profile gigs on “McHale’s
Navy” (soon to be made into a
movie) and the “Carol Burnett
Show.” He’s also won five Emmy
awards.
Conway’s success hasn’t been
limited to television, however.
He’s been a featured performer in
Las Vegas, appeared in commer
cials for PepsiCo and Frito-Lay,
and he was even in that modern
classic, “Speed 2: Cruise Con
trol.”
However, today’s audiences may
be most familiar with a recent Con
way creation: Dorf. Dorf, of course,
is that short guy who goes golfing
and fishing on home video. Maybe
you thought Dorf was played by a
vertically challenged, middle-aged
man. Not so. Dorf = Conway. Con
way = Dorf.
Don Knotts is another performer
with a wealth of experience. Also a
veteran of the “Steve Allen Show,”
Knotts is probably best known for
his portrayal of Barney Fife on the
“The Andy Griffith Show.” Like
Conway, Knotts has five Emmys
under his belt.
Throughout the years, Knotts
has made several movie and tele
vision appearances, including
“It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad
World,” “Herbie Goes to Monte
Carlo,” “Pleasantville,” and “Mat
lock.”
And attention to all the ’80s tele
vision retro-chic fans: Knotts had
a recurring role on “Three’s Com
pany.”
Saturday’s event is being billed
as “Tim Conway and Don Knotts:
Looking Back.” It’s an apt title for
two performers with such
lengthy careers. Their act will
feature many old skits that the
two have performed throughout
the years on their television
shows, although the show will be
geared toward Conway’s rou
tines. After all, Conway is more
of a pure comedian, and Knotts is
a rather a comic actor. Knotts is
the straight man to Conway’s
goofball, and the two have a dy
namic comic chemistry when put
together.
Master vocal impressionist
Lousie DuArt will be opening up
the show with a routine that in
volves impersonating everyone
from Barbara Streisand to Pop
eye to Cher. Apparently, she does
an amazing George Burns as
well.
Pay your respects to some com
ic legends and go see Tim Con
way and Don Knotts Saturday
at the Hult Center. Tickets
are $39.50 and $49.50, and
available at the Hult Center Box
Office or by phone at 682-5000.
You can also get them online at
www.hultcenter.org.
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