Welcome to OU Magazine’s Letters section. Past stories on OU’s Distinguished Professors got one reader thinking about a professor who made a difference in her life and career. Another reader shares his thoughts on the article, Shortchanged, which discussed how height impacts teachers’ perceptions of elementary school boys. We’d like to hear from you, too.
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It was interesting to read about Professor of English Robert Eberwein in your Letters to the Editor page, who I still remember fondly. He was my first literature professor at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and Robert Donald, associate professor of English, who was one of the most important people in my life. Through several classes and student teaching with Professor Donald, he not only taught me how to teach but how to be. He allowed me to find in myself the confidence and self-esteem that no one else had. In my 12 years of teaching in the English department at EMU, I passed on to my students many of the ideas of Mr. Donald and did my best to use his teaching techniques and, more important, to display a mere fraction of the grace and dignity with which he taught. They say a teacher never knows where his influence ends, and I know that
Mr. Donald’s did not end with me!
Lisa Mills Walters, CAS ‘77
Ypsilanti, Mich.
I take exception to Liz Lent’s article, Shortchanged. I am a shorter male (5 foot, 6 inches). Not only am I shorter than average, but I also skipped the first and eighth grades in school (I became bored with the “average” classes). I was fortunate in that my parents and teachers in the Fairfax County school system recognized that I was being held back and allowed me to skip these two grades. In fact, by 12th grade, I was taking several college-level courses.
I participated in baseball, football and track. My track coach actively sought out the better students. He felt that good academic performers made for good track performers. I firmly believe that my stature has given me a strong will to succeed.
Bob Johnson, MSME ‘86
Troy, Mich.
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Next year Oakland University turns 50 and we’d like to ask you to be part of the celebration. If you have memories you’d like to share with your Oakland family, send us a letter or e-mail. We will be printing the letters we receive in next year’s commemorative OU Magazine issue.