Volume XXIX, NO. 4
Methodist College, Fayetteville, N.C. 28311
February 26,1992
Musical Roman Comedy to Be
Performed at Methodist
by Eric Kimbel
The Methodist College Thea
tre Department will be presenting
the musical comedy A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to
the Forum Feb. 28 and 29 at 8
p.m., and on Mar. 1 at 3 p.m. in
Reeves Auditorium. The musical
was created by Burt Shevelove
and Larry Gelbart, with music and
lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
The Methodist College pro
duction is directed by Dr. Jack
Peyrouse. The production's Musi
cal direction is by Alan Porter,
and the choreography is by Pame
la Johnson.
The production will have a
component that is not often used
by Methodist College. A live or
chestra will be performing the
scores for the musical at all three
showings. Funding for the live or
chestra was made possible by the
"Grass Roots Fund" of the Arts
Council of Fayetteville and Cum-
See MUSICAL Page 6
r
r- '3
Cast of A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum.
Professors With Bad Reps: Teachers We Love To Avoid
by Ann Morris
It could happen to you; you're
filling out your pre-registration
form. You need one more class to
complete your core requirements.
Suddenly, you realize that the
only class available is taught by—
that professor! The toughest pro
fessor in the department! The one
that your roommates, your
friends, even people you don't
know have warned you about.
"He's a tough grader," they all
say, "Don't take his class, it'll ruin
your GPA!"
Who are these teachers, and
why do they have these reputa
tions? What puts a teacher on the
unofficial list of "Professors to
Avoid at All Costs"? Small Talk
interviewed dozens of students,
and there were several names that
came up time and time again.
First on the list seems to be
Dr. Walsh, a professor of Religion
and Philosophy. Several people
named him as the toughest teach
er at Methodist, and one student
said that he had heard someone
say that "if Jesus were alive today,
he couldn't get an 'A' in Dr.
Walsh's class." Dr. Walsh's essay
tests seem to give students prob
lems. "He gives out so much in
formation in class," said one stu
dent, "and he wants you to know
it all for the test." Others said
that, although they found his class
difficult, they thought it was
"stimulating" because it "makes
you think."
When asked what advice they
would give someone taking Dr.
Walsh for the first time, most sug
gested students take copious notes
and ask questions if they don't un
derstand something. One student
suggested jotting questions down
on paper, as Dr. Walsh does not
take questions until he is finished
with a thought.
Dr. Walsh said that he was not
particularly disturbed that people
considered him a tough teacher.
He also said that he thought this
attitude might cause some to think
that he is unconcerned about his
students. His class is tough, he
says, not because he doesn't care
about his students, but because he
feels that "you get out of some
thing what you put into it. I'm not
aware of anything worthwhile that
doesn't take time and effort."
Dr. Walsh said he realizes that
most people take religion courses
simply because they are a core re
quirement and that he knows that
some people would rather not take
them, but he said that he feels a
responsibility to "show students
what education is. I would hke to
make education easy, and if I
knew how, I would. I often tell
my students that I wish I could
stick a data disk inside them. Bet
ter still," he says, "I'd use a pro
gram disk, because that would tell
them how to use the information."
Dr. Walsh said that he thinks
the stories about him are funny,
because they are blown out of pro
portion. "Once you get a reputa
tion," he said, "it tends to grow."
He also said that a few years ago,
the soccer team had shirts printed
with "The Top Ten Lies at Metho
dist College," and the number one
lie was "I got an 'A' in Dr.
Walsh's class." Incidentally, Dr.
Walsh says that Jesus has never
taken his class, but "if he were in
my class, he'd have to work for his
See TEACHERS Page 2