Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Becker wins m * teaching award Bv Mark Platte Assistant N?w? Editor Peter Becker sat at his desk in room 138 of Gambrell Hail, the day after having been named the university's AMOCO Foundation Outstanding Teacher. He was grading final exams for his History 102 class, a group of students he considers to be a part of the "TV generation." Some students have difficulty reading books or understanding material that is not presented to them via television, according to Becker. "At the same time, there are students who don't get adequate preparation in the high schools and even when they're here, they don't get adequate preparation," Becker said. "There's one girl in my 102 class who came to me before the second exam, an essay exam, and asked how she should write an essay. She is a graduating senior so in her entire four years she's been here, she's ?? ; ? on Accavr It cavc cnmothin0 nhnuf thp sohool and UCVC1 uau lu vv l I vt an vooaj , iv umj o uv?iavv*.m..0 something about her major; I won't tell you what it is." "LEARNING IS HARD, and it is not always fun. In most cases it is not fun, and this is something we have to make the students understand," Becker said. "Unfortunately in elementary and high school, there is a great deal of emphasis on making learning fun. Wfll, it's hard work and if the student understands this, he is in the right frame of mind to start college. "I find that the better USC students are quite good and could easily * % a % a i ai? ? r* l ^ compare to ouier gooa scuaenis arouna uie country, necnu expiams. "But the bad ones are very, very bad, and there are a great number of students who I find to be interested, except my 102 students who are taking the course because it is required." It is evident by the grades on the 102 exams that Becker or the students are suffering from a lack of communication, he said, adding he will have tn curve the Grades "I think that any failures in my classes would have to be attributed primarily to the students themselves," Becker said. "I make quite clear at the beginning of the semester what my expectations are in the way of reading material, and so they know if they want to do they have tc read the books I assign." A USC professor since 1966, the German-born Becker has been nominated for the AMOCO award each of the past six years. Becker lived in various parts of Germany as a youth, dwelling in Potsdam at the end of World War II under Russian control and moving westward one-half year later. Becker left Germany at the age of 22 and 1 * ? "* i. XT nt fVin ITnitiaiviKf n# PKi/iQrtA muveu lu nutarsici, in. x . ocv^i cmuucu ai mc uiuv^i onj ui vmvugu after serving two years in the U.S. Army. Becker transferred to North Texas State where he graduated. He received a master of arts degree from Stanford Univesity in 1961 and taught there until 1964. After returning to Germany for one year, he taught at San Jose State University until coming to USC. "The AHA, the American Historical Association, had its annual meeting in San Francisco, only 50 miles from where I was teaching at I FRRNK ? ? i "the only licet FERTURII IC ^ ^ IV. Largnt Stlvi 25 m 2 gimta I ? Z l?. ? - ? ^vvy7.'>'vr- 1 wm HMBM flPEB i ?mBM I lilfl^Wll? <P8H^BBkP&3 ; ^ k . v. c-';.' . . .' B9 I iiife. mill JSJj' - ,:Wm 'tA/^^li .^.0 rrfan' cnwc #Me fhfc VVUIVII f VWI ? ? - ---- hired to guard the wet cement nearthe McBryde quadrangle. San Jose State," Becker said. "So, I went to it and was interviewed by the former head of this department, Dr. Oaks, and he showed an interest in me, and I showed an interest in this position. It was a chance to i teach in my specialty - German history." THE TEACHING style Becker brought to USC was patterned on that oi siamora university's uoraan uraig, oecner s major pruiessur uuu supervisor, he said. "His (Craig's) lectures were a model of what lectures ought to be like," Becker said. "He would always come in well prepared and know ovoptlv what ho mac cfrtintf tn Hn Uo umnlri Wtnrp in a IrvuH r>|par voi(H> and he had his lectures down pat ; so that even if there were questions, he would generally finish with a particular topic at the end of the hour, but I haven't quite reached that point yet.'' Becker said receiving the award has significance other than the $1,000 check he was given. "It means recognition. It means that in a time when publish or perish is very much a problem for a great number of faculty members, that teaching is recognized, and that is gratifying to know," Becker said. iff" m mv a nu i uui 500 HnrHf^n Street Five Points P\ I ?? ?w - ??w /% A rn. / / i -/W4 ised hot dog in South Carolim ur; unnnaei unT ruiwe nunmEk nw UWIJB - m Kg &he s; b?^b^Y $mm&*^^^iliB^B^B^B&ii^Mzfjimafi '' %9MP y JMMh^iu fc:: myy :^aBiB HKfe;: . - : . #> ^ -'v;U -^rsT"TlKi- . ."":^^B:"' :fcion of Pinball Machinva in Tow cninva co giwbm from. l for $.25 - S balls p?r qimt. Ntw Space Invadsra! ? Vehicle use cut at USC Ru fShollu Kaufman QmmcocIi Staff Writer USC implemented a vehicle usage reduction plan this summer to lessen the mileage and fuel usage of university vehicles. W.S. Turbeville, assistant vice president of facilities and planning I _ ~ 1 I-- .J saiu we nave aireauy uauuuueu that they (vehicle operators) be careful and make only trips that are necessary " GOV. DICK RILEY ordered a 15 4 ? percent cuiuhck uii sutie veiueie usage because of the gasoline shortage, according to a state spokesman. Turbeviile said his office has not received official notification of the governor's request for a cutback, but, "we felt that we, too, are getting less luei. we cua u vcui back) to conserve fuel and to better utilize our people on campus," he added. "On the university service vehicles, we will certainly honor tliat 15 -percent request," he said. As Dart of the cutback olan. trio logs and gas reports are due the 25th of each month to help monitor vehicle usage, Turbeville said. "He (Riley) has recommended that we try to cutback, but we've already slowed down during the summer and use less gas, said Lawrence Steedly, USC Motor Pool supervisor. rnUET* CPAUKT r\f Diloir'o iocf l 11 ij OVA/I rzj UI iiiivy a 1 vv^uv^ok to USC is primarily that all departments be concerned with mileage in the use of university vehicles. II 3 v r**s??s )\ Homemade Chili |1 Homemade I Sausage Biscuits |) lar - B - Q Sandwiches fI \ n. / m I