UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 1, Page 3
September 3, 1992
Alison Scholar winner; Prof. Munson gives address: 022 Brown Laboratory
Ask Burnaby Munson, winner of the 1992 Francis Alison Award, to
describe his teaching style and he replies quietly, "Oh, I guess you
could say I'm long-winded. I can talk for an extended period of time.
My classes are relatively informal. Students can always stop me and
ask questions."
Obviously, there is more to Munson than his answers to interview
questions imply.
During Monday's presentation of the Alison Award during New
Student Convocation, Kenneth M. Lomax, associate professor of
agricultural engineering and president of the faculty senate, called
Munson's teaching "legendary" and said, "I was anxious to see what
academic attire he (Munson) might have today because he is known for
wearing a variety of costumes to help make his lectures more
meaningful."
A secretary in chemistry and biochemistry confirms that Munson,
"extremely well-loved by all," did once wear tails to class.
Perhaps one can learn more about Munson by reviewing his weekly
schedule than by what he is willing to say about himself.
For example, he can be found twice weekly visiting in a residence
hall, where he sponsors "study breaks" for his students. He shows up
with popcorn, junk food and plenty of conversation and encourages one
and all to join him.
On Tuesday nights from 9-10 p.m., you can find him in Dickinson,
the freshman honors residence hall, and on Thursday nights, he can be
found in Brown or Harter halls.
"Between 20-50 people show up as word gets out," Munson said. "I
just pop the popcorn. Some of the students talk with me but mostly
they talk with each other. In Dickinson last year there was a piano
and someone would usually end up playing it. It's just a chance for
people to get together.
"They don't have to be my students to come to study breaks. It
starts out that way, of course, because I announce them in my classes,
but others always join us and are welcome.
"If there are places on campus where I feel comfortable and
really have tenure it's the lounges in Dickinson, Brown and Harder.
After all I've been there longer than any of the students."
The ties Munson builds with students in class and during the
study breaks often last for years. Early this summer, for example, he
went to a former student's wedding. More recently two former
students, who met as freshman chemistry majors, were married and he
was again an honored guest. A recent Sunday morning found him hosting
a table full of former students at brunch.
Munson came to the University in the fall of l967 from Texas,
where he had previously worked for Humble and then Esso oil companies.
His bachelor's, master's and doctorate are all from the University of
Texas.
Munson said he chose academia over corporate America because of
his love of teaching.
"I came to Delaware because I liked the department and I liked
the University. I considered Delaware then and now as a teaching
University. Being able to do research with graduates and work with
undergraduates-originally by teaching freshman chemistry-seemed ideal
to me."
Munson also was a pioneer in the University Honors Program
teaching in it when it began in l976. He went on to become acting
director and eventually director of the program, until a heart attack
forced him to reduce his work schedule. He continues to be involved in
the program through teaching and advising and is one of its biggest
supporters.
Initially, Munson taught honors classes in Dover a few times a
week and began taking his students out to dinner after class. When the
classes were moved to Newark they were too big to take out for a full
course meal, and the idea of the study breaks was born.
Munson counts his recent receipt of the Alison Award as one of
the highlights of his career. Another honor came earlier this year
when he received the Field and Franklin Award for Outstanding
Achievement in Mass Spectroscopy from the American Chemical Society.
In his acceptance speech for the Alison Award, Munson told those
attending undergraduate convocation, "The University of Delaware has a
long tradition of excellence in undergraduate education, but achieving
this excellence requires substantial work on your part. You learn from
a course in direct relation to the effort you expend in that
course-preparation before class, participation in class discussions or
quiz sections, review of the material after class, or studying with
others.
"As much as anything you are learning the process of learning.
Academic work is not intended to be a game between faculty and
students with a winner and a loser. If it is a game, it is a game in
which students and faculty are playing together, not on opposite
sides.
"Perhaps our main activity as teachers should be to help you
develop the intellectual curiosity, the self-discipline, and the
integrity necessary to complete inquiries and investigations. We will
try to present you with a continuing series of problems and challenges
of increasing difficulty. If we didn't, you would be wasting your time
and probably- someone else's money.
"Don't let us stifle you intellectual curiosity and interest. We
will convince you that you cannot do everything you want to do as an
undergraduate, but it is still possible for you to do many things-some
totally unrelated to each other-to do them well, and to enjoy doing
them.
"You've have probably heard rumors about college: the labs are
impossibly long; the assigned readings are even longer; the exams are
impossible for anyone without a PhD to pass.
"There rumors are not true. Every three-hour lab can be completed
in at least 3-1/2 hours. You will never be assigned more than five
books to read in one night. Graduate students can pass the exams in
the introductory course.
"You will, however, rediscover one of the corollaries of Murphy's
Law (or the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics, for those of you with a
technical bent): multiple exams and papers are always scheduled during
the same week and the most difficult are scheduled on the same day.
"Enjoy this year. The vast majority of your predecessors have
done so. You will make lasting friendships and look back on this year
with nostalgia.
"I was asked to give an address. My address is 022 Brown
Lab-ground floor, south wing. You are welcome to stop by for a visit,
at a reasonable hour, of course."
-Beth Thomas