Kupfer
shoulder saying do this, do
this and do it my way.”
Contemporary American
culture and its place in the
world interests Kupfer more
than other places and times
in history. He said he has
heard complaints about
Americans not understanding
other cultures, but he thinks
otherwise. “Some [cultures]
think if they understand MTV
and Big Macs they then
understand American culture,
and they’re just kidding them
selves,” he said.
His lectures are informative,
entertaining and “user-friend
ly,” and most importantly con
tain something students can
relate to.
“It’s nice to be able to teach
a class about material that
Photo oy Kathryn Herr
STUDE
■T
"Communication: Mak It Work For You”
For information and to register for the workshop, contact Student Activities Office. E-131,
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cont.from pg 6
interests me,” says Kupfer
“The real issue is the stu-
dents. I loved college myself
because it is an interesting
time in a person’s life
because you go to college to
expand your perspectives.”
“I like to deal with students
at different levels. Some can’t
wait to get the hell out of
senior year, and I like those
just as much."
Kupfer mentioned that his
most rewarding experience as a
professor took place while he
was working at Michigan State,
and a student disappeared for a
brief time.
“He resurfaced two or three
weeks later and it looked like
he had partied a lot. I told
him, ‘here’s what you need to
do to pass this class,’ and we
Communication: Make It Work For You
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18,
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developed a pretty good rela
tionship. I helped him not
drop out of college.”
Kupfer chalks up his suc
cess to a handful of profes
sors he has encountered
along the way, including
Steven Dickson, who taught
him at Johns Hopkins.
“He was kind and honest,
not neurotic. He treated me
with a lot of respect, and was
the perfect model for a col
lege professor.”
Kupfer also mentions
William Goetzmann, and Bob
Devine and Elspeth Rostow,
all from the University of
Texas, where Kupfer started
his college journey. He also
credits Mark Smith and Terry
Todd, both from Texas as
well, with his interest in
becoming a professor
Teaching aside, Kupfer
recently published a book
called “We Felt the Flames,”
dealing with media coverage
in World War 11. His second
book is a work in progress,
with a working title of
‘lndomitable Will: From
Defeat to Victory.’
“The first book did pretty
well, I had some good luck
with it,” said Kupfer.
This busy professor doesn’t
have much spare time, but
what does have, he spends
with his wife and kids, driving
them around, taking them to
soccer games, or trying to
squeeze in a sporting event.
He is very excited about
soon bringing a parrot into
their home in addition to their
cat and dog Kupfer said he
lives a life of bliss. “I love my
kids, and I love my students.
I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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