The Collegian Wednesday, January 25 John Coleman: by Bill Warner Collegian Staff Writer John Coleman is reading minds again. As the semester gets under way and Coleman begins again to practice his craft, his students begin to see why he is so popular, and so successfuL "I think that's what makes him so key as a teacher. That he knows what the student is thinking while he is teaching," said former Coleman student Steve McGarvey. His ability to see through the eyes of his students, as well as those of the average man, is a quality that has earned Coleman respect on campus and enabled him to write poetry that conveys a sense of "being there." Coleman, a former Behrend student himself, has been teaching several writing courses here since 1985. He is a published poet as well as a founding member of the Round Table Society and heads the Behrend Learning Assistance Center. Firmly rooted in the Behrend community, Coleman's past has afforded him many insights when advising his students. He was raised on the cast-side of Erie and came from a blue collar background, with both of his parents working at local ACROSS " 35 Spoke with 1 irritates speech .6 Small bottle impediment 11 European 38 Gaelic 12 Second of two 39 Edible seed 14 Above 41 Otherwise 15 Supplications 42 Damp 17 Proceed 43 Poets 18 Lamprey 45 Sched. abbr. 20 Fear 46 Half an em 21 Weaken 47 More pitiful 22 Projecting tooth 49 Article 24 Finish 50 Small wave 25 Diminutive 52 Builds suffix 54 Frocks 55 Mediterranean 26 Run aground vessel 28 Diatribe 30 Weapon 31 Garden tool 1 Feel regret 32 Attempts to 2 Either r MI UM 111111 MIMI Ell EMI MIN ill Ilil HIM MI OM INN lON MINI NM MI NM MO Ml= NM MIEN 1111 I 4.7 Barbato's lltalian Restaurant I ill AY fli 3512 Buffalo Road I I Wesleyville I i 1..e--'....../1 : 899-3423 I I I We Deliver Entire Menu to Behrend! 1 lj Large Cheese Pizza $5.99 + tax I II coupon exni res 2/1/89 I Loomemammmsasmmassonmmewsumd shops. Following along that path, he worked part-time as a stockboy/cashier at Gary's Variety in Wesleyville. Both of his older sisters attended Behrend before him, but that didn't provide him with much direction. "I really didn't know what the hell I was doing," he recalls of his freshman year. At first a Business Management major, he spent the year watching dollar movies at Eastway Theater and getting C's in his course work. During his third term (Behrend was on a trimester schedule then), he took a Persuasive Writing course which inspired him to change to an English major and ultimately changed his life. There were only five or six students taking the English major at the time, and Coleman found himself becoming more involved in campus activities. As the group came to know one another they began to meet informally to read poetry and share insights. Thus began the Round Table Society. Though he greatly admires and respects the students he has dealt with since then, Coleman has strong feelings about those founding members of the Round Table. "That crowd of people are among the best group of students I've ever been around." Coleman's own students feel 3 Demon 4 Fat of swine 5 Trapped 6 Begs 7 Difficult DOWN The Weekly Cr❑ssw❑rd Puzzle 8 Possessive pronoun 9 Near 10 Ambassador 11 Estimate 13 Lassoed 16 Deep yearning 19 Biggest 21 Spire 23 Standard measure 25 Worn away 27 Compass point 29 Greek letter 32 Drain 33 Peaceful 34 Extras 35 Females 36 Landed property 37 College officials 40 Transgress 43 Nut's companion 44 Withered 47 Health resort 48 Soak, as flax 51 River in Italy 53 Symbol for cerium The Working Man's Poet strongly about him too. "It was the epitomy of the college course," recalled Darrell Freund, of his poetry writing course. Coleman's policy of open forum during his poetry class left a permenant impression on Freund, who is the editor of Behrend's literary magazine "Tempus." "That was what I was looking for in a college course." Steve McGarvey, president of the Student Government Association, spoke of Coleman's Business Writing course. "He always stressed the need to say things the best way they can possibly be said. He loves what he does, you can tell that right away. He's really energetic." Coleman's energy and his love for his work seem to make his advice important to students. "I see this mistaken notion around that you can do anything you want," Coleman says of students deciding on a major. He feels that while anyone can learn about a subject or trade, students often ignore possibilities that should be explored. "If you find something you like or you're good at, don't hesitate because it may not be lucrative. Find out what you're strong in and do it." John Coleman has obviously found what he is strong in and his students are glad he is doing Army ROTC Title: Camp Challenge Effective: January 1988 Size: 7.83 (4 Col.) x 10" ESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARD SUCCESS IS THE ONE YOU COULD TAKE THIS SUMMER. At Army ROTC Camp Challenge, you'll learn what it takes to succeed—in college and in life. You'll build self-confidence and develop your leadership potential. Plus you cart also qualify to earn an Army Officer's commission when you graduate from college. Army ROTC Camp Challenge. It may be just what you need to reach the top. THE SMARTEST COLLEGE COURSE YOU CAN TARE. For more information Contact Captain McCarthy at 898-6218 John Coleman Place local information at bottom of ad. using the following words. Find out more. Contact: (Name. Budding Address. Phone Number) Use Fiockwell Medium if available or Helvetica Older localizatuxt ideas in SMART Kit. ST s 0 ARMY ROTC Page 11 photo by Audrey Acosta
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