Students praise 'U' professor

Before graduation, LSA students must meet certain course requirements, but an unwritten one that many students have made a priority is taking a course with English and religion Prof. Ralph Williams.

Before a lecture to his Shakespeare class last week, his love for his job and his students was expressed in a statement that drew an "Awww" from his students.

"Gosh, it's good to be with you," Williams said. "The times between sessions really do seem long."

Williams, who has won "a half-dozen to eight" teaching awards including the Golden Apple Award for undergraduate teaching, has been teaching for 28 years. After he received his Ph.D. from the University, he began teaching at Cornell University.

Williams said he was lured back to the University because he "loved" Ann Arbor and prefers public universities to private ones.

PAUL TALANIAN/Daily English Prof. Ralph WIlliams lectures yesterday during his English 367 Shakespeare class in the Modern Language Building.

"I care about being involved in public education," Williams said. "It makes me proud that a steel worker at River Rouge and a plumber at Pontiac - people white, black - all make it possible for us to be here together."

Williams teaches a variety of courses including Shakespeare, British literature and Bible courses that regularly draw more than 300 students.

"When a class becomes popular and is offered consistently, the number of students builds up," said Chair of the English department Martha Vicinus. "It is unusual to have those kind of numbers for that kind of class."

Williams, who directs the religion studies department, has become famous for his energetic style and his unique mannerisms.

"I sat in on his Shakespeare and it was like watching a production," said LSA senior Amy Liszt.

He's also known for shaking each students' hand before class, his rubrics of the day, and asking students to answer "yea or nay" if they understand the lecture.

But what many students said they remember most about him is his genuine concern for them and their needs.

"I don't know a more personable person on campus," LSA senior Julia Feder said. "Whenever you talk to him he makes you feel like the center of attention."

If students had one complaint about Williams it would be his popularity.

"He is a very busy man," Feder said. "He makes extra office hours, but if you want to see him, you usually have to wait a long time in line."

Williams said he enjoys a variety of interests during his little spare time away from students.

He enjoys architecture, landscaping, and he tries to help with social and economic issues. Williams also enjoys law, medicine and art.

"I could've been head-over-heels happy doing a half-dozen things," Williams said.

Since he started teaching at the University, Williams said he's been involved in the lives of 15,000 to 20,000 students. His experiences with them are countless, he said.

"It is the ongoing day-by-day experiences, which are a vital part of me," Williams said.

Williams, who is 56 years old, said he plans to stay at the University until his retirement. He said he aims to retire at age 65.

"I want to retire at 65 for a couple of reasons," William said. "I want to have more time to write, so that when I leave this world, I will have left behind the words I weave."

Williams said he also wishes to pursue some of his other interests and he wants to give some of the graduate students a chance to fill his spot.

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