Professor's 50 years of service earn him a place in 'U' history

One night this past April, I was talking to the parents of a friend, both of whom were here in the 1960s, both of whom studied history with Fine as undergrads. The conversation carried on for a long time. They talked about different aspects of his teaching and assorted conversations they had with him.

It turned out that as they were studying for one of Fine's exams, they sort of fell in love with each other, ultimately leading to marriage.

"You're alive because of Sidney Fine," I quip to their daughter, whenever Fine's name pops up in conversation.

These people, who attended the University about 30 years ago, still were able to describe conversations they had with him, and what his exams were like, and his quality as a professor. Thirty years from now, I'll probably be able to do the same.

That's a testament to Fine's enduring power at the University.

This past Friday, Sidney Fine was recognized for 50 years of teaching. State Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) presented him a proclamation signed by John Engler and members of the legislature. Local newspapers ran feature packages about Fine's career.

Think about the numbers alone, and the dedication it must take to do the same job for 50 years. Think about 50 years of standing in front of a crowded lecture hall three days a week, talking about the Roosevelts, the League of Nations, the New Deal and the progressive movement.

One local newspaper printed an estimate that 26,000 students have attended Fine's classes over this stretch of time. That's a good-sized crowd at Tiger Stadium. Imagine a crowd of 26,000 listening to a semester's worth of lectures on 20th-Century American history.

The numbers are impressive.

From my vantage point, having had Fine for a professor for the duration of my sophomore year, the best parts of his teaching are the things that can't be quantified.

Simply put, Fine is a great professor. His lectures are engaging, learned and packed with information. The difficulty of the exams drives most of the students to fits. Some of these tests are so tough they make your hand want to drop off from the pain of writing a seemingly endless stream of information in a limited amount of time.

He regularly admonishes students to attend his office hours. Fine probably has more office-hour sessions in a month than many professors have in a semester. Visiting him, he talks enthusiastically about history, but also about his career as a professor and life at the University.

"Students want to know you as a human being. I want them to know me," Fine says in this past Friday's issue of the Detroit Free Press. "I'm a parental figure. I help them adjust to the university and tell them not to fall apart over things like one bad grade."

And in truth, he really is something of a parental figure. A group of friends and I referred to him as Uncle Sid during our exam-time study marathons; another adopted the affectionate (if slightly silly) term "Daddy Fine." For someone I know, he actually did give some fatherly advice after a bad grade.

I couldn't name one single, best professor I've had during the past three years. Some make you fall in love with their subject. Others educate you on virtue, ethics or ambiguity. Some give dry lectures packed with insight. Others give presentations so stylish they lose their meaning.

It's not fair to compare professors.

Nonetheless, Fine's endurance at the University and the presence he's had in the lives of so many students gives food for thought.

Undergrads routinely complain that professors are remote and care more about research than teaching; that the University is too big and insensitive; that excessive focus goes to graduate students at the expense of undergraduate needs.

Whether or not these things are true, Fine is the kind of professor who undercuts such critical assessments.

"I could have left earlier to focus on research, but I love teaching," he said in Monday's issue of the Daily. "I love the University, the students, the faculty and the amazing research facilities."

And as a result of his affection, Fine has become a campus institution.

-Jeff Eldridge has never been a brown noser. He can be reached over e-mail at jeldridg@umich.edu

Jeff Eldridge Sticks and Stones

10-01-98