Professor McCormick to teach his final Franklin Classes this Summer

Professor Robert McCormick, Jr., one of Franklin’s great teachers, has significantly contributed to the Franklin College spirit over the past 23 years. He has achieved much in his many years as a professor, and many students will say that they cannot imagine their Franklin experience without him. Yet, as of this fall, Professor McCormick will turn a new page.

Professor McCormick’s teachings have supported the Franklin College international mission ever since he joined the faculty in 1988. “The cultural diversity present at Franklin always keeps pushing you in new directions,” he said. “What is interesting about teaching creative writing is that each message is formed by that person’s unique experiences and vision of the world. The cross-cultural groups of students here in all courses always bring you a fresh, new perspective.” Professor McCormick’s classes introduced new perspectives through such courses as Modern Women Writers, The Art and Aesthetics of Proust, and through his African, American, Russian, Latin American and Caribbean literature courses, taking students across borders, both figuratively and literally. “I always seem to have had a favorable response from students for my Russian Literature course. Perhaps that’s because the texts are so great,” says McCormick. “World Literature allows for some rather extravagant experiments into the unknown, and I have especially enjoyed teaching Proust because his work really impacts those who read it.”

Inspiration in the classroom was always complemented by Professor McCormick’s Academic Travel programs. Every Academic Travel with Professor McCormick demanded deep investigation as he led students to such places as French-speaking Switzerland and France, Greece, Paris, Kenya, South Africa, Northern Greece and Turkey, Cuba, Venezuela and, most recently, the Dominican Republic. Known for his diverse and demanding itineraries, McCormick introduced his students to vestiges of Caribbean colonialism, Hemingway hangouts and the haunts of the gods, spanning from Grecian temples to Venezuelan tepuis. Academic Travel is a key part of the Franklin experience, and students will tell you that McCormick-led travels were nothing short of extraordinary.

In addition to his teaching and travels, in 2003 Professor McCormick founded “Caribbean Unbound,” a biennial conference on Caribbean literature and culture held on campus every other spring. In true Caribbean style, the conference features academic panels in English, Spanish and French with internationally known scholars, literary readings, Caribbean films, Franklin student panels, a traditional Caribbean meal and even live Cuban music on occasion. Maryse Condé, the Guadeloupean writer who was the initial inspiration for McCormick’s interest in Caribbean literature, was the keynote speaker for the 2007 edition. The most recent edition (Spring 2011) boasted the largest and most international group of attendees in “Caribbean Unbound” history, connecting participants from all over the globe, from Australia to Turkey, for a weekend colloquium on Caribbean studies. The keynote speaker was Professor Claudine Michel, a professor of Black Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

When not uniting the world’s Caribbean scholars, Professor McCormick is also the Faculty Advisor to The Literary Society, which is responsible for Franklin College’s annual literary magazine, Creating Re-Views. Having evolved from its very first handmade edition in 1996 and now distributed at the annual Gatsby Gala that celebrates the magazine’s printing, Creating Re-Views was just released last week for the fifteenth consecutive year. Originally conceived during Academic Travel Paris in 1994, Creating Re-views was first mapped out on a paper tablecloth by students. Initially bound by hand-stitched yarn, Creating Re-Views was designed from the start to be a forum for creative writers and to explore the links between literature, art and photography. The concept, name and humorous group photo of the members have become regular features, and the publication of the annual magazine has become one of Franklin’s long-standing traditions. “I can’t thank the many talented writers and photographers enough for building on and embellishing our germinal conception. Vive La Société Littéraire!” wrote Professor McCormick in this year’s edition.

Creating Re-views has always stirred the student body, and its distribution this year at the Gatsby Gala (Part Deux) made the Gala “the place to be,” explained McCormick. “People were interested to see what their fellow students had been doing, so that created a friendly environment. For this edition of the Gala we read only student writing, and most students seemed impressed with the quality of our publication. The event, held outdoors on the Kaletsch Campus lawn, was weather dependant, and we were on the edge of our seats the whole week wondering if we would be able to hold it outside, but in the end, we managed to get our outside reading in. The rain came just as we were finishing up.”

Although Professor McCormick will not be teaching at Franklin next academic year, he will still be teaching World Literature in Summer Session One and Creative Writing: Fiction in Summer Session Two. “I had a lot of fun with my World Literature class this semester,” he said. “The fact that we were covering epics from Persia, the Ramayana from India, along with some texts that had links to the “Caribbean Conference,” seemed to draw in a diverse group. Students of all nationalities appreciate seeing their cultures included in any discussion of literature, and the conversations are always interesting with the exchange of so much personal experience.” International experiences permeating classroom discussions: Is this not the very essence of Franklin College?

We all have our reasons for going to university, but when it comes down to it, we choose Franklin College because we are looking for something “more.” Franklin boasts an education both in and out of the classroom, made possible by the professors who come from all reaches of the globe. These professors are at the heart of the Franklin College experience, and Professor McCormick has lived up to this responsibility in a way that goes above and beyond his calling. He has inspired countless students in the classroom and beyond. It would be impossible to recount all that he has achieved in his time with Franklin College, but Professor McCormick’s contribution to Franklin’s educative mission and community spirit is invaluable.

As one of Professor McCormick’s former students, Karen Cooper '06, says she is lucky to have participated in his Academic Travels to Greece and Venezuela, and she wrote her thesis in Literature on Proust under his guidance. "My classes with Professor McCormick were among my most demanding and, thus, most rewarding. His Academic Travels were brimming with history and culture, brought to life in some of civilization’s most ancient places. His Academic Travels were brimming with history and culture, brought to life in some of civilization’s most ancient places. As a teacher, he increased my awareness of self while also deepening my understanding of the world around me. I traveled, both in reality and through fictional worlds, with Professor McCormick as my guide and my fellow students as partners on the path to discovery. We were made strong and confident thanks to his insistence, and my “Franklin Experience” would have never been the same without Professor McCormick’s influence. I cannot even begin to describe my appreciation, and I cannot speak for everyone in the Franklin community, but I can share some of their voices in an attempt to pay tribute:

Professor McCormick, thank you for everything!

“Professor McCormick believed in me and pulled my potential to the surface. While I was consumed with my IR major, he kept reminding me that literature and writing were my first passion. Although I am so thankful for all of my education from Franklin, my classes, activities and travels with Professor McCormick best apply to my life now and where it is going. He believes in his students, he's willing to take risks with even the most unlikely, and he releases potential and possibilities for all those he teaches. Thank you McCormick for giving your life to see us succeed!”
Angela Evans, Class of ’06

“Dearest Professor McCormick: you took me for the first time to the country I fell in love with:  Cuba! It was one of the most fulfilling and memorable trips of my life... And how could I forget your attempt at salsa—just magical. I want to thank you for all the experiences and opportunities you gave us. I will always remember and cherish them. Lots and lots of love, Moska (aka Ms. Fly)”
Moska Najib, Class of ’05

“I most respect Professor McCormick and his contribution to my career as a writer for his high regard placed on the importance in maintaining integrity of the English language. That, combined with creative writing skills, was a pleasure to learn and practice in his classroom. His contribution as a professor will surely be missed.”
Kelley Francis, Class of ’09

"Dear Professor McCormick or rather, Bobby Mac! You've been a fantastic educator in the classroom and during our trips through Greece and Turkey, which remain an unforgettable and cherished experience. I wish you all the best in your endeavors!"
Maksim “Max” Budnikov, Class of ’07

"Professor McCormick is a great professor. My views were broadened through his engaging classes and, whether Romanticism or the Great American Novel, I still find myself musing about Madame Bovary, Sister Carrie and Moby Dick. His Academic Travels were nothing short of spectacular. I went with him to Northern Greece and Turkey as well as to Venezuela. His determination to educate and support his students is inspiring. As I look back at my four years at Franklin College, I know that Professor McCormick shaped my views and opened my eyes to possibilities I could not even have conceived. I am truly grateful for all his efforts. He is a great professor and human being, and he will always be one of the strengths of Franklin College."
Mario Villamor, Class of ’06

“Professor McCormick taught me a lot about the power of language and its bluntness. While literature can often take language on serious flights of fancy, he taught me that careful scholars, writers and people can anchor their words in the concrete. Whether this was asking me the straightforward question, ‘Can you actually define the word modernism?’ or assaulting my papers with the word ‘concrete,’ Professor McCormick taught me how powerful and vital each word can be. And, oh, the dreaded ‘grrr,’ with its grating sound and clear definition: ‘There is nothing more for me to write—you’ve seriously got this wrong.’ How I loathed and exalted in that ‘grrr.’

“Besides the obvious ‘grrr,’ the other word that comes to mind when I think of Professor McCormick is ‘mentor.’ I can think of few people in my life – and no other teacher – who I feel have shaped who I am as a person. He was my adviser from my first days at Franklin, through some amazing travels in Greece and Venezuela (the man could out-hike me!) to my final thesis defense. He was never the teacher who went for drinks with the students and wanted to be everyone’s pal, but he let out these moments of privilege to a few. In drinking a small bit of ouzo with him on Santorini or a glass of wine in downtown Lugano, he became more than a mentor –I consider him a friend. I’ll soon be studying at U. Penn for a Master’s in Education, and I’ve been asked the question countless times: ‘What is your theory of teaching?’ I always think of McCormick and the pure exuberance he willed into each lesson. So when I finally get in front of my own group of students, I’ll be sure to remember not just the little details of character names, but the pure thrill that a good book can bring. This is the greatest lesson any teacher has taught me, and one that I hold dear.”
Scott Wade, Class of ’06

“The standards that Professor McCormick upheld in the classroom and the expectations he had of his students were paralleled only by the extremely high bar he set for himself when planning his Academic Travel itineraries.”
John Doyle, Class of ’06

“Professor McCormick was my academic adviser and labored through many sessions with me which I will never forget. Being a History\Lit major also meant that I spent more time in his classroom than in any other. While my academic performance was not noteworthy, it never affected the personal relationship I had built with him over my years at Franklin. The Academic Travel we shared to Greece and Turkey involved experiences I will take with me for the rest of my life, including our trip to a Turkish emergency room! Professor McCormick was and remains one of the best memories of my Franklin experience. His guidance and advice have helped me take on many of the challenges in my professional and personal life. I hope you send him off with my best and all the gratitude he deserves.”
Peter Chadzynski, Class of ’05

“I had to take one of Professor McCormick’s literature classes as a core requirement, and I must admit that I was not very excited. However, it turned out to be one of the most interesting and challenging experiences I had at Franklin College and a key reason why I still regret not having chosen a Literature major. I was lucky to have the opportunity to take many of McCormick’s classes and to go on his first Academic Travel to Cuba, where I first had a chance to get to know him better. McCormick has certainly been my most demanding and severe professor. At the same time, he has always welcomed different points of view and encouraged the most stimulating class discussions. Unpredictable and full of surprises, Professor McCormick is one the most unique and interesting people I have ever met. It is very hard for me to imagine Franklin without him.”
Belma Dizdarevic de Marchi, Class of ’03

“Professor McCormick always managed to educate, challenge and bring out the best in everyone who crossed his path. His integrity and passion to teach will always be cherished.”
Natalie Naber Neibauer, Class of ’07

“It has been four years since my last McCormick class at Franklin College. Sadly, I only attended Franklin for two years. However, in that short time Professor McCormick became the most significant educator I have had the immense honor of learning from. Professor McCormick gave me the gift of looking at the world with fresh and constant curiosity. Whether in the books we read or on the travels to Greece, Venezuela and Cuba, Professor McCormick taught me how to explore and absorb the world around me. He did all this with an unwavering humility and all of his ever-endearing idiosyncrasies.

“There is a photo that to this day remains in a frame on my desk. It is of my best friend, Scott Wade, Professor McCormick and myself at the base of Roraima in Venezuela. Whenever I look at it, it reminds me of the greatest adventures of my life. In one way or another McCormick is tied to all of them. There is the time several of us created a living pediment on top of the ruins at Olympia, the night we all went dancing in Havana and, of course, climbing Roraima with one of the best guys I have ever known. He might be upset that I use a film comparison here instead of a literary one, but in my mind Professor McCormick will always be my Indiana Jones.”
Alex Marston, Class of ’08

“Professor McCormick's impact on the lives of his students, and especially on this one, cannot be wrapped up in a single paragraph of hyperboles and melodramatic adjectives. I frankly don't know whether to start from his role as my academic advisor; my professor; the father and nurturer of The Franklin College Literary Society; the supervising editor of Creating Re-Views, the unsurpassed Franklin College literary magazine; my tireless travel leader across Greece, Turkey and Venezuela; the founder and organizer of “Caribbean Unbound,” the one and only academic conference in Switzerland, and the world I bet, dedicated to Caribbean literature and culture; or from his role as the guardian of my personal and academic well-being as a student.

“Professor McCormick is the most dedicated teacher that I've ever known. He never missed a class or an extracurricular meeting, and time and again he burned the midnight oil with us, working on the literary magazine, editing our critical and creative writings or counseling us. He taught innumerable courses and weaved out the most elaborate travel itineraries across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Every one of Professor McCormick's projects and endeavors that I've participated in have changed me. I truly feel that they have made me just a little better, more compassionate and committed to those wondrous things, like literature, that work restlessly behind the curtain to give us a reason to create, to feel strongly, to live well and to build a positive presence in the world. For all of those things, for so many more that I'm unable to articulate and even more that I'm yet to discover, I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to my beloved teacher and to wish him well as he embarks on the next stage of his journey. It is going to be wonderful.”
Boriana "Bobby" Alexandrova, Class of ’07

“Professor McCormick's trips to Greece and Cuba were my most memorable Academic Travels. I was truly impressed with how he packed such a thorough experience of history, culture and meeting local people into two weeks. I couldn't have asked for a better time. Thank you, Bobby Mac.”
Margaret “Meg” Johnson, Class of ’07