Step into my office, baby | 34th Street Magazine

Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 12:00 am

This Issue 02/22/2007

For serious students, it's all about striving to be head of the class. For the rest of us, it's all about dreaming of the head of the class: that distinguished professor or hot TA who you are "forced" to stare at during the semester. Forget the Penn Course Review and those inconvenient requirements - the best classes are those with good-looking instructors. Stimulating material? Pass. We say a stimulating lecturer is the best motivation for perfect attendance.

Not lucky enough to have a Brad at the blackboard? Don't stress. We've brought the goods to you.

Noah wieder

STATS

Name: Noah Wieder

Age: 27

Hometown: New York

TA for: Chemistry 102

Office hours: Friday 5 p.m.

Teaching history: TA at Penn for four and a half years

WHAT HE SAYS

What is your pet peeve about Penn students?

I don't really have any. TAs inevitably have to deal with some whining about grades since we grade the exams, but that doesn't bother me so much. I guess I get a little tired of looking at Ugg boots all the time.

What is your favorite part of teaching?

That little "aha" look on a student's face when I manage to get something across that had previously been a source of frustration. It's so adorable.

Least favorite part?

I'm not the biggest fan ever of all the bitch work that goes along with being a TA. It is, of course, necessary. And it's one of the reasons TAs exist, but a little part of my soul dies every time I'm presented with an enormous pile of Chem 101 exams I have to grade by the next morning.

What are your passions (outside of teaching, of course)?

Once in a while I enjoy shooting things. There are few better ways to unwind after a stressful day than sending copious amounts of 9mm ammunition flying down range. I also really like cooking.

Did you ever have a crush on one of your teachers?

I had a hot substitute teacher when I was in the fourth or fifth grade. Though back then she just sort of made me feel funny in a way I didn't quite understand.

Do you have any advice for undergrads?

Sure. Even brilliant people are just as capable of being full of doo doo as the rest of us. Be skeptical.

WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING:

"Spending late nights at Van Pelt stuck on that one thermodynamics problem, all I wanted was for him to walk up, sexily whip off his glasses, and declare, 'I'm a chemist! You called?' like the Superman of my dreams ... then I would stare into his eyes longingly as he solved the problem."

"Cute! In an academic way, of course."

Bruce hardy

STATS

Name: Bruce Hardy

Age: 31

Hometown: Horseheads, NY

TA for: COMM 125: Political Communication

Office hours: Annenberg 318, Friday 1-4 p.m.

Teaching history: TA at Cornell in 2004, at Penn since 2005.

WHAT HE SAYS

What is the best thing about being an undergrad?

Other undergrads.