Ducks @ Oregon - University of Oregon

Celebrity Look-a-like Professors

Trafton B.

December 15, 2009 - 8:40 PM

Technically, I'm on Winter Break, but I'm staying in Eugene for an extra week to log in a few hours at Facility Services and hang out with the roommates. I'll admit that Eugene is a little bit dreary right now because everyone has headed home already, but between watching "Zombieland" at the $1.50 theatre in Springfield and reading "Last Child in the Woods," there's still plenty to do.

And now that I don't have projects and assignments to worry about, I can finally write about something that's been on my mind forever. I've had lots of professors over the years, and my favorite thing to do is learn their different antics and teaching styles. And, of course, figure out which celebrity they remind me of. Sometimes it's just based on visual appearances, and sometimes it's their mannerisms that do it. So, here are my three favorite celebrity look-a-like professors.

Mike Copperman, Writing 121 - Fall 2007

Writing 121 is one of those classes that just about every student filters through at some point in time during the UO career, so I wasn't expecting too much from this particular class. But, man, did I find a winner. It was my first college class, now that I think about it, and I remember that first day very well. Monday morning at 10am on the 3rd floor of Condon Hall, I show up out of breath because I couldn't find the classroom in that maze of a building. Then in walks Mike Copperman wearing his long, black pea coat. And the first thing I thought to myself was, "Holy crap, AC Slater from Saved by the Bell is my professor!" I became pretty good friends with one girl in that class, and we still laugh about that. On a side note, WR 121 with Mike still remains as one of the better classes I've taken at the UO. Nothing life changing, but I fondly remember those enlightening discussions that we had between the sixteen or seventeen students in class. Definitely exceeding my original expectations.

Greg Bothun might be the most intelligent person I've ever come into contact with. He earned a Ph.D. Astrophysics from the University of Washington and his research interests include properties of galaxies, observational cosmology, climate change and sustainable energies. I don't think Prof. Bothun and I are going to become lifelong friends, but he's at the top of my ‘phone a friend' list. I had trouble putting a finger on what TV personality he reminded me of for the first half of the term, but it made so much sense when I finally figured it out. It was not only the looks - long, scraggly hair, and one of several long-sleeved T-shirts every day always with one sleeved rolled up - but also his overly sarcastic and sadistically witty sense of humor that did it for me. Gregory Bothun is the human manifestation of the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons.

 

Dan Carol, Community Leadership and Change - Fall 2009

Once again, it took me a little while to figure it out and once again, it was a combination of mannerisms and appearance. I feel bad because the only picture I could find of Dan is really not too becoming of him, so I apologize. But Dan Carol reminds me of Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. The funny thing is that Dan is kind of a genius in disguise. Well, he hides it well at least. Dan is an adjunct professor in the PPPM department and focuses on topics like climate change policy and civic engagement theory. But in his free time, he served as the Content & Issues Director for the Obama campaign. No big deal.