English Professor Bill Schang remembered for an outstanding career
Han Thinzar Zaw
Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: News
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These words are from senior Talley Yake, who is majoring in English. Every person who has shared a moment with Professor Schang likely has pondered these words in their minds.
Yake has known him since her first year while she was taking his courses and also working in the English Department for the past few years. "He has been a big part of my journey as an English major at Ripon College," says Yake.
Schang's sudden retirement was a result of health problems. However, it is impossible for faculty members, staff and students to forget about Schang, who contributed a great deal to Ripon College.
People look back on the memories that they shared together with him and how Schang has taken a place in their lives.
"Bill has a gift for sitting down next to you in a chair and making you feel valued. When I speak with Bill, he makes me feel like there is nothing more important in his day than our conversation. There's something incredibly special and rare about that gift," says Dean of Faculty Jerry Seaman.
Faculty members, staff and students share their deepest feelings due to the unexpected retirement of Schang and consider his absence in the classroom a great loss.
"Bill has been one of the people who made the college what it is today. He loves Ripon and has worked hard to make it the best college it could be. He always inspired me to do the best work I could," says English Professor Robin Woods.
Jack Christ, professor and chair of leadership studies, has been a good friend with Schang since he was an assistant professor of English. Christ reminisces about his memorable colleague.
"My stories about life with Bill are pretty unofficial and may be quirky or even trivial to some, but they mean the world to me. We are all probably quirks of the universe; Bill and I are apparently two overlapping quirks who started out in adjacent offices in West Hall and rolled on to new forms and new dimensions of quirkiness while holding on tight to the love and the laughter in our overlap. Thanks, Bill."
Even with the sudden departure, the college made a quick transition as far as reassigning classes.
"His classes are being covered for the rest of the semester by colleagues in the English department, Doug Northrop and Kate Sontag, and other Ripon faculty, Jack Christ and Jeanne Williams. I am confident that the students will finish the semester well with these generous and talented faculty members. I imagine also that Bill's teaching and guidance will be missed by his students," says Seaman.
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