Professors, known for teaching, find new niche to excel in
By Amy Semet | October 25, 1995Dartmouth professors, widely known for their superlative teaching ability, also say the College provides an excellent atmosphere for top-rate research. Many professors said the Dartmouth Plan gives them flexibility that makes research easier. "It is possible to arrange your teaching schedule so that you have a fairly substantial amount of time off when you are working on a major project," said Film Studies Professor Joanna Rapf, who said the teaching load at Dartmouth is lighter than at other universities. Rapf wrote a book called "Buster Keaton: A Bio-Bibliography," which is about the great film comedian, his life and his art. Rapf said she wrote the book over seven years and has dedicated it to her research assistant who died unexpectedly of cancer. "The book appears in 1995 because it is the 100th anniversary of Buster's birth," Rapf said. Professors also have a wealth of funds to draw upon to help them in their research. "A professor can use the stipend for a student research assistant, who may help by getting needed books and articles from the library," English Professor Blanche Gelfant said.