Western Kentucky University / S / Darren Smith

Dr. Smith isn't a bad guy, just not a good professor. He doesn't put power points on blackboard but rambles on in class about the same thing over and over. His primary focus of the class is putting on a event for campus. This year it's a big red amazing race, and it is a disaster. He demands everyone to get sponsors for the event with nothing to give them in return. He complains and gets mad at the class that nobody knows what's going on. It's very obvious Dr. Smith is more concerned with putting on a good event to make himself look good rather than teach the students. If this class wasn't required for my major I would of dropped it. If you must take Smith, it won't be absolutely terrible because he isn't a bad person, but it will not be enjoyable at all being in his course and you won't learn anything.

Do not take this class unless you love to solicit people for money (sponsorships), get constantly lectured about how you aren't doing a good job and the professor is having to do all the work, do not have a job, and have "connections" to sporting clubs, fishermen, outdoorsy stuff, etc. You rush through the book so that you can plan a charity fishing tournament at the end of April. It sounds cool at first, but Dr. Smith is a terrible motivator. He comes in a lectures about how pissed off he is about your performance multiple times a week and counts off your grade if you aren't there to hear it. Also, when asking for sponsors, if a business can't give you a cash donation, you are to accept product donations. But if you really look at how the event is structured, most product donations do not help the charity, they are used for prizes for the fishermen in the tournament. This personally, turned my stomach to ask for, from business people who thought they were really doing something for a charity. It makes the event better, but why should a local, hardworking business person do something like that which is not mutually beneficial or going directly to the chosen charity? Your connections in the area are also emphasized. If you aren't from Bowling Green, or its surrounding areas, you will be lost as Dr. Smith goes on and on asking people "Do you know so and so at Thompson's Fish and Tackle? He fishes the tournament. Well, you go do there and tell him to give you something."

Please do not put yourself through this unless it is required for your major.

show up for class and its not too difficult. he's anal about attendance

Soon to be Dr. Smith is a great professor. Grades aren't the most important aspect to his class. Show up, do what he asks, and participate in class discussion. If you do this you should get an A.