Retiring profs say, it is finished

Cory Anderson

John Horst prepares to demonstrate an experiment to two physics students, Brian Roggie and Greg Lamb. Horst currently teaches mathematics courses as well as physics. He used to teach astronomy and was once in charge of the planetarium shows.

EMU will be bidding a fond adieu to several long-time members of the university faculty at the end of the semester.

The Language and Literature department will say goodbye to Carroll Yoder, professor of French, and Ervie Glick, professor of German and advisor to the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) program. John Horst, Jr. leaves EMU after 37 years in the Physics department.

Carroll Yoder was a part of the EMU faculty during the spring 1966 semester. He began his regular position in the Language and Literature department in the fall of 1971. During the summers of 1972, '74, '76 and '77, Yoder led cross-cultural trips to Quebec, Canada, and a second-term trip to France/Europe in 1974-75. In 1989 and 1992, he led groups to France, and in 1994, '97 and 2001 he traveled with cross-cultural groups to France and the Ivory Coast.

Yoder says that he will likely miss the "daily contact with students and colleagues," and has most valued "the opportunity to integrate my Christian/ Mennonite faith with my professional and service goals."

His post-retirement plans include traveling, spending time with his grandchildren, reading, writing, and gardening.

Yoder's colleague, Ervie Glick, will conclude his tenure at EMU this spring after 17 years in his position of professor of German. After leading many cross-culturals, including a two-month trip to Russia in the summer of 1992, and a fall 1995 semester-long trip to the former East Germany, Glick will end his years at EMU by leading a cross-cultural group to Vienna, Austria, for three weeks in May. During his 1997-1998 sabbatical, he taught English at a Vietnamese university for six months and then studied German intensively for the remainder of his year off. Upon Glick's 1987 arrival at EMU, he formed the German Club and has been the faculty sponsor since.

Glick said, "I will miss sharing insights and the German language and its culture with others, leading cross-culturals, and interacting with international students."

He also said, "I plan to retire and enjoy doing what I choose to do, not out of obligation to an institution. Occasional teaching, traveling, visiting grandchildren, doing projects for my children, riding motorcycle, volunteering in the community, etc., are all on the agenda."

In 1967, EMU hired John Horst, Jr. as assistant professor of physics; now nearly four decades later, he will retire from his current position of Associate Professor of Physics. He said that he has valued "the Christian atmosphere here at EMU. I enjoyed teaching a broad range of courses in physics, mathematics, and humanities. The collegial atmosphere in the Science Center Faculty Lounge was wonderful."

Though Horst says that he will miss the faculty and students, he plans to "take a few months off to chart a new course," and will enjoy exploring his personal interests in music, traveling and writing.

These men and their contributions to this institution over the years will be greatly missed next fall. Students and faculty alike will no doubt miss the gifts that each individual brought to the EMU campus.