Stanford Professors React to Mean Course Reviews

Mark Duggan, Director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and, Alexander Nemerov, Chair of the Art and Art History Department react to some reviews of their courses ECON 1: Principle of Economics and ARTHIST1B: Introduction to the Visual Arts, respectively.

Let us know what professors we should reach out to next!

Special Thanks: Mark Duggan, Alexander Nemerov
Producers: Andy Huynh, Lana Tleimat, Sonja Hansen, Patrick Monreal
Editors: Ellie Wong, Andy Huynh
Music: "Take Me Down to the Fashion Show" by NoMBe

This is the pilot episode for The Stanford Daily's NEW show Mean Course Reviews. Inspired by Jimmy Kimmel's Mean Tweets, various Stanford professors and lecturers react and respond to rude, funny, and just wacky reviews of their courses.

[minymaker]

So cool to see that Stanford only has two professors

[e.]

"This person astutely offers criticism of the kind that ring in my own head, undered by my own soul after every single lecture" think I understand the Tumblr review

[kirstendenney]

I really love the fact that the one professor took the comments as constructive criticism

[suus]

“I don’t know what Tumblr is but I will now check it out.” What has he done

[Olivier]

At 3:56, the student says "Be prepared to be tested on material you have never seen or read". Professor responds "I should put that in the syllabus". This is so sad, but I can't stop laughing. Imagine having a syllabus like that! 😂😂😂

[Mystery_Biscuits]

3:48 “Purely tangential. No straight lines at all.” As a mathematician, that hurt a little inside.

[arianbehnami]

Both of them seem like genuinely nice people.

[starryskies]

“Maybe don’t” is the funniest review I’ve found yet

[sirich]

These are mean reviews? Back in engineering school an entire Mechanical Engineering class went to the department head because the exams resembled nothing taught and nothing from the text. We won, future test were based on examples similar to the text. Professors, in my opinion, wield way too much power and some are vindictive. Most are fine to excellent. Had a calc professor and we were his first class ever taught. He was nervous, sweating and spoke with a heavy chinese accent. Yet, he took the time to review your homework and correct where you went wrong...for a class of ~40-50 students. Always went back over material if NEEDED. Professor Pun, I still remember you 30+ years later.

[stephensheppard]

I loved this! As a professor of economics, who is interested in art history, I found this combination really delightful. It is a great compliment to be told that you are "such a dad". I can only hope that I get that comment before I retire.

[AbbasiOfficial]

These guys are genuinely nice and are experts in their field and have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with their students. Criticism is a normal part of any profession, but it is important to remember that our professors are human and make mistakes like anyone else. They should be given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and continue to provide valuable education to the next generation of leaders.

[thepracticinggardenerwilli]

I studied Old Testament with a boring, monotoned, almost deaf professor who spoke so softly that he was barely audible- and people dropped his class after the first lecture. I stayed because his lectures were absolutely fascinating, he challenged everything I believed to be true and, of all the professors with which I studied, he was the most influential in my life. I wonder how the professors would evaluate the students.

[EverythingCarter]

Gosh, I forget teachers can get hurt feelings too... I felt bad a little...

[cutthetvcord]

The greatest thing a lecturer can pass on to a student is confidence in their ability to learn complex topics. Once a student learns to find the confidence within themselves, then learning information becomes engaging, easier, and enlightening.

[johnperry]

When I was a professor, I got one that said "he's worse than crazy, he's evil". I was actually impressed, until I realized that this was plagiarized from "Apocalypse Now".

[demichael]

I am not a professor, but I have taught at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Though I can't speak for all teachers, I would be as bold to say that at least 80% of teachers care greatly about their students. I know that I certainly value and respect my students. When a student gives me a Christmas card with a nice message or just acknowledges the work I do to help them at all, it makes my day. Tell teachers you like that you enjoy their class. They will certainly appreciate it.

[nanmorey]

At one point in my career it was my job to hire college instructors and review student evaluations. I always looked at the students grades before I took their comments about the class/instructor seriously. 90% of the time the biggest complainers were failing the class because they hadn't attended or completed the required work.

[eaglerider]

How are these mean comments ? All of them sounded like honest reviews .

[magicmanticore]

Duggan seems like the type of Prof I’d love.

[texasflood]

As a faculty member, I would like to provide some advice for students as they write their reviews.
1. Be creative. I don’t mind a negative comment if you put some effort into it.
2. Be specific. Comments such as “This course sucks!” Lets me know you didn’t like the course but I would rather you write “The course sucks because……!”
3. Be skilled. Comments with multiple spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors are harder to take seriously.