We all have those classes that we just need to take to say we took them, right? Depending on your major, you might have a list of general education classes you need to take. One of the ones I needed to take last semester was PLS-1153. For those of you who do not know, that is American government and constitution.  

Like many students here, I was assigned the professor John Morris, or depending on the person, John Summerhill Morris. Professor Morris is a one-of-a-kind professor. Students at EIU have a mutual bond of sharing some of the interesting facts Professor Morris tells his students.  

There is no doubt that he is proud of his hometown and region. This man eats, sleeps, and breathes East-central Illinois. Not only does he have vast knowledge of East-central Illinois, but also politics. Professor Morris often uses his own firsthand experiences as a politician to relate to what he is teaching. His teaching is like no other. It is such a personal approach that makes you truly understand what is happening in the world of government.  

Discussion is also a huge part of his teaching style. He often encourages students to bring topics to discuss so that the whole class can weigh in. By openly discussing these topics, you learn what other students are thinking. You also gain insight into what students from completely diverse backgrounds, areas or countries are talking about.  

Professor Morris’s big idea of the whole semester is to learn your rights and civic duties as a citizen. If you are ever confused on how to register or where to vote, I am sure he will set you up in a moment’s notice. Now, he will never tell you how to vote, just that your voice deserves to be heard.  

Overall, Professor Morris is one of those people who are rooting for you throughout the semester and your overall education. He makes sure that you can succeed and learn in a way that makes sense to you. After all, he will tell you about his own experiences in learning.  

 In his class, you will learn many different things about government and politics, but it is just straight from the textbook. While he does reference the textbook, it is not his whole lecture. But most importantly, he wants to hear from you. He encourages students through writing assignments to voice their opinions and talk about what they want to see.  

Professor Morris is a great addition to this campus. He truly inspires people who are not even in the political science field. He genuinely cares about your success and is easy to learn from. Relating to his background is easy for students who come from rural areas or schools that are small. 

Ellen Dooley is a Sophomore Special Education Standard Major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at emdooley@eiu.edu