The Journal

Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Laila Wessel Bernie Hayes, a Webster University professor chosen by the students as a favorite teacher, speaks at the Last Lecture Series Sept. 19 in the University Center's Sunnen Lounge. He encourages students to realize their ability to affect positive change, using rap and hip hop artists who have cleaned up their lyrics as an example.

Adjunct media communications professor Bernie Hayes gave what he thought would be the last lecture of his career Sept. 19 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.

Hayes was the first faculty member to be a part of the Last Lecture Series, put on by Campus Activities. Hayes was encouraged to speak to students as though it was his last lecture. He and seven other faculty members were invited by Campus Activities to speak throughout the year to students.

The idea of a "last lecture" came from Sarah Tetley, the assistant director of housing and residential life. Tetley is new to Webster University and suggested that Campus Activities host the lecture series. St. Louis University, where she previously worked, had the series, and it was very popular with students.

The instructors picked to speak were based on student votes. Junior sociology and psychology major Benny Roberts, a Campus Activities program manager, was placed in charge of the event. He polled 160 students to see who they wanted to speak in the series.

"I asked about 80 people that I knew and 80 complete strangers who's their favorite professor, who'd they'd like to see speak and what kind of attributes they look for in a professor," Roberts said.

Roberts received a list of 10 professors, which he narrowed down to eight to speak.

"I was very pleased with the results," he said. "I thought it covered all aspects of Webster. We had four from the School of Communications, four full-time, four adjuncts and every school was touched by at least one professor."

Hayes received the highest majority of student votes. Roberts said he wasn't surprised to see this, as Hayes is his favorite professor. He even wore a suit because he knew Hayes would be dressed up for

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