2008 Woodie Awards
The Beukas Factor
Stuart Gasner
Issue date: 12/6/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Many Sy Syms students at Yeshiva College dread the semester when they have to take their required Speech class. We have all heard the legend of Dr Beukas, that he is a tough professor who has been teaching at Yeshiva since electricity was discovered. The standard advice most seniors give incoming freshmen is to wait until the last semester at Yeshiva to take Speech because maybe, by then, Dr. Beukas will have retired.
Those who dislike Dr. Beukas claim he often overly criticizes them after their ten-minute presentations. His criticism inevitably leads to tangents and prolonged discussion over why Yeshiva students are the worst students he has ever seen, citing our sheltered upbringing as the primary cause. Faced with it for the first time, students react in a number of ways: some get angry, others fearful and a select few just laugh it off. But what many students fail to realize is that this criticism should be welcomed. Dr. Beukas, arguably, is the only professor who properly introduces us to some of the most important lessons we will learn at Yeshiva University, and in life.
A number of classes at Yeshiva are based around the lecture -- you study the material, regurgitate it twice a semester on tests and receive your credited A. However, I feel that a majority of these classes convey little useful information. Dr. Beukas' course, on the other hand, gives you detailed, in depth, individual criticism and comments -- information that will help you in your chosen career path.
Dr. Beukas doesn't care much for excuses when you fail to meet his expectations on a speech. He claims that all his students were raised with the notion that when you don't perform well, there is always a valid, viable excuse to be had. He happens to be correct in that regard; most of us are hesitant to take blame for our own actions. For example, we always prefer to argue that the test wasn't fair or the professor was too hard.
After my first speech this semester, I took Dr. Beukas' criticism, despite my less than pleasing score, and worked extremely hard on my next speech to the point where it was perfect. I performed much better my second time, and received an A. Dr. Beukas' advice really did make a difference on my speech, and my personal improvement from my first to second speech was a sure sign that his tactics work.
When I am a businessman, I will need to know how to accept rejection and, more importantly, criticism. Last year, one of my professors told me that setbacks are inevitable in life. He urged, however, that for every two steps backward, I learn the necessary lessons and respond with three steps forward. I believe that the critique provided by Dr. Beukas equips students with the ability to learn and improve themselves for business and throughout life.
Dr. Beukas is the best professor Yeshiva has, though he suffers from a bad reputation. Students at Yeshiva need to open their eyes and learn to accept that there's always room for improvement. Dr. Beukas' intention isn't to make us feel like garbage after a speech; his goal is to make us want to improve our speaking skills. So to those lower classmen in Sy Syms, I will tell you that Speech class isn't just the most important class you will likely take here, it is also the course that will most influence your future as businessmen.
Stuart Gasner is a junior at the Sy Syms School of Business.
Those who dislike Dr. Beukas claim he often overly criticizes them after their ten-minute presentations. His criticism inevitably leads to tangents and prolonged discussion over why Yeshiva students are the worst students he has ever seen, citing our sheltered upbringing as the primary cause. Faced with it for the first time, students react in a number of ways: some get angry, others fearful and a select few just laugh it off. But what many students fail to realize is that this criticism should be welcomed. Dr. Beukas, arguably, is the only professor who properly introduces us to some of the most important lessons we will learn at Yeshiva University, and in life.
A number of classes at Yeshiva are based around the lecture -- you study the material, regurgitate it twice a semester on tests and receive your credited A. However, I feel that a majority of these classes convey little useful information. Dr. Beukas' course, on the other hand, gives you detailed, in depth, individual criticism and comments -- information that will help you in your chosen career path.
Dr. Beukas doesn't care much for excuses when you fail to meet his expectations on a speech. He claims that all his students were raised with the notion that when you don't perform well, there is always a valid, viable excuse to be had. He happens to be correct in that regard; most of us are hesitant to take blame for our own actions. For example, we always prefer to argue that the test wasn't fair or the professor was too hard.
After my first speech this semester, I took Dr. Beukas' criticism, despite my less than pleasing score, and worked extremely hard on my next speech to the point where it was perfect. I performed much better my second time, and received an A. Dr. Beukas' advice really did make a difference on my speech, and my personal improvement from my first to second speech was a sure sign that his tactics work.
When I am a businessman, I will need to know how to accept rejection and, more importantly, criticism. Last year, one of my professors told me that setbacks are inevitable in life. He urged, however, that for every two steps backward, I learn the necessary lessons and respond with three steps forward. I believe that the critique provided by Dr. Beukas equips students with the ability to learn and improve themselves for business and throughout life.
Dr. Beukas is the best professor Yeshiva has, though he suffers from a bad reputation. Students at Yeshiva need to open their eyes and learn to accept that there's always room for improvement. Dr. Beukas' intention isn't to make us feel like garbage after a speech; his goal is to make us want to improve our speaking skills. So to those lower classmen in Sy Syms, I will tell you that Speech class isn't just the most important class you will likely take here, it is also the course that will most influence your future as businessmen.
Stuart Gasner is a junior at the Sy Syms School of Business.