Dr. Leslie Marenchin was THE professor who made the difference.
A lot of people have a story of how that one teacher turned them around and got them on the path to where they now sit (presumably a good place). Dr. Marenchin was an inspiration, an example, and a guide for me.
When I headed off to the Honors college, I was an uptight protected protege who thought she knew more than she did and loved good natured debate. I skipped almost all of my classes and ended up passing almost every single one. The only class I made sure to attend was Dr. Marenchin's discussion because there I truly came alive. The majority of the class we tossled back and forth on whatever issues the current piece presented, each playing the devil's advocate to the other.
Through my first two semesters, time and again he would spark my interest in one subject after another, encouraging me to see more and more perspectives and "loosening" me up.
The only time he was ever cross with me was when he caught me reading a romance novel before class once. For that I was roundly, soundly and most thoroughly scolded. Fluff was not good enough for one of his students. I felt like I had disappointed him terribly. From that day on I never picked up a romance novel.
He made me laugh, think, and respect others more (and less at the same time).
Mostly he taught me how to be a Good "bad influence".
For the last few years I have been trying to reach him to let him know how much I appreciated his influence and interest in me. I finally found him, after he has passed on. He probably would have laughed at the whole situation.
Chris Loy (stevensmom@gmail.com)
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