Professor Q&A: Jim Burns
Meet professor Jim Burns. For those of you who do not know him, he is one of USC’s most engaging and conversational staff members. Born and raised in Burgaw, N.C. (pop. 1,500), Burns attended Shaw University, followed by the University of Illinois. He came to USC in 1980, has been teaching in the Honors College since 1992 and began advising honors students in 2003. As a 27-year veteran of the university, Burns has become well-known among the faculty, students and alumni for his gregarious personality.
G&B: Professor Burns, first and foremost, what is your projection for the rest of the football season?
JB: I believe Steve Spurrier is going to take us where we need to be.
G&B: That is quite the relative answer -- any further speculation?
JB: Not really -- I figure that is the safest answer for a university magazine (laughs). I will admit, however, that even after 27 years here, I am not the huge football fan people might expect.
G&B: What else might be something people do not know about you?
JB: I used to be extremely shy. I would sit in the back corner of class and pray the teacher wouldn’t call on me. I am still afraid of crowds and public speaking, along with that first day in class when I don’t know any of the students yet.
G&B: But you have been and are one of USC’s most sociable faculty members. What happened?
JB: I had an English teacher my freshman year in college who would call on me constantly for answers to get me to talk. His name was Professor Burske; God how I hated him. After a while though, this helped me to realize that you don’t get anywhere being shy and you get overlooked. I had things to say, yet wasn’t able to say them.
G&B: So has your experience in that English class influenced your teaching methods here?
JB: Without a doubt. I love interacting with students and use conversation to connect and to teach -- rarely ever will I say a student’s answer is right or wrong. I utilize class discussion rather than lecturing for the reason that every student has ideas and ideals, and I leave our discussions open ended. Plus, I love it when the quiet students talk.
G&B: Is that interaction your favorite part of teaching and advising then?
JB: That, and witnessing students having a revelation -- be it about a novel, discovering their major, or something about themselves in general, it is a great feeling knowing I help with these enlightenments.
G&B: You teach literature -- is that what your degree is in?
JB: I actually have a degree in theater. I was always enthusiastic about acting, but was never that good and decided to give it up. If I weren’t teaching, I might still be trying to act and getting involved in theater.
G&B: Can we expect you in any upcoming show-stopping roles?
JB: (laughs) No, I don’t think so. I still do workshops and am on theater boards occasionally, but am not involved with the Theater Department at all.
G&B: Is there anything else you want to say, or any questions you want to be asked?
JB: Ask me who my heroes are.
G&B: Professor Burns, who are your heroes?
JB: I learned a lot from Malcolm X. He taught me about having passion for whatever you do. I also admire Shakespeare’s “Othello” and the narrator from Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” for their ambition, vulnerability and epitomization of human nature.
G&B: As an exit question, who do you favor in the 2008 election?
JB: It’s way too early to decide, and I stopped watching the debates a while ago. I consider myself an independent, however, I do like Obama, Richardson and Hillary thus far.
