Robert Miller

RTM is a ridiculously great teacher. The following is a letter of recommendation that originally went elsewhere, but I thought it should be posted on Culpa, as well. Robert MillerÂ’s passion for learning and concern for the well being of his students are exceptional and obvious. He sends us mass emails inviting us to relevant lectures, plays, or films; after every class, he gives us additional information and lecture notes; his commentary on graded papers is nearly as long as the paper itself. Next week, our class is screening the film of Pride and Prejudice because one student mentioned that she owns it, and he insisted that we set up a time for the whole class to enjoy it. Mr. Miller cares for his students so much that he wants us to be better people; this quality is what makes him a truly great teacher. Very few teachers dare to do what Robert Miller does: instruct us on how to live our lives as good people. Using each work on the syllabus as support for his overall purpose, which is to teach us how to live, Mr. Miller presents us with a constant theme throughout both semesters. The lectures for each work are airtight, and the arguments he presents us with for each text connect to the overarching theme of the class. A week or two ago, we read ShakespeareÂ’s King Lear. I had previously been taught that Shakespeare was a master of the English language, and that is why he is c…

I switched into MillerÂ’s lit hum class in the middle of the year, so I can write a bit about what it is that makes Miller so different and compels his students to write the longest, most gushing reviews you can find on CULPA. The first instructor I had for lit hum was about average- he spoke about the historical context of the works as most people snoozed. Like many classes, the environment was such that for the couple people who stayed awake, there was the pressure of only opening your mouth to say things that were very profound. The problem though is that, especially in such circumstances, freshmen never say anything brilliant and profound: they just wind up using big words out of context and boring even themselves. Two things struck me my first day in MillerÂ’s class: noone was asleep (despite it being a 9am class) and people were talking, interrupting each other good naturedly, and laughing. Miller makes sure that his classroom is never stuffy or pretentious. In the middle of a discussion about St. Augustine, he will write a list on the board about the top ten things a man looks for in a woman from out of his wifeÂ’s “Cosmo.” And when it came down to it, discussions in which students were able to express themselves and their ideas even if it involves quoting Oprah are not only engaging, but often do actually reach those levels of profundity which were never reached in m…

As a rising senior, I have never taken a class quite like RTM's. RTM makes a concerted effort to get to know each of his students on an individual level. If one makes a reference to one's home state, RTM might recall the person's home town. At the same time, RTM's lectures are filled with fun anecdotes about his life experiences. So, students get to know RTM and RTM gets to know his students. After the first paper is handed back, each student sets up an appointment with him to discuss where s/he is going in the class. While the idea of a one-to-one conversation with an instructor might seem daunting, it isn't. RTM offers constructive criticism. RTM gives the class a substantial background in philosophy, providing a solid base for CC in the next year (Having taken CC before Lit Hum, I found that RTM's lecture comments shed some light on CC retroactively). While our discussions sometimes centered a bit too much on the underlying philosophy of the author, some of the most important points in the works did not go unnoticed: namely, what is and is not important for humans and how to live a fulfilling life.

At 8:00 AM every Monday and Wednesday morning, Robert T. Miller takes his seat at a corner table in Café 212. He places a yellow steno pad in front of him, on which he has outlined the tasks for the day in his neat, black handwriting. Sometimes he gets a Croissant?his favorites have that slice of chocolate wedged between the folds of pastry?sometimes he gets an orange juice. Whatever the breakfast, Professor Miller eats it slowly, contently, as he waits for his students to arrive. Professor Miller?s office hours may seem unorthodox, but so too is the man. Any other professor would balk at scheduling these bi-weekly meetings an hour before the nine o?clock class time, but Professor Miller does so confidently. As well he should, too; each time I arrive the fashionable fifteen minutes late I see him already engaged, or perhaps already engaging, a peer of mine in thoughtful conversation. Students want to come; they want to hear what he has to say, and they want to share with him their own discoveries. The best thing about Professor Miller is that he wants to share as well. At 8:55 the gathering travels across the quad to the second floor of Hamilton, to the classroom that has housed the most profound intellectual and moral growth of my life. Two rows of desks line the long sides of the room; these rows flank the lectern at the head of the class where, in quiet and deliberate steps…

Mr. Miller is one of the best professors I've had in Columbia. He is very knowledgeable and smart. He is also extremely understanding and is very dedicated to his teaching. He thoroughly comments on all of your writing drafts so if you're willing to work hard and meet with him about your work, you'll do fine. I strongly recommend taking his class.

People throw around the adjective "great" too easily these days. Just because the professor or lecturer gives minimal homework, makes the class laugh and dishes out As, students shower him or her with tons of hyperbolic praise. What if you sincerely think that you have stumbled into a class taught by someone who truly deserves the title of "great"? How do you distinguish your review from the tons of other fawning tributes on CULPA? RTM delivers his Lit Hum lectures from a very focused viewpoint, and he makes it clear right from the start - he is going to tell us about how to lead a good human life. Some students think this severely limits the scope of discussion, others think its more philosophy than literature. I think it is engaging and thought-provoking every step of the way. Of course there will be plenty of points which you will be tempted to argue against, but believe me, this guy is smart so you better know your stuff (ie textual support) before taking the plunge. He tends to go on and on, so try to ask questions. What sets RTM apart from other "great" lecturers and teachers is his quiet intensity that makes his words resonate so much. I find myself thinking about certain statements he made long after the morning class had been over. There would be moments in class where everything just clicked - why you are in college, why you chose Columbia, why on earth do they have…

Robert Miller singlehandedly justifies the core. He is brilliant; he is endearing; he puts exorbitant effort into preparing his lectures, grading papers, and writing mass email after mass email. He doesn't teach Lit Hum as a dry review of historical contexts or forgettable literary theories, but instead uses the texts as a springboard for philosophical discussions, to gently guide his students towards discovering and refining their own beliefs. RTM attended Columbia as an undergrad, so he understands what it's like to be on the other side of the podium. He will do just about anything to help you write and think critically. His comments on emailed paper proposals are thorough, prompt, and useful; he offers specific references in Aristotle, the Bible, works of criticism, etc., to correspond to your arguments. Be prepared for an endless stream of bitter but entertaining lawyer jokes, usually at the expense of Yale Law School. (He's a corporate lawyer turned philosophy grad student.) This man is marvelous. Count your blessings.

RTM is the James Brown of the Lit Hum dept. Not only the hardest working lithum teacher, but also one of the best. He apparently took his lithum class (yes hes an alum) with the late great Wallace Gray, and must have taken good notes. He preaches that lithum is not just about all that symbolism BS, but about "learning for life." I suggest RTM to those who think that all they want in life is some cold hard cash, because he will make you see that there are more rewarding things to life. Its true that the conversations can get a bit complex, but listen up! Most of those philosophical dudes have something good to say. I say take RTM his knowledge will amaze you, and you may learn more about yourself than the actual material.

Mr. Miller, or RTM as he signs everything, is well worth any difficult front he puts up in the first few classes. Not to say that the class does not require work, it does, but RTM has a genuine interest both in the literature and his students and that makes the work go by much faster. Easily sidetracked and filled with a morbid distaste for lawyers (although he used to be one), RTM will make anyone who shows up half awake truly interested in the material. Beyond the actual books, however, he subtly offers his students worthwhile advice on life and columbia, as he is a former grad. He's a big dork, but it's one of his most endearing qualities. A huge fan of mass emails, he's the hardest working lit hum professor for sure, as there is always feedback and internet links from class discussion in my mail box. Don't let his bullshit sermon on the first day scare you; he's a big pussycat and well worth it for the required year of lit hum.

He is a great guy, a good sense of humor, witty jokes in class, and reasonable grader. not one of those CORE instructors who just give u A's or A-'s easily. Its simple: if u read the books (or instead have the genius capability to BS ur way through lit hum and philosophies), u r saved. one of those "sweet guys" who married his high school sweetheart! has a bit of "I wasnt so cool in High school" personality complex (which may go with all nice guys) but in general, he is very cool. 2 major set backs: u r guaranteed to have at least one 15 page paper (on rather difficult topics) each semester, which is unheard of esp in lit hum. 2nd: he takes weekly quizes on the assigned readings. the good side is: he says theres no single factor in a good grade. IT ALL COUNTS. in general, if u dont mind living through a few sleepless nights prior to the papers, i say take him. a bit of reading and real lit hum discussion in class wont kill u.