Having transferred to UB this semester, one could easily find another student more qualified to recommend a teacher than myself. I have attended classes though, two of which have significantly altered the way I view reality. One class, emphasizing the role the media plays in post-modern society, has drastically changed my conceptions of the media-permeated culture we live in. This class is taught by Dr. Mark Gottdiener who draws upon a wealth of knowledge and experinece. Like the other classes I enjoy, Dr. Gottdeiner does not use traditional rote methods to teach concepts. Rather than assigning reading, with terms to be memorized for a multiple-choice test, he assigns reading supplemented by lecture, with a written project where the student can demonstrate his knowledge of the concepts taught. Gottdeiner helps students explore facets of our culture, and understand the forces that shape and influence it. He has also written and edited several textbooks.

Next semester, Dr. Gottdeiner will be teaching Urban Sociology. For those out there with critical minds, interested in sociological phenomenon, Gottdeiner skillfully teaches enlightening topics in an interesting way. By substituting tests with papers that challenge and teach the student, he informs and instructs students rather than pushing them through and allowing them to wallow in their ignorance.