Feature Paper on Prof. Chapman

Bemidji State University’s Favorite 

Englishman Makes His Annual Visit
Aliens and Eurospring 2012 were the main topics of discussion

Oxford Prof. Alan Chapman speaks to a full lecture
hall of fans at Bemidji State University.

An hour and ten minutes.

That is how long it took for Oxford Prof. Allan Chapman to mesmerize every person who was sitting in Sattgast 208 lecture hall on Monday afternoon with his lecture Aliens: Fact, Fiction, or Fallacy.

Chapman was wearing a black suit with a small union jack pin on the left side and his signature-crooked bowtie. He carries a gold pocket watch that he set down on Donna Allen’s desk (Eurospring alumni) to keep track of time. When he spoke it brought so much intensity into the room.  His white and untidy hair that gives him a friendly grandfather feel calmed this.

“I have met students whose parents met on Eurospring!” Chapman exclaimed in the introduction to his lecture followed by laughter.  The excitement and passion that Chapman brought into the room while he discussed Eurospring was contagious.  His charisma is an asset that never fails to recruit students to take part in Eurospring.

 Chapman also spoke to two mass media classes prior to his main lecture about the history of mass communications. He did not use a PowerPoint nor did he use any form of notes to read from.  He spoke purely from his own knowledge and nobody else’s.

Bemidji State University’s favorite Englishman makes an appearance annually to promote the Eurospring program.  Chapman is the main ingredient to an amazing and eventful two month program that starts off in Oxford, England and ends on the West side of continental Europe.  He has been the face of Eurospring since 1977 and proud of it. “My goal is to encourage and inspire students to achieve their goals,” Chapman said after the Eurospring 2012 informational meeting.

“I have had the pleasure of attending his science and alchemy class in Oxford during the Eurospring 2011 program,” said JD Schindlar, a participant in Eurospring 2011. “He has a twinkle in his eye when he speaks about science and also has the gift of making a boring subject more interesting.”

Chapman makes Wycliffe Hall and Oxford feel like home to students. This is why previous Eurospring students have felt sadness when leaving after five weeks.  According to an essay by Jennifer Helblad in “The Journey that Matters,” she quoted the day her group left Oxford as “the fateful date of April 21, 2005.”  She also goes on to explain her puffy eyes and fond memories of her last days in England. 

Chapman and Eurospring are unique to Bemidji State University.  He holds a special place in past Eurospring directors and students’ hearts and the many participants to come.  “I will be a part of Eurospring until I physically can’t do it,” said Chapman.