Professor addresses USA troops

When Professor Alan Clements walks into a lecture theatre at the University of Teesside, he doesn’t await a salute from the students. However, he has recently delivered a guest lecture in an American institution where student salutes are expected.

Alan, 57, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, is a Professor of Computer Science and a National Teaching Fellow. He was asked to lecture at West Point Military Academy, 60 miles north of New York. West Point is one of the USA’s most prestigious military academies, with former graduates including two Presidents, Grant and Eisenhower, and Generals Custer, Patton and Schwarzkopf. Entry criteria is strict, as each US state has a quota for five students who need a recommendation from their senator. Students train as officers, and if they leave voluntarily or fail, become enlisted soldiers.

Alan was invited to West Point by his friend Major Fernando Maymi, who teaches Computer Science there. Alan befriended Major Maymi while running the Computer Society International Design Competition. The competition is sponsored by a $1m grant raised by Alan from Microsoft. Major Maymi is a competition judge who helps Alan to select winning teams of students. Alan’s arrival at West Point was delayed by a day. He said: “I was stranded at Detroit airport for 28 hours as we were caught up in a blizzard. So I arrived at West Point to deliver my lecture on aviation disasters caused by computers in a t-shirt I’d worn for 50 hours! While the students were wearing camouflage fatigues and the shiniest boots I’d ever seen.

“West Point is so totally different to a University like Teesside; it’s like something out of Harry Potter. There is an incredible level of politeness, the students salute all the lecturers and end each question with ‘sir’. Despite that, I’m quite happy with the informal relationship I have with my students here.

“You are constantly reminded that West Point is a military institution, with security posters displayed all over the campus. There’s also a real sense of history, with two canons framing the entrance, one that fired the first shot in the American Civil War and the other, the final shot.”

Alan will be returning to West Point next year.

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