Brother Romard Barthel Retires After 40 Years
Brother Romard Barthel, CSC, '47, professor of Mathematics and Physics, is retiring after more than 40 years at St. Edward's. This time, we got to quiz him.

SEU: What have you enjoyed most about teaching?
BRB: The students — they're the most fun. In fact, I'd almost pay to be able to teach if I didn't have to grade papers and tests.

SEU: What was your favorite class to teach?
BRB: Physics. I enjoyed teaching Math, too, but I preferred Physics.

SEU: How did the reputation of the "Brother Romard question" come about?
BRB: As for the "Brother Romard question," that's almost completely myth. If you're around long enough, students start inventing stories about you. Once a student was making a presentation related to insects, and he mentioned that they had iridescent wings, so I asked him how that strange coloring came about. He didn't know. (Iridescence is associated with reflection from thin films.) So, for a while I had an unearned reputation as an expert on insects.

SEU: If you weren't a professor, what would you be?
BRB: I've always been focused on teaching, although I may have gone into engineering. If I hadn't become a brother, though, I probably wouldn't have gone to college.

SEU: What is your favorite spot on campus?
BRB: The place that holds most meaning to me is my room in St. Joseph Hall. That community of brothers is my home.

Brother Romard's post-retirement plans include staying at St. Edward's and serving as a Physics tutor — a change in status that he welcomes with open arms. "I intend to enjoy the lighter load — no more tests or papers to grade," he said.

Over the years, Brother Romard has held numerous positions on campus, from head of the Sciences Division to a prefect in the residence halls, along with teaching and challenging hundreds of students in Mathematics and Physics courses. During annual Senior Seminar presentations, students and faculty alike wait with great expectation for the legendary "Brother Romard question" because it tests a student's true understanding of his or her topic. Reminisce over the 2005 Senior Seminar presentations.

Send us your favorite "Brother Romard question" or memory. You might find it in an upcoming newsletter.