One of the better professors I had during my stay at Penn State was Frank Clemente. He serves as an acting legend; teaching easily the most well known and most recommended class to be taken. The class is Soc 005- and yes I realize it’s not the most appetizing title- but originally I almost passed up The Shawshank Redemption for the same reason. The importance of the class is relevant more for living life rather than Sociology. A Gen Ed that focuses on ‘France in 1920′ may be a great class to take, it won’t help you with everyday life. I heavily urge any Penn State student, freshmen especially, to enroll in this course. Since most know about it, it is incredibly hard to get in during the first two years.

I was finally able to during the Fall semester of 2005, first semester of senior year. Prof. Clemente was nice enough to let me film him and his class for my Comm345 Directing final project if you’d like to see him in action [check out the films section]. What I’m going to do now is provide some background followed by what I took away from Prof. Clemente’s class. I came across my notebooks from the first semester, electing to keep my Soc 005 notebook. Overall it’s great yet subtle knowledge to have for everybody, not just Penn State students.

Frank Clemente is Senior Professor of Social Science at Penn State University where he specializes in research on energy policy. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation. Professor Clemente has published over 100 articles in a wide variety of media including Oil and Gas Journal, Nuclear News, Journal of Commerce, Electrical World, Public Utility Fortnightly, the Detroit Free Press and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly serves as consultant to energy companies and has testified as an expert witness in over 50 energy related cases. Professor Clemente has been listed in American Men and Women of Science since 1979.

Raise Your Expectations

1. Girls are socialized to be forgiving and compromising.
2. Girls have low expectations tracing back to their first interactions with boys (ex. 6th grade).
3. Girls generally do not increase their expectations over time.
4. By not raising your expectations you allow men to act like little boys.
5. In a serious relationship, girls should have the highest expectations- after all, only one man has to meet them.
6. Raise the bar – you will be surprised.

Clemente Rules of Drinking

1. Many students don’t drink at all.
   1. No interest
   2. Moral
   3. Legal
   4. Health
2. Drinking is a serious business, mistakes lead to disaster.
3. Drinking has a function in society.
   1. Relaxation
   2. Social lubricant
   3. Reduce inhibitions
   4. Escape reality
4. Two phases of drinking
   1. College drinking
   2. Adult drinking
5. University is commonly referred to as an institution of higher education. Even more it may be its rules as an institution of lower education. This is the latent versus manifest function. College should be a place where you can learn to drink.
6. University has trouble formulating a drinking policty that is between Laissez Faire vs In Low Parentis. Teachers, professors, administrators often have trouble discussing the matter openly.
7. Many students who drink don’t know how to drink.
8. There will always be assholes.

Penn State Rules of Drinking

1. Never drink and drive. Never drive with someone who has been drinking.
2. Have a drinking plan and a post-drinking plan. Don’t trust your own judgment after drinking.
3. EAT, EAT, EAT.
4. Start with or end with water/juice etc.
5. Beware of heard liquor, especially if you’re a beer drinker (The first time Frank drank vodka, he woke up under a car).
6. Keep control of your drinking pattern. How many of what…
7. Don’t be a dog off a leash.
8. Drink with your friends in a safe environment. Don’t trust your friends, they’ve been drinking too.
9. Don’t let somebody make a fool out of you.
10. Don’t go over 6 drinks without a backup.
11. Take aspirin, a full glass of water and live a full life.

Clemente Rules of Marriage [For both spouses]

1. Base marriage on mutual respect- demand respect.
2. Talk everyday- for a good marriage, love is necessary- but not sufficient. Marriage takes time, like building a house brick by brick.
3. Don’t let TV become your third partner.
4. Eat together as a family.
5. Children play an important role. The most fascinating aspect of marriage is not that adults produce kids- but that kids can produce adults.

Clemente Rules of Marriage [For women]

1. Don’t marry a guy that won’t talk.
2. Don’t try
 to change a jerk.
3. Don’t compare him to your dad.
4. Don’t play the “Little Woman”.
5. Work hard to find a good father for your children.
6. Demand your husband meet high expectations- raise the bar on your relationships.
7. Characteristics you should be looking for:
   1. Respect
   2. Honesty
   3. Loyalty
   4. Kindness
   5. Courage

Clemente Rules for Men

1. Reduce looking at women as sex objects.
2. Don’t compare her to your mom.
3. If you drink, don’t marry a girl that doesn’t drink.
4. Don’t play macho man with your wife.
5. Don’t take the easy road on child rearing.
6. Never let her go.

UPDATE: Frank retired at the end of Fall 2010, you can watch the final lecture here: Frank Clemente’s Last Lecture