By: Analia fiestas/Staff Writer
On the evening of Jan. 26, Assistant Professor David Rifkind knew just what to say.
Rifkind, the keynote speaker for the Student Programming Council lecture, “What Would You Say?” spent time deliberating about the “uncertain” future with a number of students gathered in the Graham Center Ballrooms.
This is the second year that SPC allowed the student body to vote upon the lecturer.
Students were given the opportunity to select a professor that they felt they would want to lecture to them.
On the same day last year, English professor Kenneth Claus spoke about “hyperactivity as an art form.”
Rifkind is an assistant professor for the architecture department at the University who teaches architectural history and theory.
A graduate of Columbia University, he completed his dissertation on the relationship between fascist politics and modern architecture in 2007.
His challenge was to answer to the question, “If you had the opportunity to talk to students during a presentation, what would you say?”
His response focused on four points: “urgency, uncertainty, purpose and paradox.”
He explained that personal and professional success in the future would depend mainly on those factors.
“It’s no longer enough to just be good enough at what you do,” he said to the audience. “You have to be above and beyond to succeed.”
Rifkind suggested that one needs to find a purpose in life.
They must look for something that they are passionate about, and work hard and quickly at achieving the goals related to that purpose.
When asked what his final goal in life is, Rifkind had a difficult time answering the question because according to him, there are too many options to pick from.
However, he responded with, “I would like change. If I can somehow better the world and bring positive change to make our future less divided, I’ll be satisfied.”
Students present at the meeting expressed their satisfaction with the event and the professor’s words.
“The lecture was so philosophical. It was simply great. It made us think a lot about the future,” said Ryan Holmes, sophomore and architecture major.
Rifkind gave students his perspective on life and shared personal advice.
He concluded by reminding all those present to not just follow what someone says because they look up to them, but to follow their own beliefs and ideas so that no opportunity passes them by.
Rifkind is currently continuing a research project in Africa that deals with urbanism and architecture in Ethiopia during the Italian occupation from 1936 to 1941.
A practicing architect, Rifkind and his wife are building a house in South Miami, which is set to act as “a model of environmental and social sustainability.”
With the hope of continuing his teaching at the University, Rifkind is applying for a longer term at FIU.
“I don’t know whether I’ll be here or not next year, but my intention is to stay here,” he said. Rifkind’s students would also like him to stay.
“He makes us look at the world in a different way. He has introduced us to conceptual theories. When I look at a building now, I don’t just see a building anymore. I see much more,” said sophomore and architecture major, Edgardo Betancourt.
Thais Mathias, a sophomore architecture major said, “For him, this is not work. He doesn’t come to FIU just for a paycheck. You can tell he cares. He loves what he does, he loves teaching us.”
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