Professor Randoms

By Katie Williams
Collegian Editor
February 6, 2008

What is your name and title?

My name is Dr. Vincent Kling. I don’t know what my title is. I suppose I’m a professor of german and english. If I could make up my own title it would be professor of comparative literature.

Katie Williams - Dr. Vincent Kling sits in his Olney office among his books, thinking
about how much he loves La Salle.

Can you talk a little about the travel study course you’re running to Berlin and Vienna?

I think when people study language and national literature they deserve a saturation of the culture. Architecture, politics, literature—as many of the arts and artifacts of the culture that they can absorb. If I was talking about Portland or Dallas you would know that they are two completely different cultures, even though they are both English-speaking American cities.

So here are two German-speaking former monarchies, that became republics, then dictatorships, then monarchies again. They look alike, but are so very different.

Is this your first travel study?

It is my third travel study. I’m very excited, more so than I was with my previous groups because this class is so fun and motivated.

If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

I would choose composer Ilyich Tchaikovsky for one. The reason is that I was taught to be a snob growing up and to see his music as not good, but it’s the greatest music there is.

I would also choose Robert Louis Stevenson because he contradicted the idea of the suffering artist. He was both a great artist and a warm and loving human being.

Finally I would pick Helen Mirren because her talent is stupendous, and it rises from a natural place within her. It’s who she is as a person.

What did you want to be “when you grew up?”

I wanted to be — believe it or not — a teacher. Though, I suppose I would also like to be a classical musician. But perfectionism would have done me in. I’d be one of those addictive, crazy people when it comes to music.

Do you play any instruments?

Piano some. And I sing.

If you could choose, what would your last meal be?

That’s a really hard question. I think it would be a classic meal from Vienna. It starts with dumpling soup and beef broth. Then there’s Snitzel Cordon Bleu with veal, ham and cheese. That would have a side of potato salad. For dessert I would have Mohr Hemd, an extremely saturated rich chocolate cake, floating in chocolate sauce, covered in whipped cream.

Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

I went to La Salle, and I came here as a kid from row homes in Manayunk. But the acceptance and support, nurturing and care that I got from the professors and administrators took me to a place where I could realize my passions. And from that I’ve learned to put the La Salle spirit foremost in my life today.

williamsk1@lasalle.edu