Professor in hot seat
By Catherine Pillsbury
Staff Reporter

Jack Raskopf manipulates students, is deaf and no longer has a Mr. Rogers’ facade said most of the professionals who went to Joe T. Garcia’s Thursday night to roast Raskopf, a former advertising and public relations professor.

Similar to MTV’s Roast of Carson Daily, friends, colleagues and former students of Raskopf’s expressed their gratitude for him by telling embarrassing stories and making fun of him ... all in good fun of course.

“I’m nervous about what they’re going to say,” Raskopf said, before the roast began. “They’re all my friends, but they know me too well.”

Raskopf, who retired in July, continues to teach an internship course and is involved in other departmental activities.

Jill Shotts, a senior advertising and public relations major who took two of Raskopf’s classes, said it’s sad that he’s retiring because he takes such a personal interest in his students.

“I’ll only be here one more semester, and I wish he would stay until I graduate,” Shotts said.

Tommy Thomason, the Roastmaster, started the program by telling stories of Raskopf’s dog, Duke, a theme that was carried through the night.

“He’s been living the last three decades of his life preparing for this roast,” said Thomason, journalism department chairman.

Shotts said she hoped someone would do an impression of Raskopf, and former students Janie Hollaman and Kevin Gardner kept the crowd laughing with their flawless impressions of the animated retiree.

TCU alumna Susan Adkins, who swore Raskopf ruined her life in 1974, said he got her addicted to advertising and public relations.

“He’s just a short little villain,” Adkins said jokingly, shooting Raskopf a smile.

She then handed out buttons with his face on them with a red circle and slash on it. Her final words: Just say no to Jack.

During his retirement, Raskopf plans to stay involved with the department and carry on with his free lance writing. He and his wife, Rocky, have a trip to Normandy planned for the 60th anniversary of D-day, where he plans to reunite with Navy friends he served with during World War II.

“What do you suppose it would be like to have a normal parent?” Bonnie, one of Raskopf’s daughters, recalled asking her sister when they were little.

Based on everyone’s stories, they will never know.