people who say that Prof. Besnier is a horrible teacher are just bitter jocks and frat boys who got their exams back, and didn't like what they saw. It's not the Prof.'s fault that you slept through class and didn't do the readings. and it's not the TA's fault that you can't write a decent paper to save your life. get over it. Personally, I found Besnier's lectures very interesting and engaging, which is extremely rare in my experience at UCLA. He mixed personal experience and knowledge with textual and researched data that created a well rounded lecture. I'm sure you could pass the class without attending lecture, but lecture was INTERESTING, although not completely mandatory for the average student. I would much rather go to an interesting lecture, than go to one where I have to furiously write EVERYTHING the professor says in order to even pass the course. everyone should stop whining, professor besnier is great.

I loved him... he has so much to offer, and is very open to questions, although he doesn't really bend in his opinions (which in itself says something...). People liked to say he was "arrogant," but I thought he was very intelligent, and people percieved his "non-spoon-feeding-of-information" as cocky. Whatever... I'd recommend him FOR SURE.